Bataleur
Item
Title
Bataleur
Description
Find the Bataleur eagle egg that forms part of the Steyn collection. Collected when Steyn spent time in Zimbabwe, the egg is a link to the iconic stone carved Zimbabwe Birds which once stood proudly on guard atop the walls and monoliths of the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe, believed to be built between the 12th and 15th centuries by ancestors of the Shona. The overall shape of the birds suggests that of a bateleur eagle – a bird of great significance in Shona culture. The bateleur or chapungu is a good omen, the symbol of a protective spirit and a messenger of the gods.
Date
1 January 2022, 11:01
Date Valid
1 January 2022, 11:15