When is a raven like an eagle? When it's on the Ravenclaw house crest












29















I saw an image macro on facebook the other day that started me thinking;



Potter confronts Umbridge



I tried to look into it and I found two separate styles.



Pottermore Style



Fan-drawn Ravenclaw House crest



Book Style



*Deathly Hallows* Hogwarts crest showing Ravenclaw eagle



Neither of these to me looks anything like a raven, besides being bird shaped.



Is the crest meant to show a raven, or just some sort of bird?



I've struggled to find an 'official' rendition of the crest, and this is the best I could find, but I've seen plenty of fan-mad crests that do show a raven, seemingly correcting this 'mistake'.



So why does the Ravenclaw symbol show an eagle, and not a Raven?










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    It appears from @Slytherincess' answer that it is intended to be an eagle but I would also point out that the bird in the Pottermore-style crest does look a heck of a lot like all the ravens I have seen, and the bird in the book-style crest looks as much like a raven as it does an eagle (an angry chicken perhaps?).

    – KennyPeanuts
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:08








  • 8





    In heraldry, a raven and an eagle are not really distinguishable. Generally, if it's displayed (wings out to either side), then it's an eagle, and if it's in profile (especially if it has something in its beak, and/or if it's fuzzy), then it's a raven.

    – Martha
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:29






  • 12





    Gryffindor has a lion as their animal - why don't they have a griffin? Hufflepuff has a badger - why don't they have an out of breath puff?

    – Dason
    Dec 8 '12 at 17:47






  • 8





    @b_jonas - It's an eagle. Goblet of Fire says: blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw in chapter 15, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. :)

    – Slytherincess
    Dec 8 '12 at 20:49






  • 2





    @Pureferret - I really hope you will reconsider this answer, as apparently Pottermore has confirmed Ravenclaw's bird on the crest is an eagle, not a Raven. Your current chosen answer is incorrect. :)

    – Slytherincess
    May 28 '14 at 17:22
















29















I saw an image macro on facebook the other day that started me thinking;



Potter confronts Umbridge



I tried to look into it and I found two separate styles.



Pottermore Style



Fan-drawn Ravenclaw House crest



Book Style



*Deathly Hallows* Hogwarts crest showing Ravenclaw eagle



Neither of these to me looks anything like a raven, besides being bird shaped.



Is the crest meant to show a raven, or just some sort of bird?



I've struggled to find an 'official' rendition of the crest, and this is the best I could find, but I've seen plenty of fan-mad crests that do show a raven, seemingly correcting this 'mistake'.



So why does the Ravenclaw symbol show an eagle, and not a Raven?










share|improve this question




















  • 1





    It appears from @Slytherincess' answer that it is intended to be an eagle but I would also point out that the bird in the Pottermore-style crest does look a heck of a lot like all the ravens I have seen, and the bird in the book-style crest looks as much like a raven as it does an eagle (an angry chicken perhaps?).

    – KennyPeanuts
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:08








  • 8





    In heraldry, a raven and an eagle are not really distinguishable. Generally, if it's displayed (wings out to either side), then it's an eagle, and if it's in profile (especially if it has something in its beak, and/or if it's fuzzy), then it's a raven.

    – Martha
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:29






  • 12





    Gryffindor has a lion as their animal - why don't they have a griffin? Hufflepuff has a badger - why don't they have an out of breath puff?

    – Dason
    Dec 8 '12 at 17:47






  • 8





    @b_jonas - It's an eagle. Goblet of Fire says: blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw in chapter 15, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. :)

    – Slytherincess
    Dec 8 '12 at 20:49






  • 2





    @Pureferret - I really hope you will reconsider this answer, as apparently Pottermore has confirmed Ravenclaw's bird on the crest is an eagle, not a Raven. Your current chosen answer is incorrect. :)

    – Slytherincess
    May 28 '14 at 17:22














29












29








29








I saw an image macro on facebook the other day that started me thinking;



Potter confronts Umbridge



I tried to look into it and I found two separate styles.



Pottermore Style



Fan-drawn Ravenclaw House crest



Book Style



*Deathly Hallows* Hogwarts crest showing Ravenclaw eagle



Neither of these to me looks anything like a raven, besides being bird shaped.



Is the crest meant to show a raven, or just some sort of bird?



I've struggled to find an 'official' rendition of the crest, and this is the best I could find, but I've seen plenty of fan-mad crests that do show a raven, seemingly correcting this 'mistake'.



So why does the Ravenclaw symbol show an eagle, and not a Raven?










share|improve this question
















I saw an image macro on facebook the other day that started me thinking;



Potter confronts Umbridge



I tried to look into it and I found two separate styles.



Pottermore Style



Fan-drawn Ravenclaw House crest



Book Style



*Deathly Hallows* Hogwarts crest showing Ravenclaw eagle



Neither of these to me looks anything like a raven, besides being bird shaped.



Is the crest meant to show a raven, or just some sort of bird?



I've struggled to find an 'official' rendition of the crest, and this is the best I could find, but I've seen plenty of fan-mad crests that do show a raven, seemingly correcting this 'mistake'.



So why does the Ravenclaw symbol show an eagle, and not a Raven?







harry-potter hogwarts






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Dec 8 '12 at 11:42









Slytherincess

119k105614856




119k105614856










asked Dec 8 '12 at 10:32









AncientSwordRageAncientSwordRage

44.7k70341715




44.7k70341715








  • 1





    It appears from @Slytherincess' answer that it is intended to be an eagle but I would also point out that the bird in the Pottermore-style crest does look a heck of a lot like all the ravens I have seen, and the bird in the book-style crest looks as much like a raven as it does an eagle (an angry chicken perhaps?).

    – KennyPeanuts
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:08








  • 8





    In heraldry, a raven and an eagle are not really distinguishable. Generally, if it's displayed (wings out to either side), then it's an eagle, and if it's in profile (especially if it has something in its beak, and/or if it's fuzzy), then it's a raven.

    – Martha
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:29






  • 12





    Gryffindor has a lion as their animal - why don't they have a griffin? Hufflepuff has a badger - why don't they have an out of breath puff?

    – Dason
    Dec 8 '12 at 17:47






  • 8





    @b_jonas - It's an eagle. Goblet of Fire says: blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw in chapter 15, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. :)

    – Slytherincess
    Dec 8 '12 at 20:49






  • 2





    @Pureferret - I really hope you will reconsider this answer, as apparently Pottermore has confirmed Ravenclaw's bird on the crest is an eagle, not a Raven. Your current chosen answer is incorrect. :)

    – Slytherincess
    May 28 '14 at 17:22














  • 1





    It appears from @Slytherincess' answer that it is intended to be an eagle but I would also point out that the bird in the Pottermore-style crest does look a heck of a lot like all the ravens I have seen, and the bird in the book-style crest looks as much like a raven as it does an eagle (an angry chicken perhaps?).

    – KennyPeanuts
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:08








  • 8





    In heraldry, a raven and an eagle are not really distinguishable. Generally, if it's displayed (wings out to either side), then it's an eagle, and if it's in profile (especially if it has something in its beak, and/or if it's fuzzy), then it's a raven.

    – Martha
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:29






  • 12





    Gryffindor has a lion as their animal - why don't they have a griffin? Hufflepuff has a badger - why don't they have an out of breath puff?

    – Dason
    Dec 8 '12 at 17:47






  • 8





    @b_jonas - It's an eagle. Goblet of Fire says: blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw in chapter 15, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. :)

    – Slytherincess
    Dec 8 '12 at 20:49






  • 2





    @Pureferret - I really hope you will reconsider this answer, as apparently Pottermore has confirmed Ravenclaw's bird on the crest is an eagle, not a Raven. Your current chosen answer is incorrect. :)

    – Slytherincess
    May 28 '14 at 17:22








1




1





It appears from @Slytherincess' answer that it is intended to be an eagle but I would also point out that the bird in the Pottermore-style crest does look a heck of a lot like all the ravens I have seen, and the bird in the book-style crest looks as much like a raven as it does an eagle (an angry chicken perhaps?).

