Doves have held a special place in human culture for thousands of years. This quiz explores how this simple bird became a global representation of peace, faith, and divinity.
You will find questions about ancient Greek mythology, biblical stories, and even Picasso’s famous modern peace symbols. Some questions cover historical events, while others focus on classic iconography.
When you finish, take a look at our quizzes on symbols in art, learn about famous artists, or explore sacred architecture.
In Christian iconography, the dove is most commonly used to symbolize which figure?
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
God the Father
God the Father
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit
The Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary
In Greek mythology, the dove was sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of what?
Love and beauty
Love and beauty
War and destruction
War and destruction
Wisdom and strategy
Wisdom and strategy
Strength and power
Strength and power
For which event did Pablo Picasso famously draw the lithograph that became the iconic ‘Dove of Peace’?
The 1949 Paris International Peace Congress
The 1949 Paris International Peace Congress
The 1955 Geneva Summit
The 1955 Geneva Summit
The 1945 UN Founding Conference
The 1945 UN Founding Conference
The 1952 Vienna Congress of the Peoples for Peace
The 1952 Vienna Congress of the Peoples for Peace
In the Bible, which event features a dove returning with an olive branch to signal the end of a flood?
The journey of Jonah
The journey of Jonah
The story of Noah’s Ark
The story of Noah’s Ark
The parting of the Red Sea
The parting of the Red Sea
The fall of the Walls of Jericho
The fall of the Walls of Jericho
In Roman mythology, which goddess is the equivalent of Aphrodite and is also frequently associated with doves?
Diana
Diana
Venus
Venus
Juno
Juno
Minerva
Minerva
What is the historical origin of the dove as a universal symbol of peace?
It was an original invention of the 20th century
It was an original invention of the 20th century
It evolved from the biblical story of Noah’s Ark
It evolved from the biblical story of Noah’s Ark
It was adopted from Ancient Hebrew traditions
It was adopted from Ancient Hebrew traditions
It was originally a symbol of the Roman Emperor
It was originally a symbol of the Roman Emperor
Where does some of the earliest evidence of the dove as a Christian symbol appear?
Early Christian catacomb art
Early Christian catacomb art
Renaissance art
Renaissance art
Baroque art
Baroque art
Byzantine mosaic art
Byzantine mosaic art
The dove has been linked to peace primarily because of its connection to which common botanical symbol?
A laurel wreath
A laurel wreath
A palm branch
A palm branch
An olive branch
An olive branch
A red rose
A red rose
In Christian art, a dove is often depicted descending upon Mary during which significant biblical event?
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion
The Last Supper
The Last Supper
The Annunciation
The Annunciation
The Ascension
The Ascension
What artistic medium did Picasso use to create his iconic 1949 ‘La Colombe’ (The Dove)?
Bronze sculpture
Bronze sculpture
Watercolor
Watercolor
Lithograph
Lithograph
Oil painting
Oil painting
In certain Greek legends, doves were said to bring ambrosia to which king of the gods?
Zeus
Zeus
Apollo
Apollo
Poseidon
Poseidon
Hermes
Hermes
In which year’s Summer Olympics opening ceremony was the live release of doves permanently stopped after several birds were burned by the cauldron?
1988
1988
1984
1984
1996
1996
1992
1992
When a dove is depicted with a halo in Christian art, which figure is it primarily used to represent?
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
The Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit
God the Father
God the Father
Which artist, known for his lifelong friendship and rivalry with Picasso, gifted him the white pigeon that modeled for Picasso’s famous 1949 Peace Dove lithograph?
Henri Matisse
Henri Matisse
Georges Braque
Georges Braque
Joan Miró
Joan Miró
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall
In ancient Greek legend, the priestesses at the oldest oracle site, __________, were known as ‘peleiades’ or ‘doves’.
Dodona
Dodona
Delphi
Delphi
Olympia
Olympia
Ephesus
Ephesus
Besides the Holy Spirit, what did the dove frequently represent in early Christian funerary art?
A symbol of a loyal marriage partner
A symbol of a loyal marriage partner
A messenger bird from heaven
A messenger bird from heaven
A sign of fertility and rebirth
A sign of fertility and rebirth
A representation of the deceased’s soul
A representation of the deceased’s soul
In some medieval Christian artworks, a dove might be shown with rays of light or seven circles. What is the intended meaning of this sevenfold imagery?
To represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
To represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
To represent the seven wonders of the world
To represent the seven wonders of the world
To represent the seven days of creation
To represent the seven days of creation
To represent the seven sacraments
To represent the seven sacraments
Picasso’s ‘Dove of Peace’ was initially created for which specific purpose?
A sketch for his daughter Paloma
A sketch for his daughter Paloma
A cover design for a poetry collection
A cover design for a poetry collection
A mural in a Parisian railway station
A mural in a Parisian railway station
A lithograph for a peace conference poster
A lithograph for a peace conference poster
Which physical characteristic explains why the dove was historically chosen as a symbol compared to raptors like eagles or hawks?
It is a scavenger that marks the end of a conflict by cleaning up the field
It is a scavenger that marks the end of a conflict by cleaning up the field
It is associated with the ‘peace’ of the afterlife in many cultures
It is associated with the ‘peace’ of the afterlife in many cultures
It lacks the ‘war-like’ talons of birds of prey, making it appear gentle
It lacks the ‘war-like’ talons of birds of prey, making it appear gentle
It is the only bird that never shows aggression
It is the only bird that never shows aggression
In the Gospel accounts, the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove during what event?
The Multiplication of the Loaves
The Multiplication of the Loaves
The Nativity of Jesus
The Nativity of Jesus
The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration
The Baptism of Jesus
The Baptism of Jesus
Which Roman goddess is associated with the dove, with her chariot often depicted as being pulled by them?
Venus
Venus
Minerva
Minerva
Diana
Diana
Juno
Juno
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s famous 17th-century artistic installation involving a dove is located within which architectural masterpiece?
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul
The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris
The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris
The Great Mosque of Kairouan
The Great Mosque of Kairouan
St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
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