A Study of Ravens in Myth and Folklore

Ravens are powerful symbols of folklore across the world. They are messengers, heroes, tricksters and omens of death, yet today it seems as if the former connotations have been lost as the latter become the definitive symbolism of ravens (this, of course, being helped by a certain poem by Edgar Allan Poe). It also does not help that ravens are often confused with crows, who have their own plethora of mythological connections.

In regards to the differences between ravens and crows, ravens are identified as larger than crows, often only flying in pairs versus crows which fly in groups. A raven’s cry is more of a throaty croak versus the crow's high pitch caw, and a raven’s throat is more shaggy versus a crow's sleek neckline.

One (or in this case, two) of the most identifiable stories of ravens in mythology are Hugin and Munin, Odin’s pet ravens whose names mean thought and memory respectively. As Odin had cleverness and wisdom as his domain, these names and connotations are apt. The two ravens would often fly around the world and relate information to Odin according to the Poetic Edda, a collection of 13th century poems that tell the stories of the Norse gods.

Not too far off from the land of Norse mythos, Celtic mythology features ravens in many legends, often seen as an omen of death due to the raven’s carrion nature and their low call. They also acted as messengers between the worlds of the living and the dead. In a similar vein, the war goddess Badb of Irish mythology often takes the form of a raven alongside the Morrigan, who in the form of a raven, sat on historic folk hero Cú Chulainn’s shoulder after he died.

Other Western cultures that included ravens are the Greeks, as it is said that they were messengers of Apollo, the god of the sun and oracles. There is also an explanation for the raven’s black feathers here, as Apollo took away their formerly white feathers after a raven told him a nymph he loved was married.

In contrast, Native American folklore honor ravens as heroes in several stories of Northwest tribes, often having the raven be a benevolent transformer figure while also having stories where they are depicted as tricksters, with stories dealing with the fallout of their frivolous behavior. In Japanese mythology, ravens are symbols of the sun and are connected to divine intervention in human affairs, with one of the oldest symbols in Japanese mythology being the three legged raven Yatagarasu.

Ravens are not just large birds that are placed in poems and horror movies, but in many ways contrary symbols. Whether they are omens of death or bringers of enlightenment, one never knows where the raven will fly next.

Resources:

Kneale, Alastair. “Ravens in Celtic and Norse Mythology.” Transceltic - Home of the Celtic Nations, 12 Dec. 2017, www.transceltic.com/pan-celtic/ravens-celtic-and-norse-mythology.

Levy, Lauren. ““Crow” Vs. “Raven”: Do You Know the Difference?” Dictionary.com, 19 Jan. 2021, www.dictionary.com/e/crow-vs-raven.

Vuuren, Ronel Janse van. “Ravens and Crows in Folklore #folklore #mythology.” Ronel the Mythmaker, 25 Aug. 2023, www.ronelthemythmaker.com/ravens-and-crows-in-folklore-folklore-mythology/ .