– KennyPeanuts
Dec 8 '12 at 16:08







It appears from @Slytherincess' answer that it is intended to be an eagle but I would also point out that the bird in the Pottermore-style crest does look a heck of a lot like all the ravens I have seen, and the bird in the book-style crest looks as much like a raven as it does an eagle (an angry chicken perhaps?).

– KennyPeanuts
Dec 8 '12 at 16:08






8




8





In heraldry, a raven and an eagle are not really distinguishable. Generally, if it's displayed (wings out to either side), then it's an eagle, and if it's in profile (especially if it has something in its beak, and/or if it's fuzzy), then it's a raven.

– Martha
Dec 8 '12 at 16:29





In heraldry, a raven and an eagle are not really distinguishable. Generally, if it's displayed (wings out to either side), then it's an eagle, and if it's in profile (especially if it has something in its beak, and/or if it's fuzzy), then it's a raven.

– Martha
Dec 8 '12 at 16:29




12




12





Gryffindor has a lion as their animal - why don't they have a griffin? Hufflepuff has a badger - why don't they have an out of breath puff?

– Dason
Dec 8 '12 at 17:47





Gryffindor has a lion as their animal - why don't they have a griffin? Hufflepuff has a badger - why don't they have an out of breath puff?

– Dason
Dec 8 '12 at 17:47




8




8





@b_jonas - It's an eagle. Goblet of Fire says: blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw in chapter 15, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. :)

– Slytherincess
Dec 8 '12 at 20:49





@b_jonas - It's an eagle. Goblet of Fire says: blue with a bronze eagle for Ravenclaw in chapter 15, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. :)

– Slytherincess
Dec 8 '12 at 20:49




2




2





@Pureferret - I really hope you will reconsider this answer, as apparently Pottermore has confirmed Ravenclaw's bird on the crest is an eagle, not a Raven. Your current chosen answer is incorrect. :)

– Slytherincess
May 28 '14 at 17:22





@Pureferret - I really hope you will reconsider this answer, as apparently Pottermore has confirmed Ravenclaw's bird on the crest is an eagle, not a Raven. Your current chosen answer is incorrect. :)

– Slytherincess
May 28 '14 at 17:22










8 Answers
8






active

oldest

votes


















37














When is a raven not an eagle?



When the word raven is describing a color not the bird. It is an easy mistake to make if you are unfamiliar with old world naming conventions.




Raven



/ˈrāvən/ -



Noun: A large heavily built crow, esp. the all-black common raven (Corvus corax), feeding chiefly on carrion.



Adjective: Of a glossy black color



Verb: (of a ferocious wild animal) Hunt for prey.



Synonyms




  • noun: crow - corbie - rook;


  • adjective: black;


  • verb: pillage - loot - maraud - harry - devour





The name of the founder was Rowena Ravenclaw. The raven being described is not a bird that is a raven, but the color of the claw of the bird (an eagle) that is being described. Rowena Ravenclaw gave her name and her standard which included an eagle that is described in its name as raven-clawed. (black colored claws)



enter image description here






share|improve this answer



















  • 8





    Her name was Ravenclaw. It has nothing to do with house colors. It is merely a naming convention, nothing more. The bird on the standard is most likely an eagle since ravens were more associated with carrion birds. So people are confusing her name with the bird, believing there should be a raven on the standard, not an eagle. Familiarity with heraldry helps understand how this misunderstanding could take place.

    – Thaddeus Howze
    Dec 8 '12 at 20:23






  • 1





    Well, I get what you're saying. In Dason's answer, though, Martha says the opposite about heraldry, citing a practice called "punning" which does associate an animal with a name if possible. Forget what I said about the house colors -- I was responding to your comments about the color of the talons, but it's irrelevant to the issue of heraldry, which I think is more at issue. :)

    – Slytherincess
    Dec 8 '12 at 20:41






  • 3





    A book written by a modern writer creating a fictional universe overlaying thousands of years of history in a rather lackadaisical and unsystematic fashion and you find MY answer deeply unsatisfying? OED first reference for the English word is 17th century. Earlier versions of the word exist in French and Latin as well, with differing meanings. Punning may also be responsible for those changes as well.

    – Thaddeus Howze
    Dec 8 '12 at 21:24






  • 7





    @Micah I find it amusing you criticize Thaddeus for an English definition not being a valid name for someone born in 993 AD. In Scotland 993, they spoke Old English. Obviously, Ravenclaw (a combination of two post dark ages English words) was not her name, but a translation of her name. The OE word for night is nihthræfn, while the OE word for claw is clifer. Her name was likely Nihthræfnclifer, or somesuch, meaning Nightclaw. Thaddeus' answer stands just fine as a post-Dark Age English ideologic translation of Nihthræfnclifer.

    – Gabe Willard
    Dec 8 '12 at 22:32






  • 2





    Raven descends from the same OE word, as does night. Both would be valid translations, but Raven is closer to the interpretation "dark" as opposed to the possible "time period" interpretation.

    – Gabe Willard
    Dec 8 '12 at 22:34



















16














The Ravenclaw house crest shows an eagle, according to Pottermore, because eagles soar where others cannot climb.



This is the official eagle image for Ravenclaw from Pottermore:



Eagle emblem - Ravenclaw house crest



I would pay no attention to the fan-made house crests, aside from enjoying them as fun examples of fan art.






share|improve this answer





















  • 3





    that is kinda funny because a raven can soar just as good as an eagle... now if they put a turkey vulture on the crest, that would be a different story.

    – KennyPeanuts
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:11






  • 9





    +1 I'm surprised it's not a raven. Ravens (crows in general) are famed for their very exceptional intelligence so they would be the perfect animal for Ravenclaw. As for soaring where others cannot climb... I thought that kind of greatness belonged to Slytherin.

    – commando
    Dec 8 '12 at 17:20






  • 1





    @commando -- And if I recall correctly, don't ravens collect things? One might take that mean collecting little bits of knowledge here and there and spiriting them away. That kind of image sits well for me for Ravenclaw. Can't argue with you re: Slytherin ;) Thanks for the +1 :)

    – Slytherincess
    Dec 8 '12 at 20:34






  • 2





    The artists behind the Pottermore house crests shared their design process, and they call it an eagle, not a raven: insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/…

    – alexwlchan
    May 28 '14 at 9:58






  • 3





    @alexwlchan -- Which makes complete sense ... wait, it doesn't make sense ... !!!! :)

    – Slytherincess
    May 28 '14 at 17:18



















12














Why should it show a raven? The house is named after Rowena Ravenclaw. Sure her name has "raven" in it but I see no reason that Ravenclaw should choose a raven to use as their symbol; just like I see no reason why Brazil should have a bra on their national flag (thankfully they have common sense as well and don't have a bra on their flag). The eagle is meant to represent that Ravenclaws "soar where others cannot climb" so there is meaning there. It doesn't seem to be in the nature of Ravenclaw to choose a raven solely because there is a raven in the house name unless there is other meaning they would wish to ascribe to that symbol.






share|improve this answer



















  • 9





    Heraldry has a concept called canting: alluding to or punning on the bearer's name. Thus, it would be totally normal for the Ravenclaw family to have a raven on their arms. In fact, if the arms had a bird on it that was not displayed (i.e. not definitely an eagle), then a herald would probably conclude that the bird is meant to be a raven, just based on the name. (This happens a lot in hastily-painted rolls of arms: about all you can tell from the picture is that it's a critter of some sort, and then you see that the name is Brock, so then you conclude that the critter is a badger.)

