Noah's Birds
Acrylic on panel
Gold leaf
20x16"
Private collection
Noah’s Birds
In the Biblical flood myth, it is written in Genesis that as the waters began to recede, Noah released a raven. It flew out and did not return to the ark.
Then he released a dove, which did return, unable to find dry land.
The next time the dove brought back an olive sprig, signifying that trees were in recovery.
When the dove was released a third time, it did not return, and Noah’s family and all the animals disembarked onto dry land.
Vikings took caged ravens on sea voyages, releasing them to act as guides to land. If they returned, land was not near. But if they headed out in a particular direction, the sailors followed them towards land. Might this be a remnant of an ancient seafaring custom alluded to in the flood myth?
Our ancestors depended on these messengers — we still have much to learn from our fellow creatures.
For an interesting take on Noah's raven and dove, listen to this podcast from Emergence Magazine.