Name: Valravn, Valravne

Area of Origin: Denmark

In Danish folklore, a Valravn (“raven of the slain”) is a supernatural raven, appearing in traditional folksongs and tales. According to the tales, when a king or chieftain was killed in battle, forgotten and unburied, ravens would come and eat his remains and become Valravn. The raven that ate the king’s heart would gain human knowledge and form, capable of performing malicious acts, gaining superhuman powers and was seen as a terrible animal. In other accounts, a Valravn is described as a restless soul in search of redemption, and can only free itself from its animal limitations by consuming the heart of a child; doing so would transform the Raven into a knight. Online sources alternatively describe the Valravn as a half-raven half-wolf creature, though historical documentation of this in Danish tales and songs is either hard to come by or does not exist.

NOTE: If anyone has any examples of the wolf/raven hybrid appearing in traditional songs or tales, let me know. Otherwise, I have yet to find any verified sources of this and am interested to know if it’s a contemporary invention.