The skull with a raven is a symbolic image that has been used in many contexts throughout history. It generally represents death, darkness, and the underworld. The raven specifically tends to symbolize death, ill fate, or misfortune. When the two images are combined, the skull raven takes on an even more ominous meaning.
History and Meaning of the Skull
The skull as an image has a long history as a symbolic representation of death. Human skulls have been used in art and artifacts dating back to prehistoric times. Ancient cultures like the Mexica (Aztecs) and early Buddhists used skulls to represent mortality and the transient nature of life. In Mexican culture, skulls still play an important role in the Day of the Dead holiday honoring ancestors who have passed away.
In Western culture, the skull became even more directly associated with death starting in the Middle Ages. The Black Death plague caused mass casualties in Europe and led to an upsurge in skull imagery associated with death. Skulls and skeletons became a common motif in medieval and Renaissance art. The Danse Macabre artistic genre depicted skeletons dancing with people from all walks of life, conveying the message that no one can escape death.
The skull persists as a primary symbol of death in modern times. It often appears in Gothic fashion, punk rock style, and biker, heavy metal, and outlaw subcultures. While sometimes intended to shock or evoke darker emotions, the skull today also represents mourning and solemnity surrounding death. It can be found on grave markers, within funeral art, and in Day of the Dead celebrations.
Meaning of the Raven
Like the skull, the raven has long served as a symbolic bird of ill fate and death. In many cultures’ mythology and folklore, the raven is associated with loss of life. Here are some of the reasons why:
- In Greek myths, ravens were originally white before being turned black by Apollo as a punishment.
- Norse mythology portrays ravens as helpers of the god Odin, doing his bidding and serving as messengers.
- Celtic myths link the raven with death and war, such as the story of two ravens that fed on corpses after a battle.
- In the Bible’s story of the flood, Noah releases a raven from the ark that doesn’t return, suggesting it is feeding on dead bodies.
- Native American tales depict the raven as a trickster that is occasionally evil and linked to death.
- Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem “The Raven” uses the bird as a harbinger of grief and loss.
Ravens themselves contribute to this perception of death. As scavengers, they are seen consuming dead animals on battlefields or patrolling cemeteries. Their black plumage and raspy croaks provide an ominous air. While ravens are highly intelligent birds, their association with death persists.
Meaning of the Skull and Raven Together
When the skull and raven are combined into a single image, their symbolic meanings converge into an even more powerfully dark representation of death or misfortune. The raven’s ill-omen nature enhances the mortal meaning of the skull. Likewise, the skull combined with the raven intensifies its connection to death and dying.
In many cases, the skull and raven image depicts the raven perched atop the skull looking inside it or flying overhead. This gives the impression of the raven peering into the eyes or mind of the deceased, or waiting to feed on the corpse. The raven skull can suggest that misfortune and darkness have befallen the deceased.
Popular Culture Depictions
The raven skull symbol appears frequently in popular culture, often associated with a horror, gothic, macabre, or punk rock aesthetic:
- It is a common tattoo design and appears on t-shirts, jewelry, and other decorative objects, especially in the goth and punk subcultures.
- The symbol appears in horror films with dark themes, such as The Crow and John Carpenter’s Vampires.
- Rock and metal bands such as AFI and Cradle of Filth have used the skull and raven in logos, album artwork, and promotional designs.
- Raven Skull is also the name of multiple metal, punk, and goth bands.
- Skull Birds was the name of a 1987 horror punk compilation album.
In these contexts, it often represents the darker, edgier side of counter-cultural style while also symbolizing death, evil, and misfortune.
Magic and Occult Meanings
Beyond popular culture, the skull and raven hold meaning in occult magic and divination practices:
- The raven skull appears on the Death card in some historical Tarot decks and is associated with deep change and transitions.
- In palmistry, a raven skull sign indicates a person with occult interests or dark personality traits.
- The symbol is sometimes used as a protection talisman against black magic and curses.
- It appears as a bad omen in some folk magic traditions, signaling dark times ahead.
Here the combination of bird and skull represents the raven’s mythical role as a messenger from the underworld of spirits and death. The skull denotes mortal remains obtaining occult wisdom from beyond the grave.
Use in Day of the Dead Traditions
Both the skull and raven hold significant meaning in the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday. The raven skull image blends those meanings in Day of the Dead artwork and altars:
- Sugar skulls and other food offerings are left out for spirits. The raven skull represents the converge between life and death.
- Marigolds and candles adorn altars along with the raven skull to welcome souls and guide them back.
- The raven skull symbolizes the ongoing relationships between the living and the deceased.
Here the usually ominous raven skull represents honor and celebration of ancestors and heritage. The raven is seen as a helpful guide back to the world of the living.
As a Symbol in Edgar Allan Poe’s Work
No discussion of the raven and death symbolism is complete without mentioning Edgar Allan Poe. Ravens appear frequently throughout Poe’s poems and short stories, often as an ill omen.
Poe seals the raven’s connection to mortality and darkness in his 1845 narrative poem “The Raven.” In it, a grieving man is visited by a raven that responds only with the word “Nevermore.” The raven comes to represent the narrator’s lingering grief over his lost love Lenore. Its croaking confirms there is no hope that he will see or speak to her again except in dreams.
Poe himself described his intention:
“I had now gone so far as the conception of a Raven…the bird of ill omen, monotonously repeating the one word, ‘Nevermore…’ I made the night tempestuous, to account for the Raven’s seeking admission. I made him come through the window…I brought in a pet canary bird…and made the Raven perch on the bust of Pallas.”
The raven skull symbol clearly aligns with Poe’s use of the raven as a harbinger of death and darkness. It visually encapsulates the bird’s meaning in “The Raven” and other works as a messenger signaling mourning and the irrevocable loss of a loved one.
Conclusion
The raven and human skull joined together as one image form a uniquely dark symbol of death, dying, and grief. Through history, myth, literature, occult practices, and popular culture, this ominous hybrid of bird and skeleton represents haunting concepts. At the same time, it appears as part of joyful celebrations such as the Mexican Day of the Dead. Ultimately the stark skull and foreboding raven unite in a graphic memento mori that speaks to the human condition itself.
