Love and Lycanthrope

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Werewolves: Lore, Legend & Lycanthropy

In the Open Graves, Open Minds Project, we unearthed depictions of the vampire and the undead in literature, art, and other media, before embracing shapeshifters and other supernatural beings and their worlds. OGOM opens up questions concerning genre, gender, hybridity, cultural change, and other realms. The Project extends to all narratives of the fantastic, the folkloric, the fabulous, and the magical. My Swordhand is Singing. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Site Map Click here for Site Map.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: On one hand the "Germanic" werewolf, which becomes associated with the witchcraft panic from around , and on the other hand the "Slavic" werewolf or vlkolak , which becomes associated with the concept of the revenant or "vampire". The "eastern" werewolf-vampire is found in the folklore of Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary, Romania and the Balkans, while the "western" werewolf-sorcerer is found in France, German-speaking Europe and in the Baltic.

There were numerous reports of werewolf attacks — and consequent court trials — in 16th-century France. In some of the cases there was clear evidence against the accused of murder and cannibalism , but none of association with wolves; in other cases people have been terrified by such creatures, such as that of Gilles Garnier in Dole in , there was clear evidence against some wolf but none against the accused. The lubins or lupins were usually female and shy in contrast to the aggressive loups-garous.

Werewolvery was a common accusation in witch trials throughout their history, and it featured even in the Valais witch trials , one of the earliest such trials altogether, in the first half of the 15th century. Likewise, in the Vaud , child-eating werewolves were reported as early as A peak of attention to lycanthropy came in the late 16th to early 17th century, as part of the European witch-hunts. A number of treatises on werewolves were written in France during and Werewolves were sighted in in Anjou , and a teenage werewolf was sentenced to life imprisonment in Bordeaux in Henry Boguet wrote a lengthy chapter about werewolves in In the Vaud, werewolves were convicted in and in A treatise by a Vaud pastor in , however, argued that lycanthropy was purely an illusion.

After this, the only further record from the Vaud dates to At the beginning of the 17th century witchcraft was prosecuted by James I of England , who regarded "warwoolfes" as victims of delusion induced by "a natural superabundance of melancholic". The only part of Europe which showed vigorous interest in werewolves after was the Holy Roman Empire.

At least nine works on lycanthropy were printed in Germany between and In the Austrian and Bavarian Alps, belief in werewolves persisted well into the 18th century. Until the 20th century, wolf attacks on humans were an occasional, but still widespread feature of life in Europe. An idea is explored in Sabine Baring-Gould 's work The Book of Werewolves is that werewolf legends may have been used to explain serial killings. Perhaps the most famous example is the case of Peter Stumpp executed in , the German farmer, and alleged serial killer and cannibal , also known as the Werewolf of Bedburg.

In Asian Cultures [ which? Common Turkic folklore holds a different, reverential light to the werewolf legends in that Turkic Central Asian shamans after performing long and arduous rites would voluntarily be able to transform into the humanoid "Kurtadam" literally meaning Wolfman. Since the wolf was the totemic ancestor animal of the Turkic peoples, they would be respectful of any shaman who was in such a form. Some modern researchers have tried to explain the reports of werewolf behaviour with recognised medical conditions.

Dr Lee Illis of Guy's Hospital in London wrote a paper in entitled On Porphyria and the Aetiology of Werewolves , in which he argues that historical accounts on werewolves could have in fact been referring to victims of congenital porphyria , stating how the symptoms of photosensitivity , reddish teeth and psychosis could have been grounds for accusing a sufferer of being a werewolf. However, Woodward dismissed the possibility, as the rarity of the disease ruled it out from happening on a large scale, as werewolf cases were in medieval Europe.

Woodward focused on the idea that being bitten by a werewolf could result in the victim turning into one, which suggested the idea of a transmittable disease like rabies. Lycanthropy can also be met with as the main content of a delusion, for example, the case of a woman has been reported who during episodes of acute psychosis complained of becoming four different species of animals.

The beliefs classed together under lycanthropy are far from uniform, and the term is somewhat capriciously applied. The transformation may be temporary or permanent; the were-animal may be the man himself metamorphosed; may be his double whose activity leaves the real man to all appearance unchanged; may be his soul , which goes forth seeking whomever it may devour, leaving its body in a state of trance ; or it may be no more than the messenger of the human being, a real animal or a familiar spirit , whose intimate connection with its owner is shown by the fact that any injury to it is believed, by a phenomenon known as repercussion, to cause a corresponding injury to the human being.

