Buzz
Ravens at the Tower of London have their own caretakers, feast on raw meat and blood-soaked biscuits, have a penchant for shiny coins, and won't hesitate to nip at those who dare to approach them.
The legend of the black ravens living on the tower of London
Christopher Skaife has been a guardian living 11 years on the tower of London, once a prison and also the royal residence. People like Skaife are often known by the nickname Beefeaters. However, the title Skaife is most proud of is Ravenmaster, signifying the protection and maintenance of safety for the flock of black ravens living within the tower.
According to legend, there must be at least 6 ravens within the fortress, or else the monarchy and the kingdom of England will fall. Therefore, these ravens need caretakers, and Skaife's job has actually existed for hundreds of years.
No one knows when the black ravens first came to the tower of London, only that they have been here for many centuries. According to remaining documents, King Charles II was superstitious and always feared the ravens as they symbolized ill omens. At that time, the first astronomical observatory was placed northeast of the White Tower. John Flamsteed – an astronomer who worked with King Charles II – asked to drive away the ravens because they obstructed observation. At first, the king intended to destroy them all, but then a prophecy came down saying that if the entire flock left, the White Tower would collapse and the kingdom would be plunged into disaster. Too frightened, the king changed his mind and ordered that at least 6 ravens must always remain in the tower to prevent the prophecy from coming true.
Currently, there are 7 ravens residing within the tower of London, namely: Hardey, Thor, Odin, Gwyllum, Cedric, Munin, and Merlina. Among them, Merlina is dubbed the “star,” boasting a proud appearance. It appears friendly to humans and keeps its distance from the other 6 ravens, living separately in a cage at Queen’s House.
In addition to guiding tourists around the tower of London, Skaife also has the duty of feeding the raven flock. Each consumes about 300 grams of meat per day and indulges in biscuits soaked in blood. To prevent the ravens from flying away from the tower, Skaife must clip one side of their wings, causing them to lose balance and never wander too far. However, due to their fondness for fresh blood, the ravens sometimes exhibit aggressiveness. Skaife has witnessed a raven attacking a pigeon and killing it within just 3 minutes.
Skaife also revealed that Munin in the flock is known as the “black widow.” It arranged for two mates to meet their demise. Munin lured the two “husbands” up to the tower and demanded they fly down. However, as their wings had been clipped, one fell and died, while the other, flying too far, fell into the River Thames and drowned. Currently, Munin is paired with a younger mate.
An important note for tourists visiting the tower of London is to be mindful of the ravens. They have a penchant for stealing, especially coins. After acquiring a coin, they will find a way to bury it to hide it from the other ravens in the flock. Additionally, the ravens dislike humans and will readily bite if someone intends to touch them.
According to Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourSeptember 9, 2016