    – Martha
    Dec 8 '12 at 16:34






  • 3





    Sure. But saying "Ravenclaw's animal isn't a raven and that doesn't make sense" seems silly to me. You could allude to Ravenclaw's name by making the symbol a raven. Or you could use something that makes more sense that actual represents the house itself. It just seems to me that Rowena Ravenclaw would choose to use a symbol that she felt symbolized the house itself (and canon seems to back that up).

    – Dason
    Dec 8 '12 at 17:46






  • 6





    Except that heraldically speaking, it doesn't make sense: if there's an obvious cant available, its very surprising (to put it mildly) to not have that on the arms. And then to have something that is close-but-not-quite? That just smacks of "someone didn't study their heraldry".

    – Martha
    Dec 8 '12 at 19:32






  • 6





    And you're right: Gryffindor should have a gold griffin on their arms. Which is just more support for "someone didn't study their heraldry".

    – Martha
    Dec 8 '12 at 19:36






  • 1





    +1. If Ravenclaw thought that an eagle was more representative of her house (or herself) than a raven, she would put an eagle on her crest, thank you very much.

    – Adamant
    Oct 29 '16 at 5:23



















2














Ravenclaw's symbol is an eagle. It should not be a raven just because the founder for whom the house was named, Rowena Ravenclaw, has that bird in her name. To demonstrate, no one ever says that the symbol of Gryffindor should be a gryffin instead of a lion. Why not? Gryffin is in the name Gryffindor, isn't it?






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    1














    In the French translation of Harry Potter the Ravenclaw house is named "Serdaigle" so is Rowena's last name. Serdaigle as "Serre d'aigle" which is the exact translation of "Eagle's claw" in French. If they had translate Ravenclaw in French it would have been "Serdecorbeau" which isn't really aesthetically flattering.






    share|improve this answer





















    • 2





      Interesting note, but this doesn't seem to answer the question of why the symbol is an eagle.

      – Edlothiad
      Aug 22 '17 at 20:28



















    0














    If you're familiar with the Ravenclaw house, one thing that sets them apart is that they LIKE being different. Of course they wouldn't want a raven, just because their house founder's last name was Ravenclaw. That's just silly. C'mon guys, don't you remember Luna Lovegood...?






    share|improve this answer



















    • 1





      Luna Lovegood was weird on her own and irrespective of anybody's opinion. Can you provide any evidence that shows a house-wide desire to be different?

      – T.J.L.
      May 11 '16 at 13:39



















    0














    According to Pottermore
    "Our emblem is the eagle, which soars where others cannot climb;"
    I think this is the reason why it's an eagle, not raven. I could be wrong.






    share|improve this answer































      -5














      Ravens are renown for their intelligence. Which makes perfect sense for the ravenclaw crest. Gryphons are part lion. Snakes slither. And badgers huff and puff. I say, don't read more into it - it's a book originally written for kids.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 2





        That seems reasonable enough. Has anyone confirmed this, though?

        – Adamant
        Oct 29 '16 at 4:53











      • Except that canon says something completely different

        – Matthew Barclay
        Mar 11 '18 at 13:19










      protected by Community Mar 14 '18 at 22:51



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      8 Answers
      8






      active

      oldest

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      8 Answers
      8






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      37














      When is a raven not an eagle?



      When the word raven is describing a color not the bird. It is an easy mistake to make if you are unfamiliar with old world naming conventions.




      Raven



      /ˈrāvən/ -



      Noun: A large heavily built crow, esp. the all-black common raven (Corvus corax), feeding chiefly on carrion.



      Adjective: Of a glossy black color



      Verb: (of a ferocious wild animal) Hunt for prey.



      Synonyms




      • noun: crow - corbie - rook;


      • adjective: black;


      • verb: pillage - loot - maraud - harry - devour





      The name of the founder was Rowena Ravenclaw. The raven being described is not a bird that is a raven, but the color of the claw of the bird (an eagle) that is being described. Rowena Ravenclaw gave her name and her standard which included an eagle that is described in its name as raven-clawed. (black colored claws)



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer



















      • 8





        Her name was Ravenclaw. It has nothing to do with house colors. It is merely a naming convention, nothing more. The bird on the standard is most likely an eagle since ravens were more associated with carrion birds. So people are confusing her name with the bird, believing there should be a raven on the standard, not an eagle. Familiarity with heraldry helps understand how this misunderstanding could take place.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:23






      • 1





        Well, I get what you're saying. In Dason's answer, though, Martha says the opposite about heraldry, citing a practice called "punning" which does associate an animal with a name if possible. Forget what I said about the house colors -- I was responding to your comments about the color of the talons, but it's irrelevant to the issue of heraldry, which I think is more at issue. :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:41






      • 3





        A book written by a modern writer creating a fictional universe overlaying thousands of years of history in a rather lackadaisical and unsystematic fashion and you find MY answer deeply unsatisfying? OED first reference for the English word is 17th century. Earlier versions of the word exist in French and Latin as well, with differing meanings. Punning may also be responsible for those changes as well.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 21:24






      • 7





        @Micah I find it amusing you criticize Thaddeus for an English definition not being a valid name for someone born in 993 AD. In Scotland 993, they spoke Old English. Obviously, Ravenclaw (a combination of two post dark ages English words) was not her name, but a translation of her name. The OE word for night is nihthræfn, while the OE word for claw is clifer. Her name was likely Nihthræfnclifer, or somesuch, meaning Nightclaw. Thaddeus' answer stands just fine as a post-Dark Age English ideologic translation of Nihthræfnclifer.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:32






      • 2





        Raven descends from the same OE word, as does night. Both would be valid translations, but Raven is closer to the interpretation "dark" as opposed to the possible "time period" interpretation.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:34
















      37














      When is a raven not an eagle?



      When the word raven is describing a color not the bird. It is an easy mistake to make if you are unfamiliar with old world naming conventions.




      Raven



      /ˈrāvən/ -



      Noun: A large heavily built crow, esp. the all-black common raven (Corvus corax), feeding chiefly on carrion.



      Adjective: Of a glossy black color



      Verb: (of a ferocious wild animal) Hunt for prey.



      Synonyms




      • noun: crow - corbie - rook;


      • adjective: black;


      • verb: pillage - loot - maraud - harry - devour





      The name of the founder was Rowena Ravenclaw. The raven being described is not a bird that is a raven, but the color of the claw of the bird (an eagle) that is being described. Rowena Ravenclaw gave her name and her standard which included an eagle that is described in its name as raven-clawed. (black colored claws)



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer



















      • 8





        Her name was Ravenclaw. It has nothing to do with house colors. It is merely a naming convention, nothing more. The bird on the standard is most likely an eagle since ravens were more associated with carrion birds. So people are confusing her name with the bird, believing there should be a raven on the standard, not an eagle. Familiarity with heraldry helps understand how this misunderstanding could take place.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:23






      • 1





        Well, I get what you're saying. In Dason's answer, though, Martha says the opposite about heraldry, citing a practice called "punning" which does associate an animal with a name if possible. Forget what I said about the house colors -- I was responding to your comments about the color of the talons, but it's irrelevant to the issue of heraldry, which I think is more at issue. :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:41






      • 3





        A book written by a modern writer creating a fictional universe overlaying thousands of years of history in a rather lackadaisical and unsystematic fashion and you find MY answer deeply unsatisfying? OED first reference for the English word is 17th century. Earlier versions of the word exist in French and Latin as well, with differing meanings. Punning may also be responsible for those changes as well.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 21:24






      • 7





        @Micah I find it amusing you criticize Thaddeus for an English definition not being a valid name for someone born in 993 AD. In Scotland 993, they spoke Old English. Obviously, Ravenclaw (a combination of two post dark ages English words) was not her name, but a translation of her name. The OE word for night is nihthræfn, while the OE word for claw is clifer. Her name was likely Nihthræfnclifer, or somesuch, meaning Nightclaw. Thaddeus' answer stands just fine as a post-Dark Age English ideologic translation of Nihthræfnclifer.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:32






      • 2





        Raven descends from the same OE word, as does night. Both would be valid translations, but Raven is closer to the interpretation "dark" as opposed to the possible "time period" interpretation.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:34














      37












      37








      37







      When is a raven not an eagle?