Werewolves were said in European folklore to bear tell-tale physical traits even in their human form. These included the meeting of both eyebrows at the bridge of the nose, curved fingernails, low-set ears and a swinging stride. One method of identifying a werewolf in its human form was to cut the flesh of the accused, under the pretense that fur would be seen within the wound.

A Russian superstition recalls a werewolf can be recognised by bristles under the tongue. According to some Swedish accounts, the werewolf could be distinguished from a regular wolf by the fact that it would run on three legs, stretching the fourth one backwards to look like a tail.

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Various methods for becoming a werewolf have been reported, one of the simplest being the removal of clothing and putting on a belt made of wolfskin, probably as a substitute for the assumption of an entire animal skin which also is frequently described. Ralston in his Songs of the Russian People gives the form of incantation still familiar in Russia. In Italy, France and Germany, it was said that a man or woman could turn into a werewolf if he or she, on a certain Wednesday or Friday, slept outside on a summer night with the full moon shining directly on his or her face.

In other cases, the transformation was supposedly accomplished by Satanic allegiance for the most loathsome ends, often for the sake of sating a craving for human flesh. And they do dispose themselves as very wolves, in worrying and killing, and most of humane creatures. The phenomenon of repercussion, the power of animal metamorphosis , or of sending out a familiar , real or spiritual, as a messenger, and the supernormal powers conferred by association with such a familiar, are also attributed to the magician , male and female, all the world over; and witch superstitions are closely parallel to, if not identical with, lycanthropic beliefs, the occasional involuntary character of lycanthropy being almost the sole distinguishing feature.

In another direction the phenomenon of repercussion is asserted to manifest itself in connection with the bush-soul of the West African and the nagual of Central America ; but though there is no line of demarcation to be drawn on logical grounds, the assumed power of the magician and the intimate association of the bush-soul or the nagual with a human being are not termed lycanthropy. The curse of lycanthropy was also considered by some scholars as being a divine punishment.

Werewolf literature shows many examples of God or saints allegedly cursing those who invoked their wrath with werewolfism. Such is the case of Lycaon , who was turned into a wolf by Zeus as punishment for slaughtering one of his own sons and serving his remains to the gods as a dinner.

Those who were excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church were also said to become werewolves. The power of transforming others into wild beasts was attributed not only to malignant sorcerers, but to Christian saints as well. Omnes angeli, boni et Mali, ex virtute naturali habent potestatem transmutandi corpora nostra "All angels, good and bad have the power of transmutating our bodies" was the dictum of St.

Patrick was said to have transformed the Welsh King Vereticus into a wolf; Natalis supposedly cursed an illustrious Irish family whose members were each doomed to be a wolf for seven years. In other tales the divine agency is even more direct, while in Russia, again, men supposedly became werewolves when incurring the wrath of the Devil. A notable exception to the association of Lycanthropy and the Devil, comes from a rare and lesser known account of an year-old man named Thiess.

Their efforts ensured that the Devil and his minions did not carry off the grain from local failed crops down to hell.

Werewolves: Lore, Legend & Lycanthropy

Thiess was steadfast in his assertions, claiming that werewolves in Germany and Russia also did battle with the devil's minions in their own versions of hell, and insisted that when werewolves died, their souls were welcomed into heaven as reward for their service. Thiess was ultimately sentenced to ten lashes for Idolatry and superstitious belief. Various methods have existed for removing the werewolf form. In antiquity, the Ancient Greeks and Romans believed in the power of exhaustion in curing people of lycanthropy.

The victim would be subjected to long periods of physical activity in the hope of being purged of the malady. This practice stemmed from the fact that many alleged werewolves would be left feeling weak and debilitated after committing depredations. In medieval Europe, traditionally, there are three methods one can use to cure a victim of werewolfism; medicinally usually via the use of wolfsbane , surgically, or by exorcism. However, many of the cures advocated by medieval medical practitioners proved fatal to the patients.

