The bear is an extremely popular symbol in many cultures around the world, appearing in European, North American and Asian myths and legends. This is due not only to the wide range of the bear, but also because of the unique characteristics of the animal. Bears, omnivores like ourselves, occupied the same ecological niche as humans, foraging for roots, nuts and berries, honey, grasses and birds' eggs and hunting fish, and game, both small and large. When bears competed for shelter in caves and overhangs, it must have been difficult for early man not to be struck with the similarities we had to bears. When threatened or aggressive, the bear even stood up on its hind legs like a man.
Early man strongly identified with the bear for numerous other reasons. From the days when men were hunter-gatherers, men have had a healthy respect for the bear as a predator, its power, strength and ferocity. The bear was both feared and admired, and in many instances, worshipped. In many indigenous stories, bears are humans transformed and bears are often seen as close intimates of humans. A female bear's protection of her cubs was seen as an admirable virtue and one to be emulated. The bear is a powerful animal totem, or spirit in shamanistic and animist belief systems. Bears in dreams were thought to be spirit guides. Bear claws and bear teeth are frequently used as amulets, talismans and decoration, all in an effort to evoke the powers of the bear for the wearer. Bear tattoo designs serve a similar function.
See also: Animal Tattoos Index
