Three Ravens Bestiary #19: Zombies and Revenants

For this week's Haunting Season-themed Bonus Episode we're chatting all about the mythology of Zombies and Revenants!

To start off with, which is which? Because one dates from Medieval times, and the other comes from a word invented by an English poet in 1819.

And if we look further back, to Ancient Egypt, Ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome and Scythia, what root creatures and legends can we find that travel forward through history to become 'The Zombie' and 'The Revenant.'

One is rooted in fear surrounding death, too, and society showing due respect to the dearly departed, while the other is rooted in racism, yet both end up in the same place.

A world of paranoia, filled with the fear of others, and about the belief the End Times are coming.

Mix in a little bit of Samurai and Cowboy mythology and a sprinkling of Science Fiction and it turns out we've ended up exactly where we wanted to be.

A place where zombies could be anywhere, or anyone... but don't worry, as zombies can be cute now, so, presumably, less dangerous?

Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

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