Shapeshifting The concept is present in antiquity, and may indeed be a human cultural universal. It is present in the oldest forms of totemism or shamanism, as well as the oldest extant literature and epic poems (such as the Gilgamesh Epic or the Iliad). The shape-shifting is usually induced by the act of a deity; it persisted into the literature of the Middle Ages and the modern period (where the agency causing shape-shifting is mostly a sorcerer or witch). It remains a common trope in modern fantasy, children's literature, and works of pop culture. By far the most common form of shape-shifting is therianthropy which is the transformation of a human being into an animal (or conversely of an animal into human form). Themes in shapeshifting[edit] Shapeshifting may be used as a plot device, such as when Puss in Boots in the movie Shrek 2 tricks the ogre, Shrek, into becoming a mouse to be eaten. Examples of this are in fairy tales. Between the sexes[edit] Mythology[edit] Modern fiction[edit] L.
Church Grim The Swedish Kyrkogrim are said to be the spirits of animals sacrificed by early Christians at the building of a new church.[2] In parts of Europe, including Britain and Scandinavia, it was believed that the first man buried in a new churchyard had to guard it against the Devil. To save a human soul from the duty, a completely black dog would be buried alive on the north side of the churchyard, creating a guardian spirit, the church grim, in order to protect the church.[3] The Scandinavian and Nordic Kyrkogrim or Kirkonväki can also occasionally appear as pale-skinned 'ghosts', said to be the spirits of the folk who lived in the proximity of the church that they now 'guard'. William Henderson in his Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties (p.274) attributes it to a foundation sacrifice and points out that the Kirkogrim of Sweden appears in the form of a lamb which, in the early days in Christianity in Sweden, was buried under the altar. Fiction[edit] See also[edit] References[edit]
Terminology about werewolves A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope, is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or a wolf-man hybrid creature, either purposely, by being bitten by another werewolf, or after being placed under a curse. This transformation is often associated with the appearance of the full moon, as noted by the medieval chronicler Gervase of Tilbury, or Petronius in Greek antiquity. Werewolves are often attributed superhuman strength and senses, far beyond those of both wolves and men. A distinction is often made between voluntary and involuntary werewolves.
The Rise of the Werewolf in Europe - Exemplore The Popularity of Werewolves Do you believe in werewolves? With so many popular TV programmes like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, Trueblood and Being Human filling our screens, you might be starting to think that our world really is heavily populated with supernatural creatures like vampires, werewolves, demons, shape-shifters, fairies, goblins and garden gnomes. Heck, you might even be just a bit peeved that you were born a mere human, as all your favourite TV characters seem to end up being supernatural in some way. Putting aside the fact that I would probably find out that I was part garden gnome rather than part seductively gorgeous female vampire or water sprite, where did our beliefs in these supernatural beings come from? And why do we find them so appealing? Werewolves in Antiquity So, how far back in European history do we have to go to find the first references to werewolves? Werewolves in Medieval Europe How Did You Become a Werewolf? Killing the Beast Within Prasetio
www.britannica Characteristics Because there is a long history of walking corpses and bloodsucking ghouls in folklore, it is difficult to pin down a distinct set of characteristics consistently attributed only to vampires. Central to vampire myth, however, is the consumption of human blood or other essence (such as bodily fluids or psychic energy), followed closely by the possession of sharp teeth or fangs with which to facilitate this task. A person may become a vampire in a variety of ways, the most common of which is to be bitten by a vampire. Britannica Quiz Famous Vampires Quiz History Creatures with vampiric characteristics have appeared at least as far back as ancient Greece, where stories were told of creatures that attacked people in their sleep and drained their bodily fluids. Vampire myths were especially popular in eastern Europe, and the word vampire most likely originates from that region. Dracula is arguably the most important work of vampire fiction. Also spelled: vampyre Alison Eldridge
pam This article includes main characters (i.e. characters played by a main cast member), as well as every recurring vampire, and every other character to appear in at least four episodes.[1] Main characters[edit] Humans[edit] Supernaturals[edit] Seasonal antagonists[edit] Past main characters[edit] In order of episode appearances Additional characters[edit] Supporting vampire characters[edit] In order of first appearances Additional characters, introduced in season 1[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 2[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 3[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 4[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 5[edit] See also[edit] Characters of The Southern Vampire Mysteries References[edit] External links[edit] Black dog (ghost) The origins of the black dog are difficult to discern. It is impossible to ascertain whether the creature originated in the Celtic or Germanic elements in British culture. Throughout European mythology, dogs have been associated with death. Black Dogs have been reported from almost all the counties of England, the exceptions being Middlesex and Rutland.[11] On Dartmoor, the notorious squire Cabell was said to have been a huntsman who sold his soul to the Devil. The yeth hound, also called the yell hound, is a black dog found in Devon folklore. The Cù Sìth (Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: kuː ʃiː) is an enormous, otherworldly hound, said to haunt the Scottish Highlands. In the Isle of Man is the legend of the Moddey Dhoo, 'black dog' in Manx, also styled phonetically Mauthe Doog or Mawtha Doo. "For he was speechless, ghastly, wan Like him of whom the Story ran Who spoke the spectre hound in Man." The monstrous black dog reputed to haunt Bouley Bay in Jersey is depicted on this pub sign.
