Ever wished that you could fly? So did ancient humans!
Across many civilizations, humans have had a fascination with birds. Whether it be depicting birds prepared to take flight or marveling at their beautiful feathers, birds have been well documented as both domestic and ceremonial iconography. Sometimes the distinction between the two is less definitive than archaeologists would expect. Often, objects that appear to be mundane, such as the bronze oil lamp in this exhibit, can have religious or cultural significance beyond its intended use. Even objects that do have economic purposes such as coins can convey meanings of authority and governance to those who are using them.
This is where birds come in: even if these animals sometimes fade into the background of our daily lives, they can represent a vast array of cultural values to different people. Freedom, power, fertility, the divine, paradise—these birds are more than what meets the eye.
Curated by Christina Miles (`25)
Even with the modern-day invention of air travel, our obsession with birds hasn’t gone anywhere. There’s no better evidence of this than a phenomenon here on campus: birbs@brown! In April of 2023, an anonymous group started hiding crochet birds around campus, posting clues on their Instagram and creating a scavenger hunt for Brown University students. These little guys can be found anywhere for those with a keen eye, from the Sci-Li to the statue of Caesar Augustus in front of the Ratty. There’s even been a few here at Rhode Island Hall! To keep up with the hunt, follow birbs@brown on Instagram.
The little guy pictured in this exhibit was made by the amazing birbs@brown team just for the Institute! This eagle is a bit different – and much cuter! – than the other eagles you can find in the display case. Eagles in Ancient Rome conveyed ideals of leadership and resourcefulness, and early Christians believed eagles to be the King of Birds; these ideologies were borrowed by modern countries such as the United States and Mexico that use eagles as icons of government. However, icons can be used by other communities and their meanings can shift, such as with this birb: what do you think this birb represents?
To see more airborne animals from the Institute’s Vault, feel free to browse our online JIAAW Collection or visit during our View the Vault hours each month.