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🐔✨ The Sacred Chicken: Myths, Magic, and Mystery | Barn & Soul Podcast- Ep. 18

When you think of chickens, you might picture eggs, feathers, or a backyard coop.. but across history and cultures, chickens have meant so much more. In this episode of Barn & Soul, we'll take you on a global journey through the mythology, symbolism, and spiritual significance of the world’s most common bird.

From ancient Rome’s “sacred chickens” that guided military strategy, to roosters in Chinese temples and Shinto shrines, to their role in Vodou and African spirituality- this episode reveals a side of chickens most people never see. They were once considered divine messengers, guardians of the spirit world, and even summoners of the sun.

Recorded at Dalby Farm in Scituate, Massachusetts, this is a reflective, story-rich look at what happens when we slow down and really see the animals around us.

🪶 Whether you're a history lover, farm enthusiast, or just curious about animal folklore, this episode is for you.

📚 Sources & References
A full list of scholarly and cultural references is available at the end of the episode and in the comments.

📍 Visit Dalby Farm (Scituate, MA):
https://www.dalbyfarm.com

📷 Follow along for more farm life, rare breeds & reflections:
Find us on Instagram: @dalbyfarm

🙏 If this episode made you see chickens a little differently, like, comment, and share. It helps more people reconnect with the rare and wonderful things in life.

#BarnAndSoul #DalbyFarm #ChickenMythology #AnimalFolklore #SacredAnimals #Chickens #Podcast

📚 Episode References & Sources

🐔 General History of Chickens

• West, B., & Zhou, B.-X. (1989). Did chickens go North? New evidence for domestication. World's Poultry Science Journal, 45(3), 205–218.
• Smithsonian Magazine. A brief history of the chicken.
  https://www.smithsonianmag.com

⚔️ Ancient Rome & Sacred Chickens

• Cornell, T. J. (1995). The Beginnings of Rome: Italy and Rome from the Bronze Age to the Punic Wars.
• Livy, Ab Urbe Condita (primary source on Roman augury and Claudius Pulcher's famous chicken defiance).
• Mental Floss. Ancient Romans Took Battle Orders From Sacred Chickens.
  https://www.mentalfloss.com

🇨🇳 China - The Five Virtues of the Rooster

• The Book of Rites (Liji)  Confucian classic referencing the symbolic traits of animals.
• Chinese Zodiac and Rooster symbolism via China Highlights
• Zhou, D. (2014). Animals in Chinese Culture and Mythology. Beijing University Press.

⛩️ Japan  Amaterasu and the Rooster

• Aston, W. G. (1896). Shinto: The Way of the Gods.
• Hardacre, H. (2016). Shinto: A History. Oxford University Press.
• The Japan Times. The rooster that called the sun goddess.
  https://www.japantimes.co.jp

🌍 Africa, Haiti, and the Spirit World

• Brown, K. M. (2001). Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn. University of California Press.
• Murphy, J. M. (1994). Working the Spirit: Ceremonies of the African Diaspora. Beacon Press.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture. African spirituality and symbolism in animal rituals.
  https://nmaahc.si.edu

✝️ Christianity, Roosters, and Weather

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