Ravens have most
often been considered
harbingers of doom,
but not according
to a legend that
began in the 17th
century.
At a time when the
Royal Observatory
was housed in a
turret of the Tower
of London, the 'astronomical
observator' complained
to King Charles
the II that ravens
were interfering
with his work. The
King threatened
to destroy them,
but his counsellors
predicted that such
an act would invoke
disaster. The King
decreed that ever
after, at least
6 ravens would be
kept at the Tower
to prevent misfortune..
To guarantee the
continuing fulfillment
of the prophesy
a family of ravens
has long been tended
by the Royal Raven
Master. .
Currently, there
are seven members
of the Tower's
official murder
of crows: Hardey,
Thor, Gwyllum,
Odin, Cedric,
Munin and Hugine.
In exchange
for the raven's
captive service,
the birds are
fed a wholesome
diet of raw
meat and blood-soaked
biscuits every
day. Each bird
is given a raw
egg once a week,
and occasionally
they all are
given a small
game animal,
carrion birds
that they are.
They even get
yummy scraps
from the Tower
kitchen!
A breeding programme
at the Tower
has yielded
a great number
of chicks, though
Odin and Thor
were orphan
fledgelings
who were rescued
from the wild.
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