The symbolism of the raven is pretty complex. In general, the raven acts as a messenger and it almost always brings bad news. There are many reasons for that. But considering the fact that so many different cultures noticed this magnificent blackbird with its characteristic sharp, loud, and ominous voice, we must conclude that seeing the raven or dreaming about it can actually mean many different things.

Some basic facts

Ravens are intelligent birds. They are able to learn, they are highly adaptable and they can even speak. There are numerous known examples of ravens who used very different sets of tools to solve problems in their environment. Ravens are close relatives to crows and jackdaws. Like them, they can communicate with each other what helps them spreading useful information about food, shelter, and danger quickly. In ancient times soldiers often noticed ravens before the battles and believing they are foretelling bad news.

Ravens were seen in close connection with the death and their black color further strengthened such beliefs. Ravens indeed monitored armies knowing there will always be some garbage and scavenge after a big group of people. After the battle, they were among the first scavengers. Nobody liked them for that but their presence was always respected.

Bible

Raven is the first bird species mentioned in the Bible. They are mentioned in many places. It was a raven who was released by Noah after the flood and check if the land is not covered by waters anymore. A prophet Elijah was fed by ravens while hiding in a desert. It's also one of the bird species which are specifically forbidden to eat, probably thanks to their own scavenging eating habits. There's also a psalm (30:17) saying that 'the eyes of ones who mock the fathers will be pecked out by ravens'.

Yet they were not hated. The black color of their feathers was actually very appreciated and a beautiful black color was described as 'black as a raven'. And in the Psalm, we learn God brings food to the young ravens which are seemingly often pushed out of nests by their parents too soon to be fully capable to take care of themselves.

Literature

Horace wrote 'Death circles on black wings.' in his Satires clearly alluding the ravens as vultures. Aeschylus uses the comparison with a raven when he writes about Clytemnestra victoriously standing over the dead body of Agamemnon which she just killed. Percy Bysshe Shelley simply named them death birds. Geoffrey Chaucer and Lord Byron liked to use the word raven instead of black when describing the color of someone's hair. Edgar Allan Poe built a monument to ravens with definitely one of the best poems in literary history: The Raven. His raven is an unbeatable symbol of total hopelessness.

The most popular associations of the ravens in literature are prophecy, bad news, despair, and, of course, death. Battlefields and gallows are their favorite places and today most of us still feel the cold thrills when we are confronted with a raven.