So this is the second post in the array of The Myths Behind the Most Famous Paranormal Creatures. Last time I talked about vampires and now werewolves are up. Which team are you? Werewolves or vampires?
What is a werewolf?
There are several myths around werewolves, just like around all the mythical creatures. Though, I'm only going to show you one today, and that is the Greek version of lycanthropy, as I found this one the most interesting, and probably this is the less well-known.
In Greek Myth, Lycaos was the extraordinarily cruel king of Arcadia. Lycaos sought favor with Zeus by offering him the flesh of a young child. Enraged, Zeus turned Lycaos into a wolf. The belief that certain people can turn themselves into animals, especially wolves, and roam the earth doing evil became widespread.
The word "werewolf" means "manwolf" since wer is the Saxon word for man. Werewolves love to eat babies and corpses. silver bullets or arrows are not the only thing that can kill a werewolf. After death, a werewolf resumes his human identity.
In the Middle Ages, many Europeans believed wolves were tools of the devil and the animals were ruthlessly hunted. Epileptics and the mentally ill were often brought to court and accused of being werewolves. Today, psychologists use the term "lycanthrope" to describe a mentally ill person who actually believes he has been changed into an animal.
You must use a silver bullet to kill a werewolf
Source: Silver is identified with the moon and therefore is ideal to slay a creature transformed under the light of the full moon.
Fact: To kill a werewolf, you must use bullets or cartridges with serious stopping power, but they need not be made of silver.
Werewolves only appear during a full moon
Source: Long-running superstitions about the full moon's effects on animals and people.
Fact: Werewolves can appear at any time.
A werewolf will revert back to its human form by sunrise
Source: Numerous Hollywood movies.
Fact: A werewolf will remain a werewolf until the day it dies.
Signs of werewolves
1. Pacing and prowling during full moon.
2. Werewolves know they are dangerous and try to get family and friends away if the suspect begs you to leave.
3. In the hours before they change werewolves gain acute hearing, animal strength, and a heightened sense of smell.
4. Reddish almond shaped nails and it can be as hard as the claw of a wolf on their left thumb.
5. Werewolves have very broad hands also look at the third finger if it is unusually long.
6. Paleness and fatigued looking the day after a full moon.
7. Werewolves are also very thirsty after a full moon.
8. Werewolves have long swinging strides like that of a prowling wolf.
And a nice picture of the cutie:
Give me a werewolf over a vampire any day! ;-) they are my favourite paranormal creature to read about.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 100th post.
Werewolves I great, though I prefer dragons over both. (The next week's post is going to be about them, but it's a secret :D)
DeleteThank you. :)
I think the only series I have read with a dragon is the Elder Races by Thea Harrison which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to your post :)
DeleteI read only one, too, when I was younger as it was rather a children's book, but I really loved it. :)
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