The
Turul is the most important bird in the
origin myth of the
Magyars (
Hungarian people). It is a divine messenger, and perches on top of the
tree of life along with the other spirits of unborn children in the form of birds. The Turul became a symbol of power, strength, and nobility, and it is still used today on the coat of arms of the
Hungarian Army, the
Counter Terrorism Centre and the
Office of National Security. The most common motifs of the ninth and the early tenth centuries—the griffin, wolf and hind—seldom figure in later Hungarian iconography and heraldic symbolism, however the Hawk or Turul, which in shamanistic lore rested upon the tree of life connecting the earth with the netherworld and the skies, preserved for longer as a device belonging to the ruling house.