The Evolution of the Raven as a Motif: From Myth to Folklore

The motifs are elemental in keeping the structural، semantic and aesthetic consistency of Persian tales. Multiple and often uncertain origins have been counted for fictional motifs، such as mythical and religious narratives، folklores، history and so on. Over the centuries، the motifs have undergone shifts and variations، and transferred from one domain to another. Having been considered as a multi-dimensional bird for possessing various and often contrasting features and functions، «The Raven» also acts as a multi-functional motif in Iranian culture. The function of the raven in texts and narratives has two main origins: mythical and religious. In the first، the raven is linked with the Sun and light، acting as the messenger of the Sun God، brings good omen، and embodies wisdom and foresight; and the second one makes the raven to penetrate the beliefs and mentalitys of men through the story of fratricide of Cain، and thus symbolize death and darkness. The study of how the function and motif of raven have undergone shifts and variations through myth to religion and folklore is the purpose of this paper. The investigation of the function of raven in texts، tales and proverbs، and the analysis of its stability or alteration would bring to light chief and critical points about the (dis) similarity of myth and religion، and the role of raven in Iranian people''s attitudes and folklore.