Corvid oracles in ancient Alexandria

In my current research on Hypatia of Alexandria and her circle - notably Synesius of Cyrene - I came upon some interesting facts about the lady philosopher's father Theon, sometimes called Theon Aigyptos (335-405).. He was famous as a mathematician and astronomer. His editions of Euclid and Ptolemy have survived and were a mainstay of learning in the Mediterranean world for centuries. 

Less well known today is Theon's work in other fields, including divination, dream interpretation and theurgy ('literally, "divine working"). He looked to the stars for guidance, not unusual in a time and a city where astrology was taught in schools. He studied the play of signs and symbols in the world around him for clues to the hidden order of events, practicing the magic of the world.  He wrote commentaries on the books of Hermes Trismegistus and the hymns of Orpheus that have not survived. 

Among his other lost works, according to the Suda (a tenth-century Byzantine encyclopedia) was one with this intriguing title:

On Signs and the Examination of Birds and the Croaking of Ravens [1]

It's interesting to picture Hypatia growing up in this environment, to match her father as a mathematician and exceed him (many said) as an astronomer and philosopher. They would both have been well aware that the raven is the bird of Apollo, in whose name the most famous oracle of the Hellenic world delivered its messages. Hypatia seems to have been less interested in the old gods - as opposed to the Neoplatonic ascent to the One beyond the many - than her father, However, she too, may have heard the language of birds. Listening to ravens and crows was something of a tradition in Alexandria.

Theon and his daughter were probably familiar with the story of another famous Alexandrian Greek for whom the croaking of corvids was literally a life preserver. 

Appian of Alexandria (c.95-c.165) was a famous historian in the heyday of the Roman empire. He wrote in Greek, but was a Roman citizen and very definitely one of the ruling caste.

So when a violent rebellion broke out in Roman-ruled Egypt in the time of Trajan, Appian was one of those targeted by the rebels — Jews who believed that a new Messiah had come. He fled across the marshes of the Nile delta, with an Arab guide, heading for a ship that was waiting for him on one of the branches of the river. He had arranged for the ship to take him to safety in the port of Pelusium.

Appian and his guide traveled all night through the marshes. At dawn, a crow shrieked and the guide said, “We are lost.”

The crow squalled again, and the Arab said grimly, “We are utterly and completely lost.”

Appian, believing his life was at risk and that his pursuers were close behind, fell into despair.

The crow shrieked for a third time. The Arab’s expression turned to complete joy. “Ah, but it is such good luck that we became lost. There is a shortcut just ahead.”

Though Appian may not have understood this, he was fortunate to have a guide who knew the language of crows. In many traditions, corvids are messengers, and close attention is paid to their actions.

The Arab led the way decisively, and very soon they came to a branch of the Nile and saw a galley in full sail. However, this was not the expected meeting place nor the same ship on which Appian had arranged passage.

“Where are you going?” Appian called to the captain.

“Pelusium!” the captain called back.

Of course, Appian boarded the galley, which carried him to Pelusium safely. By his own account, his life was saved because he got lost and took the “wrong” boat. The ship that had been engaged to take him to Pelusium was captured by the rebels, and its passengers and crew were held as prisoners or killed.

This is an example of how sometimes we must get lost in order to find the right way. It helps then. more than ever, to have a crow or raven to help us with roadside assistance. 

1. Maria Dzielska, Hypatia of Alexandria (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1996) 74

2. The story of Appian and the crows is adapted from my book The Three "Only" Things: Tapping the Power of Dreams, Coincidence and Imagination (Novato, CA: New World Library, 2009). The original source is "Fragment A: Concerning the Divination of the Arabs" in The Roman History of Appian of Alexandria trans. Horace White (London: Macmillan, 1899) vol.2, p.489.

Raven drawing by RM