      When the word raven is describing a color not the bird. It is an easy mistake to make if you are unfamiliar with old world naming conventions.




      Raven



      /ˈrāvən/ -



      Noun: A large heavily built crow, esp. the all-black common raven (Corvus corax), feeding chiefly on carrion.



      Adjective: Of a glossy black color



      Verb: (of a ferocious wild animal) Hunt for prey.



      Synonyms




      • noun: crow - corbie - rook;


      • adjective: black;


      • verb: pillage - loot - maraud - harry - devour





      The name of the founder was Rowena Ravenclaw. The raven being described is not a bird that is a raven, but the color of the claw of the bird (an eagle) that is being described. Rowena Ravenclaw gave her name and her standard which included an eagle that is described in its name as raven-clawed. (black colored claws)



      enter image description here






      share|improve this answer













      When is a raven not an eagle?



      When the word raven is describing a color not the bird. It is an easy mistake to make if you are unfamiliar with old world naming conventions.




      Raven



      /ˈrāvən/ -



      Noun: A large heavily built crow, esp. the all-black common raven (Corvus corax), feeding chiefly on carrion.



      Adjective: Of a glossy black color



      Verb: (of a ferocious wild animal) Hunt for prey.



      Synonyms




      • noun: crow - corbie - rook;


      • adjective: black;


      • verb: pillage - loot - maraud - harry - devour





      The name of the founder was Rowena Ravenclaw. The raven being described is not a bird that is a raven, but the color of the claw of the bird (an eagle) that is being described. Rowena Ravenclaw gave her name and her standard which included an eagle that is described in its name as raven-clawed. (black colored claws)



      enter image description here







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Dec 8 '12 at 19:06









      Thaddeus HowzeThaddeus Howze

      194k18611912




      194k18611912








      • 8





        Her name was Ravenclaw. It has nothing to do with house colors. It is merely a naming convention, nothing more. The bird on the standard is most likely an eagle since ravens were more associated with carrion birds. So people are confusing her name with the bird, believing there should be a raven on the standard, not an eagle. Familiarity with heraldry helps understand how this misunderstanding could take place.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:23






      • 1





        Well, I get what you're saying. In Dason's answer, though, Martha says the opposite about heraldry, citing a practice called "punning" which does associate an animal with a name if possible. Forget what I said about the house colors -- I was responding to your comments about the color of the talons, but it's irrelevant to the issue of heraldry, which I think is more at issue. :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:41






      • 3





        A book written by a modern writer creating a fictional universe overlaying thousands of years of history in a rather lackadaisical and unsystematic fashion and you find MY answer deeply unsatisfying? OED first reference for the English word is 17th century. Earlier versions of the word exist in French and Latin as well, with differing meanings. Punning may also be responsible for those changes as well.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 21:24






      • 7





        @Micah I find it amusing you criticize Thaddeus for an English definition not being a valid name for someone born in 993 AD. In Scotland 993, they spoke Old English. Obviously, Ravenclaw (a combination of two post dark ages English words) was not her name, but a translation of her name. The OE word for night is nihthræfn, while the OE word for claw is clifer. Her name was likely Nihthræfnclifer, or somesuch, meaning Nightclaw. Thaddeus' answer stands just fine as a post-Dark Age English ideologic translation of Nihthræfnclifer.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:32






      • 2





        Raven descends from the same OE word, as does night. Both would be valid translations, but Raven is closer to the interpretation "dark" as opposed to the possible "time period" interpretation.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:34














      • 8





        Her name was Ravenclaw. It has nothing to do with house colors. It is merely a naming convention, nothing more. The bird on the standard is most likely an eagle since ravens were more associated with carrion birds. So people are confusing her name with the bird, believing there should be a raven on the standard, not an eagle. Familiarity with heraldry helps understand how this misunderstanding could take place.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:23






      • 1





        Well, I get what you're saying. In Dason's answer, though, Martha says the opposite about heraldry, citing a practice called "punning" which does associate an animal with a name if possible. Forget what I said about the house colors -- I was responding to your comments about the color of the talons, but it's irrelevant to the issue of heraldry, which I think is more at issue. :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:41






      • 3





        A book written by a modern writer creating a fictional universe overlaying thousands of years of history in a rather lackadaisical and unsystematic fashion and you find MY answer deeply unsatisfying? OED first reference for the English word is 17th century. Earlier versions of the word exist in French and Latin as well, with differing meanings. Punning may also be responsible for those changes as well.

        – Thaddeus Howze
        Dec 8 '12 at 21:24






      • 7





        @Micah I find it amusing you criticize Thaddeus for an English definition not being a valid name for someone born in 993 AD. In Scotland 993, they spoke Old English. Obviously, Ravenclaw (a combination of two post dark ages English words) was not her name, but a translation of her name. The OE word for night is nihthræfn, while the OE word for claw is clifer. Her name was likely Nihthræfnclifer, or somesuch, meaning Nightclaw. Thaddeus' answer stands just fine as a post-Dark Age English ideologic translation of Nihthræfnclifer.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:32






      • 2





        Raven descends from the same OE word, as does night. Both would be valid translations, but Raven is closer to the interpretation "dark" as opposed to the possible "time period" interpretation.

        – Gabe Willard
        Dec 8 '12 at 22:34








      8




      8





      Her name was Ravenclaw. It has nothing to do with house colors. It is merely a naming convention, nothing more. The bird on the standard is most likely an eagle since ravens were more associated with carrion birds. So people are confusing her name with the bird, believing there should be a raven on the standard, not an eagle. Familiarity with heraldry helps understand how this misunderstanding could take place.

      – Thaddeus Howze
      Dec 8 '12 at 20:23





      Her name was Ravenclaw. It has nothing to do with house colors. It is merely a naming convention, nothing more. The bird on the standard is most likely an eagle since ravens were more associated with carrion birds. So people are confusing her name with the bird, believing there should be a raven on the standard, not an eagle. Familiarity with heraldry helps understand how this misunderstanding could take place.

      – Thaddeus Howze
      Dec 8 '12 at 20:23




      1




      1





      Well, I get what you're saying. In Dason's answer, though, Martha says the opposite about heraldry, citing a practice called "punning" which does associate an animal with a name if possible. Forget what I said about the house colors -- I was responding to your comments about the color of the talons, but it's irrelevant to the issue of heraldry, which I think is more at issue. :)

      – Slytherincess
      Dec 8 '12 at 20:41





      Well, I get what you're saying. In Dason's answer, though, Martha says the opposite about heraldry, citing a practice called "punning" which does associate an animal with a name if possible. Forget what I said about the house colors -- I was responding to your comments about the color of the talons, but it's irrelevant to the issue of heraldry, which I think is more at issue. :)

      – Slytherincess
      Dec 8 '12 at 20:41




      3




      3





      A book written by a modern writer creating a fictional universe overlaying thousands of years of history in a rather lackadaisical and unsystematic fashion and you find MY answer deeply unsatisfying? OED first reference for the English word is 17th century. Earlier versions of the word exist in French and Latin as well, with differing meanings. Punning may also be responsible for those changes as well.

