God's Allies

Crows, with their black plumage, their sparkling, bright eyes, and dark, shimmering beaks, belong to the night and to witches, heralds of doom and disaster. But their playful and unpredictable behaviour has also made them widely symbolic. In ancient times, they were even worshipped. The god Odin was accompanied by two ravens, representing "memory" and "thought". The concept of the crow as a symbol of the two principle faculties of humans is irresistible. You are never alone when crows are present. Photographer Hans Bol presents a tribute to the crow family, from the smallest jackdaws to the larger rooks and ravens, illustrating a fascination with these mysterious birds.