CrowThough not generally perceived as graceful, crows are remarkably so—a single curve undulates from the tip of the bird’s beak to the end of its tail. They take flight almost without effort, flapping their wings easily and ascending into the air like spirits. Crow by Boria Sax is a celebration of the crow and its relatives in myth, literature, and life. Sax takes readers into the history of crows, detailing how in a range of cultures, from the Chinese to the Hopi Indians, crows are bearers of prophecy. For example, thanks in part to the birds’ courtship rituals, Greeks invoked crows as symbols of conjugal love. From the raven sent out by Noah to the corvid deities of the Eskimo, from Taoist legends to Victorian novels and contemporary films, Sax’s book ranges across history and culture and will interest anyone who has ever been intrigued, puzzled, annoyed, or charmed by these wonderfully intelligent birds. |
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Page 5
... Culture 90 6 The Romantic Era 102 7 Lord of the Crows 128 8 The Twentieth Century and Beyond 144 Timeline 162 References 164 Bibliography 168 Websites 175 Associations 177 Acknowledgements 178 Photo Acknowledgements 179 Index 180 A ...
... Culture 90 6 The Romantic Era 102 7 Lord of the Crows 128 8 The Twentieth Century and Beyond 144 Timeline 162 References 164 Bibliography 168 Websites 175 Associations 177 Acknowledgements 178 Photo Acknowledgements 179 Index 180 A ...
Page 10
... cultural perspectives. The 'blind men' here are illustrious poets, scientists, priests, painters . . . And they are not examining an elephant; they are examining a crow. Nevertheless, the same principle applies. All of the various forms ...
... cultural perspectives. The 'blind men' here are illustrious poets, scientists, priests, painters . . . And they are not examining an elephant; they are examining a crow. Nevertheless, the same principle applies. All of the various forms ...
Page 23
... cultures from North America to China. Their verbal facility has also earned them reputations as lovers, demons and fairies. Another sign of intelligence is a complex social life, and that of corvids continues to challenge researchers ...
... cultures from North America to China. Their verbal facility has also earned them reputations as lovers, demons and fairies. Another sign of intelligence is a complex social life, and that of corvids continues to challenge researchers ...
Page 27
... cultures that prefer to view life as a continuous cycle of birth and decay. Corpses were traditionally fed to birds in parts of Persia and India. In Tibet the custom of feeding the bodies of the deceased to scavengers, particularly ...
... cultures that prefer to view life as a continuous cycle of birth and decay. Corpses were traditionally fed to birds in parts of Persia and India. In Tibet the custom of feeding the bodies of the deceased to scavengers, particularly ...
Page 28
... cultures throughout the world. We should remember, however, that attitudes towards death have always been complex and ambivalent. It brings at once terror and comfort. It can be viewed as extinction, or as the passing to another ...
... cultures throughout the world. We should remember, however, that attitudes towards death have always been complex and ambivalent. It brings at once terror and comfort. It can be viewed as extinction, or as the passing to another ...
Contents
31 | |
38 | |
The European Middle Ages and Renaissance | 55 |
Asia | 80 |
Native American Culture | 90 |
The Romantic Era | 102 |
Lord of the Crows | 128 |
The Twentieth Century and Beyond | 144 |
References | 164 |
Bibliography | 168 |
Websites | 175 |
Associations | 177 |
Acknowledgements | 178 |
Photo Acknowledgements | 179 |
Index | 180 |
Timeline | 162 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ages and Renaissance American crow animals Apollo appear archaic associated Athena Badbh battle beak became behaviour birds body carrion crow Celtic Celts colour common raven corone corvids creatures crow Corvus crow or raven crows and ravens culture dead death deity divination Emperor Ernest Thompson Seton especially Europe fable farmers feathers fields flew genus Corvus Ghost Dance goddess Gogh Greek Grimm brothers heaven hero hooded crow Horapollo human illustration Indians Inuit Irish jackdaw Jacob de Voragine killed king legend literature live Lorenz magpie medieval Middle Ages myths Native Americans nests nineteenth century Noah numbers O'Casey Odin painted pecking perched perhaps poem popular probably prophet raven or crow Roman rooks scarecrow scaring scientists Sean O'Casey Seton shows Silverspot sometimes story symbol tale tell told traditions tree twentieth century wings wolves word wrote young