A Sicilian belief of Arabic origin holds that a werewolf can be cured of its ailment by striking it on the forehead or scalp with a knife. Another belief from the same culture involves the piercing of the werewolf's hands with nails. Sometimes, less extreme methods were used. In the German lowland of Schleswig-Holstein, a werewolf could be cured if one were to simply address it three times by its Christian name, while one Danish belief holds that merely scolding a werewolf will cure it.

Hubert has also been cited as both cure for and protection from lycanthropes. Before the end of the 19th century, the Greeks believed that the corpses of werewolves, if not destroyed, would return to life in the form of wolves or hyenas which prowled battlefields, drinking the blood of dying soldiers. In the same vein, in some rural areas of Germany, Poland and Northern France, it was once believed that people who died in mortal sin came back to life as blood-drinking wolves.

These "undead" werewolves would return to their human corpse form at daylight. They were dealt with by decapitation with a spade and exorcism by the parish priest.

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The head would then be thrown into a stream, where the weight of its sins was thought to weigh it down. Mar 17, Kat Green rated it it was amazing. I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this book because I enjoyed it to the point that I wanted to leave a review. This is the first book I've read by Emilia Hartley, but it won't be the last.

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The Lycanthrope is a wonderful paranormal romance with suspense around every corner. I didn't want to put it down, so obviously read it in one sitting. The characters were well developed and believable. The cover artistry is what first attaracted me, but I just devored the story once I started. I very m I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this book because I enjoyed it to the point that I wanted to leave a review.

I very much enjoyed this read and now need to go back and read Book One of the series. Mar 14, Raina Collins rated it really liked it. A regency era shifter romance. Henry tries to avoid Sarah and all people so he can keep secret his family curse. But Sarah is as stubborn as she is giving and won't stop until she helps him, no matter what the secret may be.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of the book. Mar 11, Sherry Westendorf rated it it was amazing. I love the regency era. A family cursed to be werewolves at a certain time, Then along comes a woman with healing herbs and her and her sisters work to get rid of the curse. Throw in with this love and hot scenes and you have a great book I recommend. I was given a review copy and voluntarily review it. Barbara Daley rated it it was amazing May 15, LuDena Radford rated it really liked it Nov 12, Melissa Smith rated it really liked it May 19, Mar 25, Joyffree rated it really liked it.

A paranormal regency shifter romance that gives the idea of "beauty and the beast" a whole new twist.

1. No More Mistakes (Do It! Success Series Book 3).
2. The Lycanthrope (Power And Love, #2) by Emilia Hartley.
3. Les Aides Invisibles (French Edition).
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5. Monster Mirror.
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No it is not a retelling of the fairy tale - just has a beauty and a beast. Sarah who portrays our beautiful village "wise woman" is just a blast of fresh air - stubborn, empathetic and blessed with a wonderfully adept sense of perception saves our poor Henry from an untimely end, sensing something is amiss she sets off to find answers to her questions No I am not telling anything not already in t A paranormal regency shifter romance that gives the idea of "beauty and the beast" a whole new twist.

Sarah who portrays our beautiful village "wise woman" is just a blast of fresh air - stubborn, empathetic and blessed with a wonderfully adept sense of perception saves our poor Henry from an untimely end, sensing something is amiss she sets off to find answers to her questions No I am not telling anything not already in the blurb - No spoilers This is a wonderfully fun and sweet romance that will leave you wanting more "I received an ARC at no cost from the author.

Apr 10, Eunice Robertson rated it it was amazing. I absolutely enjoyed this different retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The writer successfully gets us to look under the skin of the characters, showing us that what we see with our eyes isn't always who we are. Tracy Lynn rated it liked it Jan 04, Barbara Duell rated it it was amazing Jan 08, Lori Stiles rated it really liked it Dec 17, Mar 31, Amy Hannagan rated it really liked it. Sarah, the local wise woman, is leading a lonely existence until one day she stumbles upon a nearly drowning Henry.

After rescuing him, she feels drawn to him. Upon their second meeting, he tells her his family secret and she vows to help him break their curse. This is a good read the combines regency and paranormal flawlessly. I really enjoyed this story.



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2. The Literary Lycanthrope, or, How I Came to Love the Wolf!
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4. Fais pas dans le porno... (San-Antonio) (French Edition).
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I requested this at no cost to the author for review. Morin marked it as to-read Mar 10,