Post by jonnygemini on Feb 21, 2006 13:59:01 GMT -5
If ravens die, England is doomed
[Birdy, birdy in the sky ...]
via:
www.sploid.com/news/2006/02/avian_flu_puts.php
Ravens have been symbols of doom and familiars of the Devil for centuries.
And for at least half of the Tower of London's thousand-year history, ravens have circled the landmark to protect England from peril.
Now, with the rapid spread of avian flu across Europe, the ravens are in danger of being wiped out by the virus.
If the black birds die, it means certain death for the United Kingdom and what remains of the British Empire.
Some 400 years ago, Royal Astronomical Observer John Flamsteed complained to King Charles II that the ravens were obstructing his view of the heavens.
Cruel Charles ordered the birds slaughtered. The idiot king had forgotten the legend of Bran the Blessed, the gargantuan Welsh god-king.
His advisors begged him to spare the birds’ lives, and Charles II backed off just in time.
Since then, the ruling monarchy has maintained a minimum of six ravens in the tower. During the Nazi blitzkriegs of World War II, all but one of the birds died of fright. That single living raven ensured that neither the tower nor the Empire fell.
Today, the U.K. government spends thousands of pounds per year ensuring the presence of ravens in the Tower of London.
As the dreaded H5N1 marches across Europe, the ravens and all of England are at grave risk. In hopes of protecting both, Raven Master Derrick Coyle has brought the birds inside until the deadly virus is contained.
The ominous birds are on a new diet designed to keep their immune systems strong, while their imprisonment will keep them out of contact with wild birds carrying the new plague.
The Legend of Bran the Blessed
When the giant god-king Bran died, his head was buried in London. According to Welsh folklore, as long as his head was there, Britain was safe from invasion.
King Arthur was reportedly outraged by this Celtic myth. Arthur wanted to be sole protector of Britain, so he had the head dug up. Terrible horrors rippled across the countryside.
A shamed Arthur ordered the head returned to London and reburied. It is upon this mound that the Tower of London stands.
As it happens, “Bran” means raven, so the legend expanded until the ravens were the ones actually protecting England.
[Birdy, birdy in the sky ...]
via:
www.sploid.com/news/2006/02/avian_flu_puts.php
Ravens have been symbols of doom and familiars of the Devil for centuries.
And for at least half of the Tower of London's thousand-year history, ravens have circled the landmark to protect England from peril.
Now, with the rapid spread of avian flu across Europe, the ravens are in danger of being wiped out by the virus.
If the black birds die, it means certain death for the United Kingdom and what remains of the British Empire.
Some 400 years ago, Royal Astronomical Observer John Flamsteed complained to King Charles II that the ravens were obstructing his view of the heavens.
Cruel Charles ordered the birds slaughtered. The idiot king had forgotten the legend of Bran the Blessed, the gargantuan Welsh god-king.
His advisors begged him to spare the birds’ lives, and Charles II backed off just in time.
Since then, the ruling monarchy has maintained a minimum of six ravens in the tower. During the Nazi blitzkriegs of World War II, all but one of the birds died of fright. That single living raven ensured that neither the tower nor the Empire fell.
Today, the U.K. government spends thousands of pounds per year ensuring the presence of ravens in the Tower of London.
As the dreaded H5N1 marches across Europe, the ravens and all of England are at grave risk. In hopes of protecting both, Raven Master Derrick Coyle has brought the birds inside until the deadly virus is contained.
The ominous birds are on a new diet designed to keep their immune systems strong, while their imprisonment will keep them out of contact with wild birds carrying the new plague.
The Legend of Bran the Blessed
When the giant god-king Bran died, his head was buried in London. According to Welsh folklore, as long as his head was there, Britain was safe from invasion.
King Arthur was reportedly outraged by this Celtic myth. Arthur wanted to be sole protector of Britain, so he had the head dug up. Terrible horrors rippled across the countryside.
A shamed Arthur ordered the head returned to London and reburied. It is upon this mound that the Tower of London stands.
As it happens, “Bran” means raven, so the legend expanded until the ravens were the ones actually protecting England.