      – Thaddeus Howze
      Dec 8 '12 at 21:24





      A book written by a modern writer creating a fictional universe overlaying thousands of years of history in a rather lackadaisical and unsystematic fashion and you find MY answer deeply unsatisfying? OED first reference for the English word is 17th century. Earlier versions of the word exist in French and Latin as well, with differing meanings. Punning may also be responsible for those changes as well.

      – Thaddeus Howze
      Dec 8 '12 at 21:24




      7




      7





      @Micah I find it amusing you criticize Thaddeus for an English definition not being a valid name for someone born in 993 AD. In Scotland 993, they spoke Old English. Obviously, Ravenclaw (a combination of two post dark ages English words) was not her name, but a translation of her name. The OE word for night is nihthræfn, while the OE word for claw is clifer. Her name was likely Nihthræfnclifer, or somesuch, meaning Nightclaw. Thaddeus' answer stands just fine as a post-Dark Age English ideologic translation of Nihthræfnclifer.

      – Gabe Willard
      Dec 8 '12 at 22:32





      @Micah I find it amusing you criticize Thaddeus for an English definition not being a valid name for someone born in 993 AD. In Scotland 993, they spoke Old English. Obviously, Ravenclaw (a combination of two post dark ages English words) was not her name, but a translation of her name. The OE word for night is nihthræfn, while the OE word for claw is clifer. Her name was likely Nihthræfnclifer, or somesuch, meaning Nightclaw. Thaddeus' answer stands just fine as a post-Dark Age English ideologic translation of Nihthræfnclifer.

      – Gabe Willard
      Dec 8 '12 at 22:32




      2




      2





      Raven descends from the same OE word, as does night. Both would be valid translations, but Raven is closer to the interpretation "dark" as opposed to the possible "time period" interpretation.

      – Gabe Willard
      Dec 8 '12 at 22:34





      Raven descends from the same OE word, as does night. Both would be valid translations, but Raven is closer to the interpretation "dark" as opposed to the possible "time period" interpretation.

      – Gabe Willard
      Dec 8 '12 at 22:34













      16














      The Ravenclaw house crest shows an eagle, according to Pottermore, because eagles soar where others cannot climb.



      This is the official eagle image for Ravenclaw from Pottermore:



      Eagle emblem - Ravenclaw house crest



      I would pay no attention to the fan-made house crests, aside from enjoying them as fun examples of fan art.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 3





        that is kinda funny because a raven can soar just as good as an eagle... now if they put a turkey vulture on the crest, that would be a different story.

        – KennyPeanuts
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:11






      • 9





        +1 I'm surprised it's not a raven. Ravens (crows in general) are famed for their very exceptional intelligence so they would be the perfect animal for Ravenclaw. As for soaring where others cannot climb... I thought that kind of greatness belonged to Slytherin.

        – commando
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:20






      • 1





        @commando -- And if I recall correctly, don't ravens collect things? One might take that mean collecting little bits of knowledge here and there and spiriting them away. That kind of image sits well for me for Ravenclaw. Can't argue with you re: Slytherin ;) Thanks for the +1 :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:34






      • 2





        The artists behind the Pottermore house crests shared their design process, and they call it an eagle, not a raven: insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/…

        – alexwlchan
        May 28 '14 at 9:58






      • 3





        @alexwlchan -- Which makes complete sense ... wait, it doesn't make sense ... !!!! :)

        – Slytherincess
        May 28 '14 at 17:18
















      16














      The Ravenclaw house crest shows an eagle, according to Pottermore, because eagles soar where others cannot climb.



      This is the official eagle image for Ravenclaw from Pottermore:



      Eagle emblem - Ravenclaw house crest



      I would pay no attention to the fan-made house crests, aside from enjoying them as fun examples of fan art.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 3





        that is kinda funny because a raven can soar just as good as an eagle... now if they put a turkey vulture on the crest, that would be a different story.

        – KennyPeanuts
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:11






      • 9





        +1 I'm surprised it's not a raven. Ravens (crows in general) are famed for their very exceptional intelligence so they would be the perfect animal for Ravenclaw. As for soaring where others cannot climb... I thought that kind of greatness belonged to Slytherin.

        – commando
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:20






      • 1





        @commando -- And if I recall correctly, don't ravens collect things? One might take that mean collecting little bits of knowledge here and there and spiriting them away. That kind of image sits well for me for Ravenclaw. Can't argue with you re: Slytherin ;) Thanks for the +1 :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:34






      • 2





        The artists behind the Pottermore house crests shared their design process, and they call it an eagle, not a raven: insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/…

        – alexwlchan
        May 28 '14 at 9:58






      • 3





        @alexwlchan -- Which makes complete sense ... wait, it doesn't make sense ... !!!! :)

        – Slytherincess
        May 28 '14 at 17:18














      16












      16








      16







      The Ravenclaw house crest shows an eagle, according to Pottermore, because eagles soar where others cannot climb.



      This is the official eagle image for Ravenclaw from Pottermore:



      Eagle emblem - Ravenclaw house crest



      I would pay no attention to the fan-made house crests, aside from enjoying them as fun examples of fan art.






      share|improve this answer















      The Ravenclaw house crest shows an eagle, according to Pottermore, because eagles soar where others cannot climb.



      This is the official eagle image for Ravenclaw from Pottermore:



      Eagle emblem - Ravenclaw house crest



      I would pay no attention to the fan-made house crests, aside from enjoying them as fun examples of fan art.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 6 hours ago









      Stormblessed

      714321




      714321










      answered Dec 8 '12 at 11:24









      SlytherincessSlytherincess

      119k105614856




      119k105614856








      • 3





        that is kinda funny because a raven can soar just as good as an eagle... now if they put a turkey vulture on the crest, that would be a different story.

        – KennyPeanuts
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:11






      • 9





        +1 I'm surprised it's not a raven. Ravens (crows in general) are famed for their very exceptional intelligence so they would be the perfect animal for Ravenclaw. As for soaring where others cannot climb... I thought that kind of greatness belonged to Slytherin.

        – commando
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:20






      • 1





        @commando -- And if I recall correctly, don't ravens collect things? One might take that mean collecting little bits of knowledge here and there and spiriting them away. That kind of image sits well for me for Ravenclaw. Can't argue with you re: Slytherin ;) Thanks for the +1 :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:34






      • 2





        The artists behind the Pottermore house crests shared their design process, and they call it an eagle, not a raven: insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/…

        – alexwlchan
        May 28 '14 at 9:58






      • 3





        @alexwlchan -- Which makes complete sense ... wait, it doesn't make sense ... !!!! :)

        – Slytherincess
        May 28 '14 at 17:18














      • 3





        that is kinda funny because a raven can soar just as good as an eagle... now if they put a turkey vulture on the crest, that would be a different story.

        – KennyPeanuts
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:11






      • 9





        +1 I'm surprised it's not a raven. Ravens (crows in general) are famed for their very exceptional intelligence so they would be the perfect animal for Ravenclaw. As for soaring where others cannot climb... I thought that kind of greatness belonged to Slytherin.

        – commando
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:20






      • 1





        @commando -- And if I recall correctly, don't ravens collect things? One might take that mean collecting little bits of knowledge here and there and spiriting them away. That kind of image sits well for me for Ravenclaw. Can't argue with you re: Slytherin ;) Thanks for the +1 :)

        – Slytherincess
        Dec 8 '12 at 20:34






      • 2





        The artists behind the Pottermore house crests shared their design process, and they call it an eagle, not a raven: insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/…

        – alexwlchan
        May 28 '14 at 9:58






      • 3





        @alexwlchan -- Which makes complete sense ... wait, it doesn't make sense ... !!!! :)

        – Slytherincess
        May 28 '14 at 17:18








      3




      3





      that is kinda funny because a raven can soar just as good as an eagle... now if they put a turkey vulture on the crest, that would be a different story.

