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In Danish folklore, a valravn (Danish: raven of the slain) is a supernatural raven. The raven appears in traditional Danish folksongs, where they are described as originating from ravens who consume the bodies of the dead on the battlefield, as capable of turning into the form of a knight after consuming the heart of a child, and, alternately, as half-wolf and half-raven creatures.
Folklore
According to Danish folklore recorded in the late 1800s, when a king or chieftain was killed in battle and not found and buried, ravens came and ate him. The ravens became valravne. The valravn that ate the king's heart gained human knowledge and could perform great malicious acts, could lead people astray, had superhuman powers, and were "terrible animals".[1]
In another account, a valravn is described as a peaceless soul in search of redemption that flies by night (but never day) and can only free itself from its animal countenance by consuming the blood of a child. This is reflected in a Danish traditional song that describes how, after refusing offers of riches, the Valravn makes an agreement with a maiden to take her to her betrothed after she promises the valravn her first born son. After the agreement, the valravn flies away. In time, the couple have a child and the Valravn returns, and asks the maiden if she has forgotten her promise. The valravn takes the child away, and tears into the chest of his won wager and consumes the blood contained within the child's heart. As a result, the valravn transforms into a knight. Other accounts describe valravns as monsters that are half-wolf and half-raven.[2]
Theories
According to Jacob Grimm, in his 1844 work Deutsche Mythologie, the "vilde ravn or vilde valravn" ("wild raven or wild Valravn") take "exactly the place of the diabolical trold" in Danish folk songs. Grimm proposes a Old High German equivalent to the Danish valravn; walahraban.[3]
Influence
The valravn has inspired an early 20th century book of short stories[4] and some modern popular culture references, such as a modern Danish musical group that plays a form of traditional music called Valravn,[5] Valravn, a Danish Germanic Neopagan magazine published in 24 issues from 2002 to 2007,[6] and mentions in Danish children's books.[7]
See also
Notes
- ^ Kristensen (1980:132).
- ^ Olrik (1909:43-46).
- ^ Grimm (2004:997).
- ^ Stuckenberg (1908).
- ^ Valravn online: [1]
- ^ Valravn magazine online: [2] All issues for download: [3]
- ^ For example Bjerre (1991:10).
References
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