Anthropomorphism is loaded with symbolism. Foxes and lions from Aesop’s fables, and fauns and centaurs from old myths represent personalities, emotions and urges. This influenced modern concepts of the subconscious by Freud and Jung. In dream symbols, animals are very prevalent, appearing in as much as 50% of dreams of children. It relates to the way animal symbols spread throughout prehistoric cave art, until today when media is full of animal cartoons. Anthropomorphism has deep roots in the way people think.
You can read a lot more about this in Wikipedia’s page for Symbolic Culture and the study of symbolic language (semiotics.) This broad background makes it interesting to look at symbols with very long traditions, perhaps as old as language. Many furry articles could be written about different categories.
Fred Patten sent comments that lead to furry thoughts about Heraldry (royal coats of arms), Vexillology (flags) and Numismatics (money) – all closely related symbols of nations.
– Patch
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