      – KennyPeanuts
      Dec 8 '12 at 16:11





      that is kinda funny because a raven can soar just as good as an eagle... now if they put a turkey vulture on the crest, that would be a different story.

      – KennyPeanuts
      Dec 8 '12 at 16:11




      9




      9





      +1 I'm surprised it's not a raven. Ravens (crows in general) are famed for their very exceptional intelligence so they would be the perfect animal for Ravenclaw. As for soaring where others cannot climb... I thought that kind of greatness belonged to Slytherin.

      – commando
      Dec 8 '12 at 17:20





      +1 I'm surprised it's not a raven. Ravens (crows in general) are famed for their very exceptional intelligence so they would be the perfect animal for Ravenclaw. As for soaring where others cannot climb... I thought that kind of greatness belonged to Slytherin.

      – commando
      Dec 8 '12 at 17:20




      1




      1





      @commando -- And if I recall correctly, don't ravens collect things? One might take that mean collecting little bits of knowledge here and there and spiriting them away. That kind of image sits well for me for Ravenclaw. Can't argue with you re: Slytherin ;) Thanks for the +1 :)

      – Slytherincess
      Dec 8 '12 at 20:34





      @commando -- And if I recall correctly, don't ravens collect things? One might take that mean collecting little bits of knowledge here and there and spiriting them away. That kind of image sits well for me for Ravenclaw. Can't argue with you re: Slytherin ;) Thanks for the +1 :)

      – Slytherincess
      Dec 8 '12 at 20:34




      2




      2





      The artists behind the Pottermore house crests shared their design process, and they call it an eagle, not a raven: insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/…

      – alexwlchan
      May 28 '14 at 9:58





      The artists behind the Pottermore house crests shared their design process, and they call it an eagle, not a raven: insider.pottermore.com/2011/10/…

      – alexwlchan
      May 28 '14 at 9:58




      3




      3





      @alexwlchan -- Which makes complete sense ... wait, it doesn't make sense ... !!!! :)

      – Slytherincess
      May 28 '14 at 17:18





      @alexwlchan -- Which makes complete sense ... wait, it doesn't make sense ... !!!! :)

      – Slytherincess
      May 28 '14 at 17:18











      12














      Why should it show a raven? The house is named after Rowena Ravenclaw. Sure her name has "raven" in it but I see no reason that Ravenclaw should choose a raven to use as their symbol; just like I see no reason why Brazil should have a bra on their national flag (thankfully they have common sense as well and don't have a bra on their flag). The eagle is meant to represent that Ravenclaws "soar where others cannot climb" so there is meaning there. It doesn't seem to be in the nature of Ravenclaw to choose a raven solely because there is a raven in the house name unless there is other meaning they would wish to ascribe to that symbol.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 9





        Heraldry has a concept called canting: alluding to or punning on the bearer's name. Thus, it would be totally normal for the Ravenclaw family to have a raven on their arms. In fact, if the arms had a bird on it that was not displayed (i.e. not definitely an eagle), then a herald would probably conclude that the bird is meant to be a raven, just based on the name. (This happens a lot in hastily-painted rolls of arms: about all you can tell from the picture is that it's a critter of some sort, and then you see that the name is Brock, so then you conclude that the critter is a badger.)

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:34






      • 3





        Sure. But saying "Ravenclaw's animal isn't a raven and that doesn't make sense" seems silly to me. You could allude to Ravenclaw's name by making the symbol a raven. Or you could use something that makes more sense that actual represents the house itself. It just seems to me that Rowena Ravenclaw would choose to use a symbol that she felt symbolized the house itself (and canon seems to back that up).

        – Dason
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:46






      • 6





        Except that heraldically speaking, it doesn't make sense: if there's an obvious cant available, its very surprising (to put it mildly) to not have that on the arms. And then to have something that is close-but-not-quite? That just smacks of "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:32






      • 6





        And you're right: Gryffindor should have a gold griffin on their arms. Which is just more support for "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:36






      • 1





        +1. If Ravenclaw thought that an eagle was more representative of her house (or herself) than a raven, she would put an eagle on her crest, thank you very much.

        – Adamant
        Oct 29 '16 at 5:23
















      12














      Why should it show a raven? The house is named after Rowena Ravenclaw. Sure her name has "raven" in it but I see no reason that Ravenclaw should choose a raven to use as their symbol; just like I see no reason why Brazil should have a bra on their national flag (thankfully they have common sense as well and don't have a bra on their flag). The eagle is meant to represent that Ravenclaws "soar where others cannot climb" so there is meaning there. It doesn't seem to be in the nature of Ravenclaw to choose a raven solely because there is a raven in the house name unless there is other meaning they would wish to ascribe to that symbol.






      share|improve this answer



















      • 9





        Heraldry has a concept called canting: alluding to or punning on the bearer's name. Thus, it would be totally normal for the Ravenclaw family to have a raven on their arms. In fact, if the arms had a bird on it that was not displayed (i.e. not definitely an eagle), then a herald would probably conclude that the bird is meant to be a raven, just based on the name. (This happens a lot in hastily-painted rolls of arms: about all you can tell from the picture is that it's a critter of some sort, and then you see that the name is Brock, so then you conclude that the critter is a badger.)

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:34






      • 3





        Sure. But saying "Ravenclaw's animal isn't a raven and that doesn't make sense" seems silly to me. You could allude to Ravenclaw's name by making the symbol a raven. Or you could use something that makes more sense that actual represents the house itself. It just seems to me that Rowena Ravenclaw would choose to use a symbol that she felt symbolized the house itself (and canon seems to back that up).

        – Dason
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:46






      • 6





        Except that heraldically speaking, it doesn't make sense: if there's an obvious cant available, its very surprising (to put it mildly) to not have that on the arms. And then to have something that is close-but-not-quite? That just smacks of "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:32






      • 6





        And you're right: Gryffindor should have a gold griffin on their arms. Which is just more support for "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:36






      • 1





        +1. If Ravenclaw thought that an eagle was more representative of her house (or herself) than a raven, she would put an eagle on her crest, thank you very much.

        – Adamant
        Oct 29 '16 at 5:23














      12












      12








      12







      Why should it show a raven? The house is named after Rowena Ravenclaw. Sure her name has "raven" in it but I see no reason that Ravenclaw should choose a raven to use as their symbol; just like I see no reason why Brazil should have a bra on their national flag (thankfully they have common sense as well and don't have a bra on their flag). The eagle is meant to represent that Ravenclaws "soar where others cannot climb" so there is meaning there. It doesn't seem to be in the nature of Ravenclaw to choose a raven solely because there is a raven in the house name unless there is other meaning they would wish to ascribe to that symbol.






      share|improve this answer













      Why should it show a raven? The house is named after Rowena Ravenclaw. Sure her name has "raven" in it but I see no reason that Ravenclaw should choose a raven to use as their symbol; just like I see no reason why Brazil should have a bra on their national flag (thankfully they have common sense as well and don't have a bra on their flag). The eagle is meant to represent that Ravenclaws "soar where others cannot climb" so there is meaning there. It doesn't seem to be in the nature of Ravenclaw to choose a raven solely because there is a raven in the house name unless there is other meaning they would wish to ascribe to that symbol.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Dec 8 '12 at 14:13









      DasonDason

      5,88684386




      5,88684386








      • 9





        Heraldry has a concept called canting: alluding to or punning on the bearer's name. Thus, it would be totally normal for the Ravenclaw family to have a raven on their arms. In fact, if the arms had a bird on it that was not displayed (i.e. not definitely an eagle), then a herald would probably conclude that the bird is meant to be a raven, just based on the name. (This happens a lot in hastily-painted rolls of arms: about all you can tell from the picture is that it's a critter of some sort, and then you see that the name is Brock, so then you conclude that the critter is a badger.)

