Bat: Difference between revisions

In many cultures, including in Europe, bats are associated with darkness, death, witchcraft, and malevolence.<ref name="symbols">{{cite book |author=Chwalkowski, F. |year=2016 |title=Symbols in Arts, Religion and Culture: The Soul of Nature |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |page=523 |isbn=978-1443857284}}</ref> Because bats are mammals, yet can fly, they are [[liminal being]]s in many traditions.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McCracken |first=G. F. |title=Folklore and the Origin of Bats |journal=BATS Magazine |year=1993 |volume=11 |series=Bats in Folklore |issue=4}}</ref> Among [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] such as the [[Creek (people)|Creek]], [[Cherokee]] and [[Apache Tribe|Apache]], the bat is a [[trickster]] spirit. In Tanzania, a winged bat [[cryptid]] known as [[Popobawa]] is believed to be a shapeshifting [[evil spirit]] that assaults and [[sodomises]] its victims.<ref>{{cite web |last=Saleh |first=A. |date=19 July 2001 |title=Sex-mad 'ghost' scares Zanzibaris |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1446733.stm |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=29 December 2014}}</ref> In [[Aztec]] [[mythology]], bats symbolised the land of the dead, destruction, and decay.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aztec-history.net/aztec_symbols |title=Aztec Symbols |publisher=Aztec-history.net |accessdate=24 June 2013}}</ref><ref name=ReadGonzalez>{{cite book |author=Read, K. A.; Gonzalez, J. J. |year=2000 |title=Mesoamerican Mythology |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=132–134 |isbn=978-0195149098}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oaxacanwoodcarving.com/mythnatr.html |title=Artists Inspired by Oaxaca Folklore Myths and Legends |publisher=Oaxacanwoodcarving.com |accessdate=24 June 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110172458/http://www.oaxacanwoodcarving.com/mythnatr.html |archivedate=10 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><!--<ref>Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. ''The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]].'' New York: [[Thames and Hudson]], 1997.</ref>--> An East Nigerian tale tells that the bat developed its nocturnal habits after causing the death of his partner, the bush-rat, and now hides by day to avoid arrest.<ref name=Arnott1962>{{cite book |author=Arnott, K. |year=1962 |title=African Myths and Legends |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=150–152}}</ref>