[Greek] ἀετός (aetos), [Latin] aquila, [Latin] voltur: eagle, vulture; Rev.4:7, Rev.8:13, Rev.12:14, Mt.24:28, Lk.17:37
The eagle (aquila) was the standard of the Roman legion. The standard bearer (aquilifer) carries this standard.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means eagle, bird of omen, something out of reach, gable, as a standard, constellation, favorite of Zeus, and winged hound of Zeus. Homer’s Iliad 8.247 states “Forthwith, he sent an eagle, surest of omens among winged birds, holding in his talons a fawn.” Aristophanes’ Birds 987 states “And don’t spare him, were he an eagle from out of the clouds, were it Lampon himself or the great Diopithes.” Aristophanes’ Birds 1110 states “Besides, you shall be housed like gods, for we shall erect gables over your dwellings. If you had some public post and want to do a little pilfering, we will give you the sharp claws of a hawk.”
New Testament: This term means eagle or vulture. Revelations presents the eagle as a noble, strong, wise, and swift creature of divine help. The eagle cries out in a loud voice ‘Woe, woe, woe’, in providing a warning for the last three trumpet blasts. The woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon at her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars, is carried away by the wings of the great eagle to a place of safety. The vultures will gather around the corpses (bodies). This will be one of the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.
Scripture:
“But the woman was given two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year.” Rev.12:14
The eagle is the one of the noblest, wisest, and swiftest creatures of divine help.
“Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Mt.24:24
This is one of the signs of the coming of the Son of Man
Conclusion:
Eagle, vulture, aquiline,
In the Greek Hellenistic era, it was interesting to discover the more nuanced meanings of this term. One cannot get more nuanced than something out of reach. The gable of a house is the triangle shaped wall (of the house) between the intersecting roofs on a house. The eagle (gable) become the precursor to the eagle plaque placed on houses.
In the New Testament, the eagle becomes the regal creature of divine help. On the other hand, vultures are associated with death and corruption.
Aquiline (aqulinity): the qualities of a hooked or crooked nose looking like an eagle’s beak
Aquila: the constellation on the celestial equator, representing the bird that carries the Zeus’ thunderbolt.
WARNING—USELESS WORDS ALERT–
Aquilege (Aquilegia): plants with irregularly spurred flowers
Aquilinity: relating to the characteristics of an eagle or hooked (crooked) nose
Aquilated: adorned with eagles’ heads
Aquilifer: A soldier signifier bearing the eagle standard of a Roman legion
Aquilone: the fictional city in Conan the Barbarians’ world
I thought that post was just about an eagle. This term surpassed my expectations like an eagle out of the clouds!