Wild Wolves | What's in a Howl What's in a Howl? by Fred H. Harrington Professor of EthologyMount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia Ask anyone about wolf vocalizations and the howl invariably springs to mind. Even though wolves bark, woof, whine, whimper, yelp, growl, snarl and moan a lot more often than they howl, it is howling that defines the wolf, and fascinates us. The center of a wolf's universe is its pack, and howling is the glue that keeps the pack together. We do know, however, that howling keeps packmates together, physically. For the following examples of howling, you can "read" the sound spectrograph as you listen to the howls. You'll need one of the free software plugins—RealPlayer or QuickTime to be able to view the sonagram clips of wolf howls below. A "Lonesome" Howl RealVideo broadband/dialup | QuickTime (3.3MB) | AVI (3.3MB) The series of adult howls heard here can be classified as "lonesome" or "lone" howls. A Pup Howl RealVideo broadband/dialup | QuickTime (2.3MB) | AVI (2.3MB) A Chorus Howl
The Medieval Werewolf The medieval world was certainly interested in the supernatural, but this seemed not to encompass the horror element that later became popular, perhaps because there were plenty of horrors in everyday medieval life. The Church, a huge force in the Middle Ages, was keen to connect the idea of the supernatural with miracles, so while Church scholars explored the issue of therianthropy (metamorphosis between human and animal form), this seemed largely in order to deny the possibility that human-beast transformation could occur. The medieval bestiary – a tradition that showed to be intended to communicate a moral message from God to mankind – included exotics like the siren, amphisbaena, basilisk, and manticore; but not werewolves. Wolves were hated throughout Europe: they were inedible predators with a fondness for domesticated food, and were thought dangerous to people. Dr Amanda Hopkins Tutor, School of Modern Languages and Cultures (French), University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL
werewolf translated and edited by D. L. Ashliman University of Pittsburgh © 1997-2010. Contents Return to D. The Morbach Monster Anonymous Have you ever heard of the Morbach Monster? I first learned of the legend while I was stationed at Hahn Airforce Base, Germany. Supposedly Wittlich is the last town where a werewolf was killed. One night a group of security policemen were on the way to their post at Morbach, when they noticed that the candle was out at the shrine, and all joked about the monster. Later that night alarms were received from a fence-line sensor. This occured around 1988. There have always been "ghost" stories dreamed up by bored security policemen, but this is one I have heard over and over again. Source: E-mail, dated October 6, 1997, to D. The Werewolf F. By using a so-called wolf strap, any person could transform himself into a werewolf. In earlier times there were a great many such straps, but today, along with the wolves, they seem to have been banned to Russia. Source: F. A.
recurring characters This article includes main characters (i.e. characters played by a main cast member), as well as every recurring vampire, and every other character to appear in at least four episodes.[1] Main characters[edit] Humans[edit] Supernaturals[edit] Seasonal antagonists[edit] Past main characters[edit] In order of episode appearances Additional characters[edit] Supporting vampire characters[edit] In order of first appearances Additional characters, introduced in season 1[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 2[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 3[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 4[edit] Additional characters, introduced in season 5[edit] See also[edit] Characters of The Southern Vampire Mysteries References[edit] External links[edit]
Black Shuck Artist's impression of the Black Shuck. Commonly described features include large red eyes, bared teeth and shaggy black fur.[1] The name Shuck may derive from the Old English word scucca meaning "demon", or possibly from the local dialect word shucky meaning "shaggy" or "hairy".[4] Black Shuck is one of many ghostly black dogs recorded across the British Isles.[5] Sometimes recorded as an omen of death, sometimes a more companionable animal, it is classified as a cryptid, and there are varying accounts of the animal's appearance.[4][6] Writing in 1877, Walter Rye stated that Shuck was "the most curious of our local apparitions, as they are no doubt varieties of the same animal.[7] Its alleged appearance in 1577 at Bungay and Blythburgh is a particularly famous account of the beast, and images of black sinister dogs have become part of the iconography of the area.[1] Folklore[edit] Appearance in Bungay and Blythburgh[edit] Title page of Rev. See also[edit] References[edit]
justhistoryposts Werewolves are perhaps one of the most popular modern-day mythical creatures, alongside vampires, and many teen films and television shows now feature both creatures. I have already written a post about the historical origins of vampires, and what medieval people believed to be true about these monsters, so I thought it was time to look into their counterparts. In modern media, such as Twilight and the Vampire Diaries, werewolves are seen as the opposites to vampires, and often are portrayed as having the sole purpose of fighting evil vampires. Vampires are burnt by the sun, whilst werewolves find their strength in the full moon. Werewolves, however, have a very long history in legend, although their core essence has stayed true over hundreds of years. The first references to werewolves are thousands of years old. In the 5th century BC, a Greek historian named Herodotus described a nomadic group of people called the Neuri. Enjoying this blog post? Buy my books via the pictures below!