In Danish folklore, a valravn (Danish: raven of the slain) is a supernatural raven. Those ravens appear in traditional Danish folksongs, where they are described as originating from ravens who consume the bodies of the dead on the battlefield, as capable of turning into the form of a knight after consuming the heart of a child, and, alternately, as half-wolf and half-raven creatures.
Folklore
According to Danish folklore recorded in the late 19th century, when a king or chieftain was killed in battle and not found and buried, ravens came and ate him. The ravens became valravne. The valravne that ate the king's heart gained human knowledge and could perform great malicious acts, could lead people astray, had superhuman powers, and were "terrible animals".[1]
In another account, a valravn is described as a peaceless soul in search of redemption that flies by night (but never day) and can only free itself from its animal countenance by consuming the blood of a child. This is reflected in a Danish traditional song that describes how, after refusing offers of riches, the Valravn makes an agreement with a maiden to take her to her betrothed after she promises the valravn her first born son. After the agreement, the valravn flies away. In time, the couple have a child and the Valravn returns, and asks the maiden if she has forgotten her promise. The valravn takes the child away, and tears into the chest of his won wager and consumes the blood contained within the child's heart. As a result, the valravn transforms into a knight. This traditional song was reinterpreted by the electro-folk band Sorten Muld and became a hit for them in 1997, under the title Ravnen.
Other accounts describe valravns as monsters that are half-wolf and half-raven.[2]
Interpretations and theories
According to 19th century scholar Jacob Grimm, the "vilde ravn or vilde valravn" ("wild raven or wild Valravn") take "exactly the place of the diabolical trold" in Danish folk songs. Grimm proposes an Old High German equivalent to the Danish valravn; *walahraban.[3]
Modern influence
The Valravn has inspired occasional pop culture references, including an early 20th century book of short stories[4] as well as the Faroese musical group bearing the name, who play a form of traditional music.[5]
Valravn was the title of a Danish Germanic Neopagan magazine published from 2002 to 2007.[6] The name is also mentioned in Danish children's books.[7]
The titular mecha and namesake of the 2013 Sci-Fi anime Valvrave the Liberator is based on the Valvravn and draws heavy influence from various aspects of their folklore.
The 2017 video game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice features Valravn as "god of illusion", a stage boss the player must defeat to proceed in the game.[8]
Valravn appear as an enemy in the 5th bestiary of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, using Grimm's Vilderavn moniker for the creature.[9]
Valravns feature in the fantasy novel The Absolute Book (2019) by Elizabeth Knox.
A valravn named Val is featured as a companion to a reaper in the supernatural thriller novel Bleed More, Bodymore (2021) by Ian Kirkpatrick.
Valravn's Claw is a short sword available in the Ubisoft title Assassin's Creed Valhalla as a redeemable reward on Ubisoft Connect.
The 2020 album and song by Gealdýr is called "Valravn".[11]
In the SCP Foundation mythos, there is a Group of Interest known as Valravn Corporation, which is named after the Valravn.
In the visual novel game, Superhuman by WeirdWorld, one of the very few monsters capable of human speech is Valravn. This crow-like monster can become an animated knight's armor and hunt for humans' hearts.
Prominent tellings of Thor and Venom comics have said titular characters encounter these mythological creatures in their trek through quests of discovery. The Odinson encounters them in parts of Hela's domain, where the Valravn rampantly feast upon the dead in her absence. Meanwhile, Eddie/Venom has their own run-in with these god beasts, featuring a creature aiding one of their cult sects who survived the symbiote god Knull's intergalactic rampage.
Valravn appear prominently in the Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds expansion, as both generic mobs and as a more difficult boss enemy players must defeat before it consumes a heart. During a different event quest-line involving poisoning Valravn nests, a Valravn transforms into a winged humanoid knight, using the game's harpy model, and must be killed by players.
Valravn is the name of a wine making entity located primarily in the Sonoma County AVA in northern California. They produce amazing wines from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay. Their name is inspired by the above referenced Danish Folklore.
See also
Helhest, a three-legged horse that appears in graveyards in Danish folklore
