Turtle Symbolism & Mythology: 10 Cultural Depictions
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Turtles have lived on Earth for 230 million years and have long been the focus of various mythologies and creation stories. It’s easy to understand why when you reflect on the fact that turtles carry their homes with them in the form of hard shells with intricate patterns. Many human cultures have been fascinated by the calm and slow manner of this reptile and hold it in high esteem. They are also viewed as patient, wise, and long-lived.
You can find depictions of turtles in cave art and rock art, which highlights how highly regarded they have been. They are linked to everything from wisdom, longevity, and perseverance to motherhood and fertility.
Read on if you would like to learn more about how different parts of the world view the turtle.
The 10 Depictions of Turtle Symbolism and Mythology
1. Africa: Ijapa
In African folklore, the turtle is a trickster because while they might be slow, they are also clever. The turtle’s name is Ijapa, and he can figure out a way out of complicated situations.
Since turtles are protected by their shells and live on land and in the water, they are friends with the god of rain. They also symbolize the importance of paying respect to elders and are powerful juju in fertility rites.
2. China: Pangu & the Turtle and Xuanwu
Turtles in China are quite important. A turtle helped Pangu (a creation and primordial figure) hold up the world, as the creator goddess Nuwa used the turtle’s legs. The turtle also assisted Pangu in stopping a great flood and was awarded 10,000 years of life.
In Taoist belief, four mythological guardians are linked to Chinese constellations. One of the guardians is a black tortoise named Xuanwu.
The depiction of the tortoise and the snake are symbols of the yin and yang balance. Tortoise shells were used in ancient divination to predict the future, and the Chinese viewed the turtle as a sacred symbol of immortality, longevity, strength, health, and power.
3. Egypt: Shetyw
The turtle Shetyw (also known as Shetw, Sheta, and Shtyw) was associated with Set (god of war). Unfortunately, since Set was considered a dark god, the turtle was also considered a malevolent creature with a connection to the Underworld.
Nile turtles were often depicted in pairs in Egyptian hieroglyphics, meant to represent the water of the Nile. These turtles were symbolic of health and long life and were used to ward off evil.
4. Greece and Rome: The Tortoise and the Hare
Aesop was a Greek storyteller who wrote the famous story, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” In it, the tortoise races the speedy hare. The outcome of the race seems assured, but the hare is boastful and arrogant and takes a nap, only to wake up to discover that the tortoise won the race. This is where the famous saying, “slow and steady wins the race,” comes from.
There’s also a Greek mythology story in which the nymph Chelone refused to attend the wedding of Zeus and Hera. Zeus transforms her into a stay-at-home tortoise, hence where the tortoise’s shell comes from.
The turtle was also a symbol of fertility in Ancient Rome and Greece. It was associated with Aphrodite (Grecian goddess of love) and Venus (Roman goddess of love).
5. Hawaii: Kauila
Kauila is a sea turtle goddess who looks after children by turning herself into a human child. She is known to be the mother of turtles and children.
There is a Hawaiian creation chant about turtles: “Hanau ka po ia honu kua Tanaka,” which translates to “from the darkness of time came the sea turtle with its plated back.”
Additionally, the green sea turtle is known as Honu and is thought to be a messenger and a symbol between the people, the land, and the ocean. The green sea turtle is associated with good luck and wisdom.
6. India: Akupara and Kurma
In Hindu mythology, the entire world rests on four elephants that stand on a turtle. This is Akupara, known as the World Turtle. The Hindu god Vishnu is one of the principal deities and helps restore the balance between good and evil. Vishnu has 10 avatars, and one of them is Kurma, for when he transforms into a tortoise.
7. Japan: Genbu and Minogame
Genbu is a black tortoise usually depicted with a snake that is believed to protect the north.
In Japanese mythology, the minogame is a giant turtle that is thought to live up to 10,000 years and has a long tail made of seaweed. Turtles are considered symbols of good luck and longevity in Japan.
8. Mesopotamia
In ancient Mesopotamia mythology, the turtle was associated with Enki, the god of water. It was thought that Enki used a turtle to travel through space and time.
Enki was also represented with a turtle symbol on a kudurru, or stone tablet. In Sumerian culture, one mythological story has Enki sending the turtle to battle his rival, Ninurta, the god of rain. The turtle was victorious, highlighting this reptile’s resiliency and strength.
9. North America
The turtle plays several roles in Native American mythology, most notably in creation myths. A few of the East Coast tribes, like the Lenape and Iroquois, tell the story of the Great Spirit creating their homeland by placing the Earth on the back of the giant turtle. There are Native Americans today who refer to North America as Turtle Island.
Other Native American tribes have the turtle as a clan animal, which includes the Chippewa, the Menominee, the Huron-Wyandot, the Abenaki, the Shawnee, and the Iroquois.
10. Oceania
On the Tahitian Islands, the tortoise is the lord of the oceans and the shadow of the gods. In Polynesia, the ward god Tu is personified by the tortoise, and receiving tortoise tattoos was a tradition among warriors. The turtle also represents longevity and fertility in many Polynesian cultures.
Turtles as Symbols
Beyond mythological tales and creation myths that featured turtles, many cultures also realized the importance of turtles as symbols. Part of this was the belief that turtles held power and could help humans in some way.
- Australia: Turtles have been painted in various Australian regions and often feature in dreamtime stories. One of these stories is about Wayamba the Turtle.
- New Zealand: The Māori people believe that turtles symbolize navigation and travel, as well as unity, peacefulness, longevity, and fertility.
- Taiwan: During festival season, small cakes in the shape of turtles are offered as offerings and gifts in temples. Turtles represent longevity, peacefulness, and good luck.
- Aztecs: The Aztecs didn’t view turtles as positively as nearly everyone else. They thought that they were cowardly because turtles were hard on the outside and soft on the inside. They represented a boastful exterior with no strength inside.
Final Thoughts
There’s a definite theme across cultures regarding the turtle, with a few exceptions, of course. For the most part, turtles are considered symbols of longevity (which is accurate, considering that the oldest tortoise is about 190!), fertility, wisdom, and luck. Also, it’s an amazing concept to imagine our world on a turtle’s back!
If you’re interested in delving more into these mythologies, you can look things up online or even better, check your local library.
Featured Image Credit: Gerald A. DeBoer, Shutterstock
