The ancient Greeks believed the Rooster rose to attention and saluted the sun every morning with a hearty cry, symbolizing victory overnight. As such, the Rooster was considered a solar emblem to the Greeks, and was adopted as a sacred sign to the god Apollo as well as Zeus, Persephone and Attis.
In Christianity, the Rooster is noted for crowing three times after Peter denied Christ. As such, it became a symbol of Christ’s passion. Later, the Rooster would signify the repentance of the saint and religious vigilance as well as resurrection. To this day the Rooster seen on a weathervane is steeped in symbolic meanings that deal with watchful vigilance against evil, as weathervanes are commonly seen atop churches.
One of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, the Rooster is a Chinese symbol of honesty, as well as physical and moral fortitude. It is of the yang attribute and signifies fortune, luck, fidelity, protection as well as bossiness. For other Chinese animal symbol meanings click here.
Roosters are considered sacred symbols in Japan, and are permitted to run free among the Shinto temples. This is partially due to the Rooster calling Shinto followers to prayer with its morning crow at dawn.
