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:''This article discusses the medieval flag. For the booklet, see The Raven Banner.'' The raven banner (Old Norse: ''hrafnsmerki''; Middle English: ''hravenlandeye'') was a flag, possibly totemic in nature, flown by various Viking chieftains and other Scandinavian rulers during the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries. The flag, as depicted in Norse artwork, was roughly triangular, with a rounded outside edge on which there hung a series of tabs or tassels. It bore a resemblance to ornately carved "weather-vanes" used aboard Viking longships. Scholars conjecture that the raven flag was a symbol of Odin, who was often depicted accompanied by two ravens named Huginn and Muninn. Its intent may have been to strike fear in one's enemies by invoking the power of Odin. As one scholar notes regarding encounters between the Christian Anglo-Saxons and the invading pagan Scandinavians: "The Anglo-Saxons probably thought that the banners were imbued with the evil powers of pagan idols, since the Anglo-Saxons were aware of the significance of Óðinn and his ravens in Norse mythology."〔Hrafnhildur Bodvarsdottir (1976) p. 112.〕 ==Raven symbolism in Norse culture== The raven is a common iconic figure in Norse mythology. The highest god Odin had two ravens named Huginn and Muninn ("thought" and "memory" respectively) who flew around the world bringing back tidings to their master. Therefore, one of Odin's many names was the "raven god" (''Hrafnaguð''). In ''Gylfaginning'' (c. 1220), the medieval Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson explains: Odin was also closely linked to ravens because in Norse myths he received the fallen warriors at Valhalla, and ravens were linked with death and war due to their predilection for carrion. It is consequently likely that they were regarded as manifestations of the valkyries, goddesses who chose the valiant dead for military service in Valhalla.〔(Viking Answer Lady Webpage - Valkyries, Wish-Maidens, and Swan-Maids )〕 A further connection between ravens and Valkyries was indicated in the shapeshifting abilities of goddesses and Valkyries, who could appear in the form of birds.〔Examples of this occur in ''Þrymskviða'', stanzas 3 and 4, when Freya lends her bird fetch to Loki; and in the Valkyrie Kára of whom an account survives in ''Hrómundar saga Gripssonar''.〕 The raven appears in almost every skaldic poem describing warfare.〔Hjelmquist 142.〕 To make war was to feed and please the raven (''hrafna seðja'', ''hrafna gleðja'').〔 An example of this is found in ''Norna-Gests þáttr'', where Regin recites the following poem after Sigurd kills the sons of Hunding: Above all, kennings used in Norse poetry identify the raven as the bird of blood, corpses and battle;〔Hjelmquist 143.〕 he is the gull of the wave of the heap of corpses, who screams dashed with hail and craves morning steak as he arrives at the sea of corpses (').〔Hjelmquist citing ''Fornmanna sögur III'' p. 148, in Hjelmquist 143.〕 In black flocks, the ravens hover over the corpses and the skald asks where they are heading (').〔In a poem by Þórðr in ''Bjarnar Saga Hitdælakappa'', p. 67, cited in Hjelmquist 143.〕 The raven goes forth in the blood of those fallen in battle (').〔Stanza 2, in ''Krákumál'', cited in Hjelmquist 143.〕 He flies from the field of battle with blood on his beak, human flesh in his talons and the reek of corpses from his mouth (').〔Stanza 2 and 3, in ''Haraldskvæði'', cited in Hjelmquist 143.〕 The ravens who were the messengers of the highest god, Huginn and Muninn, increasingly had hellish connotations, and as early as in the Christian ''Sólarljóð'', stanza 67, the ravens of Hel(l) (''heljar hrafnar'') who tear the eyes off backtalkers are mentioned.〔 Two curses in the ''Poetic Edda'' say "may ravens tear your heart asunder" (').〔in stanza 8 of ''Guðrúnarkviða II'' cited in Hjelmquist 144.〕 and "the ravens shall tear out your eyes in the high gallows" (').〔In stanza 45 in ''Fjölsvinnsmál'' cited in Hjelmquist 144.〕 Ravens are thus seen as instruments of divine (if harsh and unpleasant) justice. Despite the violent imagery associated with them, early Scandinavians regarded the raven as a largely positive figure; battle and harsh justice were viewed favorably in Norse culture.〔''E.g., Woolf 63-81; Poole ''passim''.〕 Many Old Norse personal names referred to the raven, such as Hrafn,〔''E.g., Gunnlaugs saga passim; Reykdæla saga ok Víga-Skútu'' §13.〕 Hrafnkel〔''E.g., Hrafnkels saga passim''.〕 and Hrafnhild.〔''E.g., Ketils saga hœngs § 3.''〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「raven banner」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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