raven

raven common name for the largest member of the family Corvidae ( crow family), ranging throughout the arctic and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The raven, Corvus corax, is a glossy black scavenging bird about 26 in. (66 cm) long, with a call resembling a guttural croak. Long the subject of superstition and legend, the raven can be tamed and taught to mimic human speech. Ravens are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Passeriformes, family Corvidae.

Bibliography: See studies by B. Heinrich (repr. 1991; 1999).

raven A raven was sent out of the ark by Noah (Gen. 8: 6), but it was regarded as ceremonially unclean in the Law (Lev. 11: 15, in the Priestly source). The prophet Elijah was brought bread by ravens when he lived east of the Jordan (1 Kgs. 17: 6).

raven the raven is traditionally regarded as a bird of ill-omen, and one that as a carrion-bird feeds on corpses, especially of those who have been killed in battle or hanged. Danish vikings had the symbol of a raven on their flag. In Scandinavian mythology, Odin has two ravens, Hugin and Munin, who are his messengers.

A raven is the emblem of St Benedict and St Oswald; ravens are also said to have brought bread to the prophet Elijah when he was living east of the Jordan (1 Kings 17:6), and during the Flood a raven was sent out of the ark by Noah.