The Raven: A Cultural History

A raven is one of the key images in European symbolism and culture. Ravens were worshiped even in deep antiquity. According to ancient mythology, the gods punished the vain bird, and its white plumage was replaced by black. Celts and Germanic peoples believed the black bird served as a messenger of the gods. Christian Middle Ages saw the raven as an embodiment of evil and declared war on it; the Church even began promoting another bird image—the eagle. That’s how the negative image of the raven became fixed in fairy tales, fables, and poetry—based on fear and disgust. Even today, on a symbolic level, it remains a harbinger of bad news and a resident of cemeteries. Yet in the scientific world the black bird is gradually taking its revenge: its cognitive abilities are impressive—ravens play and talk. As Pastureau says, “the raven can get anyone to do what it wants: animals, people, gods. Sometimes even a historian can’t handle it.” This book is devoted to analyzing the many cultural transformations of the raven’s image, its impact on world culture, and the hundreds of related plots—from ancient myths to modern cinema.