In ancient Greece, the eagle was primarily associated with Zeus, the king of the gods. As a symbol of Zeus’s power and sovereignty, the eagle was often depicted as his sacred bird, serving as both his companion and messenger. In many myths, Zeus would transform into an eagle or send an eagle to carry out tasks on his behalf. The eagle’s powerful presence symbolized Zeus’s dominion over the heavens and his authority over both gods and humans. The bird’s ability to soar to great heights and its sharp vision made it a fitting representation of Zeus’s all-seeing nature and his supreme control over the cosmos. The eagle also had associations with victory and strength, qualities that were central to Zeus’s role as a god of justice and ruler of the gods.

In the context of Roman culture, the eagle became an even more prominent symbol, particularly in the military. The Roman eagle (aquila) was adopted as the standard for the Roman legions, symbolizing the power and unity of the Roman Empire. The aquila was a sacred symbol, carried into battle by Roman soldiers, and its loss or capture was seen as a great dishonor. The eagle was also connected to Jupiter, the Roman counterpart to Zeus, and was used to represent the god’s divine authority and rule over the empire. Roman emperors, like their Greek counterparts, were often depicted with eagles as symbols of their divine favor and imperial power. The eagle’s association with Jupiter elevated it as a symbol of Roman strength, divine protection, and military prowess.

The eagle’s symbolism of imperial power was especially evident in the iconography of Roman coins, where the eagle frequently appeared as a prominent motif. It was often shown perched on a globe, representing the emperor’s dominion over the world, or in flight, emphasizing the reach and superiority of the Roman Empire. In this context, the eagle not only symbolized military might but also the divine sanction of the emperor’s rule. As the eagle was associated with the gods, its image on coins and standards served to remind the Roman people of their connection to the divine and the emperor’s role as the earthly representative of that divine power.