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:34






      • 3





        Sure. But saying "Ravenclaw's animal isn't a raven and that doesn't make sense" seems silly to me. You could allude to Ravenclaw's name by making the symbol a raven. Or you could use something that makes more sense that actual represents the house itself. It just seems to me that Rowena Ravenclaw would choose to use a symbol that she felt symbolized the house itself (and canon seems to back that up).

        – Dason
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:46






      • 6





        Except that heraldically speaking, it doesn't make sense: if there's an obvious cant available, its very surprising (to put it mildly) to not have that on the arms. And then to have something that is close-but-not-quite? That just smacks of "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:32






      • 6





        And you're right: Gryffindor should have a gold griffin on their arms. Which is just more support for "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:36






      • 1





        +1. If Ravenclaw thought that an eagle was more representative of her house (or herself) than a raven, she would put an eagle on her crest, thank you very much.

        – Adamant
        Oct 29 '16 at 5:23














      • 9





        Heraldry has a concept called canting: alluding to or punning on the bearer's name. Thus, it would be totally normal for the Ravenclaw family to have a raven on their arms. In fact, if the arms had a bird on it that was not displayed (i.e. not definitely an eagle), then a herald would probably conclude that the bird is meant to be a raven, just based on the name. (This happens a lot in hastily-painted rolls of arms: about all you can tell from the picture is that it's a critter of some sort, and then you see that the name is Brock, so then you conclude that the critter is a badger.)

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 16:34






      • 3





        Sure. But saying "Ravenclaw's animal isn't a raven and that doesn't make sense" seems silly to me. You could allude to Ravenclaw's name by making the symbol a raven. Or you could use something that makes more sense that actual represents the house itself. It just seems to me that Rowena Ravenclaw would choose to use a symbol that she felt symbolized the house itself (and canon seems to back that up).

        – Dason
        Dec 8 '12 at 17:46






      • 6





        Except that heraldically speaking, it doesn't make sense: if there's an obvious cant available, its very surprising (to put it mildly) to not have that on the arms. And then to have something that is close-but-not-quite? That just smacks of "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:32






      • 6





        And you're right: Gryffindor should have a gold griffin on their arms. Which is just more support for "someone didn't study their heraldry".

        – Martha
        Dec 8 '12 at 19:36






      • 1





        +1. If Ravenclaw thought that an eagle was more representative of her house (or herself) than a raven, she would put an eagle on her crest, thank you very much.

        – Adamant
        Oct 29 '16 at 5:23








      9




      9





      Heraldry has a concept called canting: alluding to or punning on the bearer's name. Thus, it would be totally normal for the Ravenclaw family to have a raven on their arms. In fact, if the arms had a bird on it that was not displayed (i.e. not definitely an eagle), then a herald would probably conclude that the bird is meant to be a raven, just based on the name. (This happens a lot in hastily-painted rolls of arms: about all you can tell from the picture is that it's a critter of some sort, and then you see that the name is Brock, so then you conclude that the critter is a badger.)

      – Martha
      Dec 8 '12 at 16:34





      Heraldry has a concept called canting: alluding to or punning on the bearer's name. Thus, it would be totally normal for the Ravenclaw family to have a raven on their arms. In fact, if the arms had a bird on it that was not displayed (i.e. not definitely an eagle), then a herald would probably conclude that the bird is meant to be a raven, just based on the name. (This happens a lot in hastily-painted rolls of arms: about all you can tell from the picture is that it's a critter of some sort, and then you see that the name is Brock, so then you conclude that the critter is a badger.)

      – Martha
      Dec 8 '12 at 16:34




      3




      3





      Sure. But saying "Ravenclaw's animal isn't a raven and that doesn't make sense" seems silly to me. You could allude to Ravenclaw's name by making the symbol a raven. Or you could use something that makes more sense that actual represents the house itself. It just seems to me that Rowena Ravenclaw would choose to use a symbol that she felt symbolized the house itself (and canon seems to back that up).

      – Dason
      Dec 8 '12 at 17:46





      Sure. But saying "Ravenclaw's animal isn't a raven and that doesn't make sense" seems silly to me. You could allude to Ravenclaw's name by making the symbol a raven. Or you could use something that makes more sense that actual represents the house itself. It just seems to me that Rowena Ravenclaw would choose to use a symbol that she felt symbolized the house itself (and canon seems to back that up).

      – Dason
      Dec 8 '12 at 17:46




      6




      6





      Except that heraldically speaking, it doesn't make sense: if there's an obvious cant available, its very surprising (to put it mildly) to not have that on the arms. And then to have something that is close-but-not-quite? That just smacks of "someone didn't study their heraldry".

      – Martha
      Dec 8 '12 at 19:32





      Except that heraldically speaking, it doesn't make sense: if there's an obvious cant available, its very surprising (to put it mildly) to not have that on the arms. And then to have something that is close-but-not-quite? That just smacks of "someone didn't study their heraldry".

      – Martha
      Dec 8 '12 at 19:32




      6




      6





      And you're right: Gryffindor should have a gold griffin on their arms. Which is just more support for "someone didn't study their heraldry".

      – Martha
      Dec 8 '12 at 19:36





      And you're right: Gryffindor should have a gold griffin on their arms. Which is just more support for "someone didn't study their heraldry".

      – Martha
      Dec 8 '12 at 19:36




      1




      1





      +1. If Ravenclaw thought that an eagle was more representative of her house (or herself) than a raven, she would put an eagle on her crest, thank you very much.

      – Adamant
      Oct 29 '16 at 5:23





      +1. If Ravenclaw thought that an eagle was more representative of her house (or herself) than a raven, she would put an eagle on her crest, thank you very much.

      – Adamant
      Oct 29 '16 at 5:23











      2














      Ravenclaw's symbol is an eagle. It should not be a raven just because the founder for whom the house was named, Rowena Ravenclaw, has that bird in her name. To demonstrate, no one ever says that the symbol of Gryffindor should be a gryffin instead of a lion. Why not? Gryffin is in the name Gryffindor, isn't it?






      share|improve this answer




























        2














        Ravenclaw's symbol is an eagle. It should not be a raven just because the founder for whom the house was named, Rowena Ravenclaw, has that bird in her name. To demonstrate, no one ever says that the symbol of Gryffindor should be a gryffin instead of a lion. Why not? Gryffin is in the name Gryffindor, isn't it?






        share|improve this answer


























          2












          2








          2







          Ravenclaw's symbol is an eagle. It should not be a raven just because the founder for whom the house was named, Rowena Ravenclaw, has that bird in her name. To demonstrate, no one ever says that the symbol of Gryffindor should be a gryffin instead of a lion. Why not? Gryffin is in the name Gryffindor, isn't it?






          share|improve this answer













          Ravenclaw's symbol is an eagle. It should not be a raven just because the founder for whom the house was named, Rowena Ravenclaw, has that bird in her name. To demonstrate, no one ever says that the symbol of Gryffindor should be a gryffin instead of a lion. Why not? Gryffin is in the name Gryffindor, isn't it?







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Jun 23 '16 at 20:52









          Peri Dreznick FisherPeri Dreznick Fisher

          211




          211























              1














              In the French translation of Harry Potter the Ravenclaw house is named "Serdaigle" so is Rowena's last name. Serdaigle as "Serre d'aigle" which is the exact translation of "Eagle's claw" in French. If they had translate Ravenclaw in French it would have been "Serdecorbeau" which isn't really aesthetically flattering.






              share|improve this answer





















              • 2





                Interesting note, but this doesn't seem to answer the question of why the symbol is an eagle.

