Cool Stuff We Found Related To Ravens (Or In This Case Crows)

Matsumoto Castle, also known as the “Crow Castle” because of its black exterior, is a premier historic castle in Japan built in 1504 by the Shimadachi Sadanaga clan out of earth, stone and wood. “Crow Castle” was in use from 1504 to 1868 until the outer castle was demolished when the land was reclaimed in the Meiji Restoration. The original black keep and inner walls survived. The “Crow Castle” is now listed as a National Treasure of Japan and is located in the city of Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail.

Cool Stuff On Ravens - The Tower of London

It case you missed our previous post, let us introduce you again to the Tower of London Ravens...

Marley, a male, born in North Somerset, age 3

Erin, a female, born in North Somerset, age 3
Merlin, a female, born in South Whales, age 4
Baldrick, a male, born in Dartmoor, age 4
Munin, a female, born in North Uist (Scotland), age 14
Thor, a male, born in Hampshire, age 14
Hugine, a female, born in North Uist (Scotland), age 14
Gwylium, a male, born in Welsh Mountain Zoo, age 21

Source: The Historic Royal Palaces website, hrp.org.uk

Cool Stuff on Ravens - Learn a New Language

Is one of your 2011 New Year's resolutions to learn a new language? If so, here is your bilingual Raven....

Bilingual Ravens

Cherokee....Kalanu
Cree....Kahka'kwi
English....Raven
Danish....Ravn
Dutch....Raaf
Finnish....Korppi
French....Corbeau
Gaelic....Bran
German....Rabe
Greek....Korax
Hopi....Adoko
Icelandic....Hrafn
Inuit....Tulugaq
Irish....Fiach
Italian....Corvo
Japanese....Karasu
Latin....Corvus
Polish....Kruk
Portuguese....Corvo
Scots Gaelic....Fitheach, Fhitich
Spanish....Cuervo
Swedish....Korp
Turkish....Kuzgun
Welsh....Cigfran
Yiddish....Woron
Zuni....Kotollo-ah

Cool Stuff We Found Out About Ravens - The Existance of Sea Ravens

Image from gma.org

SEA RAVENS

Sea Ravens live in the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. They can be found on rocky bottoms with sand or mud, or among seaweeds, occasionally swimming up to the surface waters. Sea ravens vary in color from blood red to reddish purple, chocolate, or to yellowish brown and are covered in small spines. Most are a foot long but some do grow up to two feet. They are voracious feeders and are said to eat bait as well as whatever invertebrates it finds on the bottom, such as mollusks, various crustaceans, sea urchins, and worms.

Cool Stuff We Found About Ravens

Vietnamese Fable on how the Raven became black...

There was a white raven and white peacock who were good friends. One day they became bored and decided to entertain themselves by painting each other's feathers. The imaginative raven intricately painted the peacock in the dazzling multi-color hues so that it was and remains one of the most stunning birds on earth. The peacock, however, was not feeling particularly inspired that day and painted the raven all in black.

Cool Stuff We Found About Ravens

According to an old Inuit tale there was an owl and raven, who were very close friends. To express this deep friendship, the raven made a new black and white dress for the owl. The owl loved the dress and in returned wanted to make the raven a white dress. Since the owl wanted this dress to fit perfectly, it asked the raven to stand completely still for the fitting. But the raven would not cooperate and began hopping back and forth. The owl kept pleading for the raven to stay still, but the raven kept on fidgeting. The owl finally threatened to pour a blubber lamp all over the raven if it did not stop moving, but the raven continued hopping about and would not sit still. This was the last straw for the owl, and it emptied a blubber lamp with its entire black substance all over the new white dress. The raven cried out in dismay that its new white dress was ruined, but ever since that day, the raven has been black all over.

We stumbled upon this Inuit tale on the raven changing colors in the book, The Raven: Soaring Through History, Legend & Lore, by Lynn Hassler

Cool Stuff We Found About Ravens

Tower of London Raven Bistro

The Ravens at the Tower of London feast upon the following menu:

Blood-soaked biscuits
Boiled eggs in shell
Beef*
Pork*
Liver*
Lambs' heart*
Rabbit*

*All meat at the Raven Bistro is served raw.

Cool Stuff We Found About Ravens

Corvus Constellation

On a clear spring night in the southern skies, you might be able to see a small glittering group of stars called Corvus or the Crow. According to Greek mythology, a Raven served the god Apollo. One day the god sent the Raven to fetch a cup of water. On his way to the pond, the Raven spotted a fig tree. It decided to wait by the tree until the figs ripened and then slowly ate all of the tasty fruit. After feasting, The Raven finally retrieved a cup of water, but knew he was going to be in trouble returning so late to his master. Just then, the Raven spotted a water snake and decided to use it as an excuse for his tardiness. He captured the snake and took it and the cup of water back to Apollo, but, the god saw right through the Raven's lie. In his anger, Apollo cast the Raven, the cup, and the snake into the sky, where they became three constellations, Corvus (the Crow), Crater (the Cup), and Hydra (the Serpent).

Cool Stuff About Ravens

Bilingual Ravens

Cherokee....Kalanu
Cree....Kahka'kwi
English....Raven
Danish....Ravn
Dutch....Raaf
Finnish....Korppi
French....Corbeau
Gaelic....Bran
German....Rabe
Greek....Korax
Hopi....Adoko
Icelandic....Hrafn
Inuit....Tulugaq
Irish....Fiach
Italian....Corvo
Japanese....Karasu
Latin....Corvus
Polish....Kruk
Portuguese....Corvo
Scots Gaelic....Fitheach, Fhitich
Spanish....Cuervo
Swedish....Korp
Turkish....Kuzgun
Welsh....Cigfran
Yiddish....Woron
Zuni....Kotollo-ah