It’s the three of us! Debbie, Haley, and Savanna explore how ravens are clever and not crows and also not in Kentucky! Also, forgive the audio! We’re still learning and figuring this out. Thank you for your patience as we figure out how to be the best podcast we can be <3

The Tower of London's ravens are one of Britain's most famous legends. According to tradition, King Charles II decreed in the 1660s that at least six ravens must always remain at the Tower, for if they ever leave, the Crown will fall and Britain with it. The legend claims an ancient prophecy, a royal astronomer's complaint, and three centuries of continuous tradition. There's only one problem: it's almost certainly Victorian fiction. This episode traces the real history of the Tower ravens—from the legend's probable invention in the 1880s, through its crystallization during World War II, to the modern Ravenmaster tradition that continues today. We explore the remarkable intelligence of common ravens, their deep significance in Norse and Celtic mythology, and how an invented tradition became genuine national heritage. Along the way, we discover that sometimes the best myths are the ones we consciously create.

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Sources!

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Poe, Edgar Allan. "The Raven." The Evening Mirror, January 29, 1845. Reprinted in The Raven and Other Poems. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1845.

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