DOVE

1st April 2024

Photo Credit: cyogian (Getty Images), CANVA

QUOTATION

You, Lord Archbishop,

Whose see is by a civil peace maintained,

Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touched,

Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutored,

Whose white investments figure innocence,

the dove and very blessed spirit of peace,

Wherefore do you so translate yourself

Out of the speech of peace that bears such grace,

Into the harsh and boist’rous tongue of war,

turning your books to graves, your ink to blood,

your pens to lances, and your tongue divine,

to a loud trumpet and point of war.

WESTMORELAND: Henry IV, Part 2, Act 4, Scene 1

DOVE (including white form of Rock Dove: Columba livia)

The Dove as a symbol of peace and innocence has a recurring presence throughout Shakespeare’s works. In the quotation above the Archbishop of York is reminded that he should be the personification of peace, like the white dove, not one of the leaders of a rebellion against the king.

The Dove is a powerful Christian symbol appearing in many books of the Old and New Testament including as the messenger to Noah that the flood had abated. The reports of Jesus’ baptism by John include references to the Dove: “Jesus was baptized and did pray, that the heaven was opened: and the Holy Ghost came down in a bodily shape like a dove upon him” (Luke 3:22).

Dove are also found in the cultural heritage of many cultures. In Roman mythology the white Dove was sacred to Venus.

The Doves and Pigeons all belong to the Columbidae Family. Domesticated Doves including white coloured variants are related to the wild Rock Dove,

More Information

British Trust for Ornithology: Rock Dove

Folger Shakespeare: Search Shakespeare’s Works

Geneva Bible 1599 edition: accessed via Bible Gateway

RSPB: Rock Dove