THE RAVEN, A Cultural History.
Seuil editions| N° d'inventaire | 25146 |
| Format | 19 x 24 cm |
| Détails | 160 p., Paperback. |
| Publication | Paris, 2021 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782021477931 |
A black bird, celebrated in ancient mythologies and venerated by the peoples of the North who praise its intelligence, memory, and prophecy, the raven is greatly devalued by Christianity. Like the Bible, it is considered an impious bird. The Fathers of the Church and medieval authors deliberately reserved a prominent place for it in the Devil's bestiary.
In modern times, this symbolism has become even more negative, as attested by fables, proverbs, and lexicon. It is a malevolent, repugnant, and unlucky bird. Crows are killed in large numbers in the European countryside. Nowadays, however, the bird seems to be taking its revenge: the most recent studies on animal intelligence show that its cognitive abilities sometimes make it the equal of the great apes.
A black bird, celebrated in ancient mythologies and venerated by the peoples of the North who praise its intelligence, memory, and prophecy, the raven is greatly devalued by Christianity. Like the Bible, it is considered an impious bird. The Fathers of the Church and medieval authors deliberately reserved a prominent place for it in the Devil's bestiary.
In modern times, this symbolism has become even more negative, as attested by fables, proverbs, and lexicon. It is a malevolent, repugnant, and unlucky bird. Crows are killed in large numbers in the European countryside. Nowadays, however, the bird seems to be taking its revenge: the most recent studies on animal intelligence show that its cognitive abilities sometimes make it the equal of the great apes.