Raven (mythology)
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Raven is a character in the mythology and folklore of several ethnic groups, primarily on the Northwest Coast of North America, in Alaska, and in Siberia, as well as in Norse Mythology. Besides being the representative spirit of actual ravens, he is often depicted as a trickster or culture hero figure, or even as the creator of human beings.
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[edit] Raven Creates the World
A raven story from the Puget Sound region describes the Raven as having originally lived in the land of spirits (literally bird land) that existed before the world of humans. One day the Raven became so bored with bird land that he flew away, carrying a stone in his beak. When the Raven became tired of carrying the stone and dropped it, the stone fell into the ocean and expanded until it formed the world which humans now live in.
In the creator role, and in the Raven's role as the totem and ancestor of one of the four northwest clan houses, the Raven is often addressed as Grandfather Raven. It is not clear whether this form of address is intended to refer to a creator Raven who is different from the trickster Raven, or if it is just a vain attempt to encourage the trickster spirit to act respectably.
[edit] Raven Steals the Sun
This is an ancient story told on Puget Sound and includes how Raven helped to bring the Sun, Moon, Stars, Fresh Water, and Fire to the world.
Long ago, near the beginning of the world, Gray Eagle was the guardian of the Sun, Moon and Stars, of fresh water, and of fire. Gray Eagle hated people so much that he kept these things hidden. People lived in darkness, without fire and without fresh water.
Gray Eagle had a beautiful daughter, and Raven fell in love with her. At that time Raven was a handsome young man. He changed himself into a snow-white bird, and as a snow-white bird he pleased Gray Eagle's daughter. She invited him to her father's longhouse.
When Raven saw the Sun, Moon and stars, and fresh water hanging on the sides of Eagle's lodge, he knew what he should do. He watched for his chance to seize them when no one was looking. He stole all of them, and a brand of fire also, and flew out of the longhouse through the smoke hole. As soon as Raven got outside he hung the Sun up in the sky. It made so much light that he was able to fly far out to an island in the middle of the ocean. When the Sun set, he fastened the Moon up in the sky and hung the stars around in different places. By this new light he kept on flying, carrying with him the fresh water and the brand of fire he had stolen.
He flew back over the land. When he had reached the right place, he dropped all the water he had stolen. It fell to the ground and there became the source of all the fresh-water streams and lakes in the world. Then Raven flew on, holding the brand of fire in his bill. The smoke from the fire blew back over his white feathers and made them black. When his bill began to burn, he had to drop the firebrand. It struck rocks and hid itself within them. That is why, if you strike two stones together, sparks of fire will drop out.
Raven's feathers never became white again after they were blackened by the smoke from the firebrand. That is why Raven is now a black bird.
[edit] Norse Mythology
In the myths of Scandinavia, Odin has two pet Ravens that serve as his eyes and ears. One is Hugiin, or thought, and the other is Muninn, or memory. Every day the Ravens fly out from Hliðskjálf and bring Odin news from Midgaard.
[edit] Tower of London
There is a story that England will fall if ever the ravens abandon the Tower of London.[1]
[edit] Bön religion
The raven is sacred for the Bönpo as it sounds 'Ah' the sacred symbol which is the beginning and ending phoneme of the Sanskrit and Tibetan languages.
[edit] External links
- Raven finds the First Men
- Raven Tales (movie)
- GodChecker.com entry includes story of Raven stealing the sun.
[edit] References
- ^ The Tower of London. AboutBritain.com. Retrieved on March 3, 2007. “...legend has it that, if they leave, the kingdom will fall.”
