Editing European turtle dove (section)

==In culture==
[[File:SophieAnderson TheTurtleDoveSmall.jpg|thumb|''The Turtle Dove'' by [[Sophie Gengembre Anderson]]]]

According to [[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]], the turtle dove was sacred to [[Demeter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/DemeterTreasures.html|title=DEMETER ESTATE & ATTRIBUTES – Greek Mythology}}</ref>  In [[Roman mythology]], the turtle dove was one of the emblems of [[Fides (deity)|Fides]], the goddess of trust and good faith.<ref name="peck">{{cite book|author=Harry Thurston Peck |date=1898 |title=Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities |chapter=Fides (2) |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0062%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DF%3Aentry+group%3D3%3Aentry%3Dfides2-harpers |access-date=2015-12-21 |location=New York |publisher=Harper and Brothers}}</ref><ref name="smith">{{DGRBM|author=LS |title=Fides |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DF%3Aentry+group%3D3%3Aentry%3Dfides-bio-1}}</ref>

Perhaps because of Biblical references &ndash; especially verse 2: 12 from the [[Song of Songs]] "the voice of the turtle [dove] is heard in our land" &ndash; its mournful voice, and the fact that it forms strong [[pair bond]]s, European turtle doves have become emblems of devoted love. In the [[New Testament]], two turtle doves are mentioned as the [[Pidyon haben|customary offering]] during the [[Presentation of Jesus at the Temple]].<ref name=RockSwag>[http://www.rocketswag.com/animal/birds/doves/Meaning-Of-Turtle-Doves.html "Meaning Of Turtle Doves."] Rocketswag.com. Rocketswag.com, 2012.</ref>  In Renaissance Europe, the European turtle dove was envisaged as the devoted partner of the [[Phoenix (mythology)|Phoenix]]. [[Robert Chester (poet)|Robert Chester]]'s poem ''Love's Martyr'' is a sustained exploration of this symbolism. It was published along with other poems on the subject, including [[William Shakespeare]]'s poem "[[The Phoenix and the Turtle]]", where "turtle" refers to the turtle dove.

The turtle dove is featured in a number of [[folk song]]s about love and loss, including "[[There Is a Tavern in the Town]]". One of these is a setting by [[Ralph Vaughan Williams]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Works of Ralph Vaughan Williams |year=1992 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=178 |isbn=0-19-816330-4 |first1=Michael |last1=Kennedy |first2=Ralph Vaughan |last2=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qzlj-LaQzvEC&pg=PA177 }}</ref>

Turtle doves are also featured in the song, "[[The Twelve Days of Christmas (song)|The Twelve Days of Christmas]]", as the gift "my true love gave to me" on the second and subsequent days of Christmas.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1126/12-days-of-Christmas-cost-How-much-is-a-partridge-in-a-pear-tree | title='12 days of Christmas' cost: How much is a partridge in a pear tree? | publisher=The Christian Science Monitor | date=November 26, 2012 | access-date=8 May 2014 | author=The Associated Press}}</ref>

Turtle doves appear in the title and lyrics of the [[Spiritual (music)|spiritual]] "Turtledove Done Drooped His Wings" from the Georgia [[Sea Islands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=35605|title=Origin: Turtledove Done Drooped His Wings|first=Max|last=Spiegel}}</ref><ref>audio clip: [http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=phc/2010/02/20/phc_20100220_64&starttime=00:47:48&endtime=00:51:11 Lafayette/ Turtle Dove] – [[Peter Ostroushko]], Shoe Band, GK and Andra Suchy, 2/20/2010</ref>

In the [[Shakers|Shaker]] hymn "In Yonder Valley", that "the turtledove is in our land" is seen as a good omen and sign of growth.