Whenever I hear the cry of a crow, I cannot help but lift my head to the skies and search in wonder with my eyes. Perhaps that is exactly how all humankind has felt and still feels today since the beginning of time, when it laid its gaze on this singular animal for the first time, because, we must admit, it is wonderful. Within the corvid family, however, we must turn towards ravens as well, for both these creatures have always fascinated and intrigued men, often shrouding themselves in a dark cloak of mystery. As a matter of fact, with their pitch-coloured feathers and pointed beaks, it is no wonder that for generations crows and ravens have frightened entire eras of history; yet there is much more to these dark-winged creatures than the past tells us. Books and documents may describe them as bearers of bad luck, omens of peril, and spirits who enjoy causing ruckus and mischief… But how did they earn such an ominous reputation, and why?
Let’s start from the beginning. Although there is a considerable difference between crows and ravens in terms of plumage, beak, tail, and cry, very often we find ourselves mistaking and using both names, as if one is worth the other. It may be that they are both omnivores and terribly intelligent, but a substantial and thrilling distinction lies in the very title that people use when referring to a group of one or the other.
A group of crows is called a murder, while one of ravens is an unkindness.
Terrible, isn’t it?
It seems that, with their cunning skills and great intellect as scavengers, these feathered shadows have a long legacy as harbingers of death. Their excellent minds, along with their senses, make both crows and ravens amazing at detecting where food can be found. In the past, however, with bloody battles and destructive wars, whenever someone saw a corvid, they screamed, “Death!” Yet, the reality of it all simply is hidden behind superstition and mortals’ fear, for these birds just feasted upon the dead. To the human eye, this behaviour certainly did not make them angelic nor peaceful, earning them their grim fame. But the numerous rumours about their macabre ways do not only derive from men’s strong uneasiness, because mythology played a striking role in it as well. A notorious example is the Morrigan from Irish myths, a goddess associated with war. Often assuming the figure of a raven in many tales, it is said that the Morrigan appeared to warriors right before the battle, either as a maiden or a crone, offering them a choice or foretelling their doom. One of the most intriguing characteristics of this goddess, however, was how she is also described as a sort of prophet, a seer, able to predict or influence the course of events. Another grand example in the West is one of the best-known Norse gods—Odin.
According to Celtic folklore, the Allfather deity was said to be accompanied by two ravens—Huginn and Muninn, which mean ‘thought ‘and ‘memory’, respectively. Ancient tales narrate how they set out each morning before the crack of dawn to fly around the Norse world, Midgard, returning at dinnertime to their perch on Odin’s shoulders to whisper in his ears all they had seen. Too often regarded as mere servants, Huginn and Muninn are in reality much more. They indeed were advisors but are more precisely painted as the very manifestation of Odin’s eyes and ears, as if they were an extension of the god himself. Especially during battle, whenever they appeared, they were said to gather knowledge and represent that the Allfather was watching and that the fallen would have soon been collected.
It could be said that Europe had a knack for terror, especially during the Middle Ages and the Modern Period, when their hatred towards witches and all creatures that could be associated with them—much like corvids—invaded every land. Even William Shakespeare wrote in his plays about ravens and crows, often as symbols of ruin, presaging betrayal and violence. In Macbeth, for instance, they represent the arrival of bad luck; for example, their cawing is used to signal the imminent betrayal and murder of King Duncan, or another one is when Lady Macbeth herself invokes the cry of ravens as she prepares to seize power through deadly deeds.
Fortunately, however, these innocent birds are not constantly depicted in such a macabre way. In some cultures, such as Native American or Eastern European traditions, the crow is indeed seen as a trickster and held in high regard. It is a complex figure and a mediator who shifts between the physical and intangible worlds. Attention is also paid to this animal in East Asia, where the mythological creature of the three-legged crow has a different but equally powerful significance. In ancient China, crows were believed to be linked to the sun and the heavens, and it was believed that our very own star was inhabited by the Sanzuwu, a crow coloured in red and gold instead of the usual black. Such presence is seen as well in Japan, Korea, and numerous other countries and cultures.
At the end of the day, however, be it death or wisdom, all representations of both ravens and crows are as influential as they are timeless. Yet, their loyalty, ingenuity, and physical prowess make them creatures that, although they may have been associated with death and dread in the past, no one can doubt that the names ‘thought’ and ‘memory’ fully represent them.
You must remember, though, dear reader… Corvids, much like humans, really know how to hold a grudge.
Up, The Tree of Crows by Caspar David Friedrich (circa 1822)
Sources:
Raven vs Crow: What’s the Difference?
The Magic of Crows and Ravens in Mythology
Why Is A Group Of Crows Called A Murder?
The Library of the Unseen 
Beautiful description of my sign! Thank you ☺️ 😘😘