Chelidon

/ˈkɛlɪdɑn/ noun

Definition

An alternative or archaic name for a swallow bird, or a poetic/mythological reference to the bird in classical literature.

Etymology

Directly from Greek 'chelidon' meaning swallow. In Greek mythology, Chelidon was transformed into a swallow as punishment, making the bird a symbol of transformation and spring in classical poetry.

Kelly Says

The myth of Chelidon shows up in Ovid's *Metamorphoses*—the word itself became embedded in European poetry for centuries as a metaphor for spring's arrival and transformation. Medieval bestiaries used 'chelidon' to describe swallows as symbols of good news!

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