Not just ravens

   When we took to the family our first crow, my husband very seriously asked me if I understand the specifics of these birds. Indeed, crows and ravens are not the simplest birds. They are very clever, I would even say - intelligent. They are found in almost any mythology and fairy tales.    

  

  These birds are quite complex in terms of symbolism. We can find different, sometimes contradictory, approaches to describing what they symbolize. 

     So, for example, according to the description of Jack Tressider, in Celtic mythology, two ravens Huginn and Muninn accompanied the god of war Odin. Birds told him about the events that took place in the world of mortals and symbolized the memory and mind. 

O'er Mithgarth Hugin and Munin both  

Each day set forth to fly;  

For Hugin I fear lest he come not home,  

But for Munin my care is more.  

                                       (Poetic Edda)  

    In Jewish mythology, the attitude towards the raven was ambiguous. On the one hand, the raven was considered a "dirty" bird, since it eat garbage. On the other hand, ravens are seen as a symbol of insight. Ravens are also credited that they brought food to Elijah and some holy Christian hermits. 

  As a symbol of the Sun and prophecy, the raven was considered in the era of antiquity. In ancient mythology raven is often mentioned in connection with the Mithra solar cult. The raven is also considered a bird-herald of the god Apollo and the goddess Athena. It was believed that the black plumage of a raven helps him survive a close contact with the Sun. 

         In the East it is known as a symbol of red-colored three-legged (tripedal) raven (or crow). For example, in China, the three-legged raven was the emblem of the Shu dynasty. It was believed that the raven lived on the Sun. Three of its paws symbolized, respectively, the sunrise, zenith and sunset. Also in China and Japan, the raven is the emblem of family love.  

   For some tribes of Africa, a crow is considered to be a guide, which warns of danger. In European mythology, ravens are often seen as the emblem of war, death and abandonment. 

     Functionally, the raven is associated with different parts of the universe: with the terrestrial world, earth, water, sky, sun. This is due to its black color and a sharp cry. 

    The raven feeds on carrion. It is no longer an animal, but not a vegetable food, so the raven represents a compromise between predators and herbivores, life and death. 

    Separately, it should be said about the raven's cry. Often it is called ominous, demonic, connected with the realm of the dead and with death, with a bloody battle. On the other hand in ancient Rome, the raven often associated with hope, because his cry reminded the Latin word "cras" - "tomorrow". In addition, the ability of the raven/crow to imitate human speech contributed to the emergence of ideas about them as wise birds.    

On the photoes our crow Castanyetta and raven Varvara from the shelter Farmland Nushanikovo