Wednesday, February 01, 2012

3453 Oh! The Ravens!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr. --

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On Sunday I promised an answer to why the legend is that the monarchy is doomed if the ravens leave the tower, and then I wandered away.

There are many theories, most of them much too literary, much too complicated, involving too much navel-gazing. The simplest answer (with the exception of explanations of human motives) is often the truest.

Ravens eat (among other things) carrion. The Tower was the site of executions, and the bodies of traitors to the Crown were left on display. Ravens hung around for the feasts.

If the Crown grew complacent and stopped public executions of traitors, it would be a sign of weakness, and the Crown wouldn't exist for long.

Simple.
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