Friday, February 02, 2007

Corvus corax

Image:Corvus corax (Pcb21).jpg

In Native American legend

Main article: Raven (mythology)

The Raven also has a prominent role in the mythologies of the Native Americans of Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and Alaska, including the Tsimishian, Haida, Bella Bella, Tlingit, Kwakiutl, Koyukons, and Inuit. The raven in Native American mythology is both the creator of the world but also considered a trickster god.

For instance, in Tlingit culture, there are two different Raven characters which can be identified, although they are not always clearly differentiated. One is the creator Raven who is responsible for bringing the world into being and who is sometimes considered to be the same individual as the Owner of Daylight. The other is the childish Raven, always selfish, sly, conniving, and hungry.

Other notable stories tell of the Raven stealing and releasing the sun, and of the Raven tempting the first humans out of a clam shell.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Raven

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