The Raven. A Cultural History

The raven is one of the key images in European symbolism and culture. The raven was worshipped in ancient times. The raven, originally white, was turned black in punishment by the god, according to the ancient mythology. The Celts and the Germanic peoples believed that the black bird was a messenger of the god. The Christian medieval thought regarded the raven as an embodiment of evil forces and declared war on it; the Church began promoting another bird image — the eagle. In this way, the raven’s negative image became firmly established in fairy tales, fables, and poetry, shaped by fear and disgust. Even today, on a symbolic level, the raven remains a bearer of unhappy news and a creature of graveyards. However, the black bird is gradually taking its revenge in scientific circles: its cognitive abilities are astonishing — ravens play and talk. According to Pastoureau, the raven ‘is capable of deceiving anyone: animals, people, gods. Sometimes even a historian cannot cope with it.’
Michel Pastoureau's book is analysing the numerous cultural metamorphoses of the raven's image, its influence on world culture and dozens of related stories — from ancient myths to modern films.

Michel Pastoureau. The Raven: A Cultural History / Translated from French by Denis Golovanenko. Scientific Editor Mikhail Maizuls. Editor Pavel Zdeshnev. — Moscow: Led, 2025.