From: Lazarus
Message: 1934
Date: 2002-05-28
----- Original Message -----
From: "Haukur Thorgeirsson" <haukurth@...>
> The word 'blár' can mean 'dark' or 'black'.
> Ravens are certainly not 'blue' but the word
> 'blár' can be applied to them.
Ravens have an iridescent sheen to one side of their feathers that refracts
light and at certain angles reflects blue, green and violet, but very little
red, yellow and orange. This can also be seen on the dark feathers of some
species of ducks. Black cat-hair, on the other hand, can reflect all of the
colors of the rainbow equally well.
If the Old Norse experience of the color 'Black' was culturally influenced
by ravens, then that could also help explain the relationship. It would be
near impossible to prove, however, and I'm not trying to do so.
-Laz