                – Edlothiad
                Aug 22 '17 at 20:28
















              1














              In the French translation of Harry Potter the Ravenclaw house is named "Serdaigle" so is Rowena's last name. Serdaigle as "Serre d'aigle" which is the exact translation of "Eagle's claw" in French. If they had translate Ravenclaw in French it would have been "Serdecorbeau" which isn't really aesthetically flattering.






              share|improve this answer





















              • 2





                Interesting note, but this doesn't seem to answer the question of why the symbol is an eagle.

                – Edlothiad
                Aug 22 '17 at 20:28














              1












              1








              1







              In the French translation of Harry Potter the Ravenclaw house is named "Serdaigle" so is Rowena's last name. Serdaigle as "Serre d'aigle" which is the exact translation of "Eagle's claw" in French. If they had translate Ravenclaw in French it would have been "Serdecorbeau" which isn't really aesthetically flattering.






              share|improve this answer















              In the French translation of Harry Potter the Ravenclaw house is named "Serdaigle" so is Rowena's last name. Serdaigle as "Serre d'aigle" which is the exact translation of "Eagle's claw" in French. If they had translate Ravenclaw in French it would have been "Serdecorbeau" which isn't really aesthetically flattering.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Aug 22 '17 at 20:27









              Edlothiad

              54.2k21287296




              54.2k21287296










              answered Aug 22 '17 at 20:21









              Pure-bloodPure-blood

              111




              111








              • 2





                Interesting note, but this doesn't seem to answer the question of why the symbol is an eagle.

                – Edlothiad
                Aug 22 '17 at 20:28














              • 2





                Interesting note, but this doesn't seem to answer the question of why the symbol is an eagle.

                – Edlothiad
                Aug 22 '17 at 20:28








              2




              2





              Interesting note, but this doesn't seem to answer the question of why the symbol is an eagle.

              – Edlothiad
              Aug 22 '17 at 20:28





              Interesting note, but this doesn't seem to answer the question of why the symbol is an eagle.

              – Edlothiad
              Aug 22 '17 at 20:28











              0














              If you're familiar with the Ravenclaw house, one thing that sets them apart is that they LIKE being different. Of course they wouldn't want a raven, just because their house founder's last name was Ravenclaw. That's just silly. C'mon guys, don't you remember Luna Lovegood...?






              share|improve this answer



















              • 1





                Luna Lovegood was weird on her own and irrespective of anybody's opinion. Can you provide any evidence that shows a house-wide desire to be different?

                – T.J.L.
                May 11 '16 at 13:39
















              0














              If you're familiar with the Ravenclaw house, one thing that sets them apart is that they LIKE being different. Of course they wouldn't want a raven, just because their house founder's last name was Ravenclaw. That's just silly. C'mon guys, don't you remember Luna Lovegood...?






              share|improve this answer



















              • 1





                Luna Lovegood was weird on her own and irrespective of anybody's opinion. Can you provide any evidence that shows a house-wide desire to be different?

                – T.J.L.
                May 11 '16 at 13:39














              0












              0








              0







              If you're familiar with the Ravenclaw house, one thing that sets them apart is that they LIKE being different. Of course they wouldn't want a raven, just because their house founder's last name was Ravenclaw. That's just silly. C'mon guys, don't you remember Luna Lovegood...?






              share|improve this answer













              If you're familiar with the Ravenclaw house, one thing that sets them apart is that they LIKE being different. Of course they wouldn't want a raven, just because their house founder's last name was Ravenclaw. That's just silly. C'mon guys, don't you remember Luna Lovegood...?







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered May 11 '16 at 13:14









              DevinDevin

              91




              91








              • 1





                Luna Lovegood was weird on her own and irrespective of anybody's opinion. Can you provide any evidence that shows a house-wide desire to be different?

                – T.J.L.
                May 11 '16 at 13:39














              • 1





                Luna Lovegood was weird on her own and irrespective of anybody's opinion. Can you provide any evidence that shows a house-wide desire to be different?

                – T.J.L.
                May 11 '16 at 13:39








              1




              1





              Luna Lovegood was weird on her own and irrespective of anybody's opinion. Can you provide any evidence that shows a house-wide desire to be different?

              – T.J.L.
              May 11 '16 at 13:39





              Luna Lovegood was weird on her own and irrespective of anybody's opinion. Can you provide any evidence that shows a house-wide desire to be different?

              – T.J.L.
              May 11 '16 at 13:39











              0














              According to Pottermore
              "Our emblem is the eagle, which soars where others cannot climb;"
              I think this is the reason why it's an eagle, not raven. I could be wrong.






              share|improve this answer




























                0














                According to Pottermore
                "Our emblem is the eagle, which soars where others cannot climb;"
                I think this is the reason why it's an eagle, not raven. I could be wrong.






                share|improve this answer


























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  According to Pottermore
                  "Our emblem is the eagle, which soars where others cannot climb;"
                  I think this is the reason why it's an eagle, not raven. I could be wrong.






                  share|improve this answer













                  According to Pottermore
                  "Our emblem is the eagle, which soars where others cannot climb;"
                  I think this is the reason why it's an eagle, not raven. I could be wrong.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Dec 17 '17 at 4:51









                  MaddieMaddie

                  1




                  1























                      -5














                      Ravens are renown for their intelligence. Which makes perfect sense for the ravenclaw crest. Gryphons are part lion. Snakes slither. And badgers huff and puff. I say, don't read more into it - it's a book originally written for kids.






                      share|improve this answer



















                      • 2





                        That seems reasonable enough. Has anyone confirmed this, though?

                        – Adamant
                        Oct 29 '16 at 4:53











                      • Except that canon says something completely different

                        – Matthew Barclay
                        Mar 11 '18 at 13:19
















                      -5














                      Ravens are renown for their intelligence. Which makes perfect sense for the ravenclaw crest. Gryphons are part lion. Snakes slither. And badgers huff and puff. I say, don't read more into it - it's a book originally written for kids.






                      share|improve this answer



















                      • 2





                        That seems reasonable enough. Has anyone confirmed this, though?

                        – Adamant
                        Oct 29 '16 at 4:53











                      • Except that canon says something completely different

                        – Matthew Barclay
                        Mar 11 '18 at 13:19














                      -5












                      -5








                      -5







                      Ravens are renown for their intelligence. Which makes perfect sense for the ravenclaw crest. Gryphons are part lion. Snakes slither. And badgers huff and puff. I say, don't read more into it - it's a book originally written for kids.






                      share|improve this answer













                      Ravens are renown for their intelligence. Which makes perfect sense for the ravenclaw crest. Gryphons are part lion. Snakes slither. And badgers huff and puff. I say, don't read more into it - it's a book originally written for kids.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Oct 29 '16 at 3:27









                      Jeannie DaltonJeannie Dalton

                      1




                      1








                      • 2





                        That seems reasonable enough. Has anyone confirmed this, though?

                        – Adamant
                        Oct 29 '16 at 4:53











                      • Except that canon says something completely different

                        – Matthew Barclay
                        Mar 11 '18 at 13:19














                      • 2





                        That seems reasonable enough. Has anyone confirmed this, though?

                        – Adamant
                        Oct 29 '16 at 4:53











                      • Except that canon says something completely different

                        – Matthew Barclay
                        Mar 11 '18 at 13:19








                      2




                      2





                      That seems reasonable enough. Has anyone confirmed this, though?

                      – Adamant
                      Oct 29 '16 at 4:53





                      That seems reasonable enough. Has anyone confirmed this, though?

                      – Adamant
                      Oct 29 '16 at 4:53













                      Except that canon says something completely different

                      – Matthew Barclay
                      Mar 11 '18 at 13:19





                      Except that canon says something completely different

                      – Matthew Barclay
                      Mar 11 '18 at 13:19





                      protected by Community Mar 14 '18 at 22:51



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