LostprophetsFan<33
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The legend of the werewolf is one of the most ancient and wide spread. Stories of werewolves can be found as far back as history has been written. These shape-shifter myths can be found all over the word from China to Iceland and Brazil to Haiti.
Some of the earliest accounts of werewolves come from Romania and Greek sources. Ovid, in the Metamorphoses, told of King Lycaeon, who was visited by passing gods. Not believing them to be true gods he decided to test them by serving human flesh in one of the many dishes served at a banquet in their honor. Cannibalism being very frowned upon in that part of the world was a major slight indeed. Upon discovering the tainted dish, the gods changed King Lycaeon into a werewolf -- since he obviously liked human flesh, the wolf form would be a more acceptable form to take part in such a vile activity.
The most widely know story of the werewolf would be "Little Red Riding Hood". There are many ancient were tales to worn the fragile, small and easiest of targets -- children. "Little Red Riding Hood" features a wolf who talks to Little Red Riding Hood and then dresses in grandmas clothing to fool the innocent little girl. Not something any 'ol wolf could do.
The full moon has been linked to werewolves. Conversely, unlike movie werewolves, 'real' werewolves change shape voluntarily. In many myths they are witches who take animal form to travel unnoticed using either a potion made from magic ingredients - the fat of dead children, herbs, human blood - or an animal-skin. A 'real' werewolf changes completely, becoming the animal rather than a hairy human. The full moon business seems to be dramatic license. However it is an interesting notion since the full moon has been associated with creating madness in humans and to be a time during which man and beast have a magical connection.
Shewolf
In the mountains of Auvergne, a story dating back to 1588 was told of a royal female werewolf. In the story, a nobleman was gazing out of his window and upon seeing a hunter he knew he told him to check back with details of the hunt. While in the forest, despite still being in sight of his master's chateau, the hunter stumbled upon a wolf. In the ensuing struggle, he severed one of the wolf's paws and placed the it in a pouch.
Upon returning to the chateau with his gruesome prize, he opened the pouch to show the nobleman evidence of his encounter. What they discovered was not paw at all, in fact, it the pouch now contained what looked to be a feminine hand bearing an elegant gold ring. The gentleman recognized the ring, sent the huntsman away, and sought for his wife. When he went came upon her in the kitchen, he found her nursing a wounded arm in the kitchen he removed the bandage only to find that her hand had been cut off.
Upon questioning her she finally admitted to being the wolf with whom the hunter encountered, and by her confession, she marked herself for certain execution -- in a matter of days she was burned at the stake.
The Beserker
In the Folklore of Norseman, there are many legends of warriors called Berserkers. They are band of ancient Norse warriors that are legendary for their savagery and reckless frenzy in battle. Fearing no one, feeling no pain, having superhuman strength and never surrendering are common characteristics.
Preparing for battle these warriors would attire themselves in skins from bears or wolfs. The term Berserker translates from old Norse to be "bear skin". There were also warriors who donned the wolf skins known as "ulfheobar" or "ulfhedinn" (wolf-coats) but they were eventually lumped together to be known as Berserkers.
The feeling was that once dressed with the skins of an animal, the warrior would take on the characteristics of that animal. Ynglingasaga records this tradition, saying of the warriors of Óðinn that "they went without coats of mail, and acted like mad dogs and wolves". A Byzantine emperor described the Berserkers in battle as being possessed by a ferocity and madness seen only in wild beasts. The term "berserk" was derived from the Beserkers.
Some of the earliest accounts of werewolves come from Romania and Greek sources. Ovid, in the Metamorphoses, told of King Lycaeon, who was visited by passing gods. Not believing them to be true gods he decided to test them by serving human flesh in one of the many dishes served at a banquet in their honor. Cannibalism being very frowned upon in that part of the world was a major slight indeed. Upon discovering the tainted dish, the gods changed King Lycaeon into a werewolf -- since he obviously liked human flesh, the wolf form would be a more acceptable form to take part in such a vile activity.
The most widely know story of the werewolf would be "Little Red Riding Hood". There are many ancient were tales to worn the fragile, small and easiest of targets -- children. "Little Red Riding Hood" features a wolf who talks to Little Red Riding Hood and then dresses in grandmas clothing to fool the innocent little girl. Not something any 'ol wolf could do.
The full moon has been linked to werewolves. Conversely, unlike movie werewolves, 'real' werewolves change shape voluntarily. In many myths they are witches who take animal form to travel unnoticed using either a potion made from magic ingredients - the fat of dead children, herbs, human blood - or an animal-skin. A 'real' werewolf changes completely, becoming the animal rather than a hairy human. The full moon business seems to be dramatic license. However it is an interesting notion since the full moon has been associated with creating madness in humans and to be a time during which man and beast have a magical connection.
Shewolf
In the mountains of Auvergne, a story dating back to 1588 was told of a royal female werewolf. In the story, a nobleman was gazing out of his window and upon seeing a hunter he knew he told him to check back with details of the hunt. While in the forest, despite still being in sight of his master's chateau, the hunter stumbled upon a wolf. In the ensuing struggle, he severed one of the wolf's paws and placed the it in a pouch.
Upon returning to the chateau with his gruesome prize, he opened the pouch to show the nobleman evidence of his encounter. What they discovered was not paw at all, in fact, it the pouch now contained what looked to be a feminine hand bearing an elegant gold ring. The gentleman recognized the ring, sent the huntsman away, and sought for his wife. When he went came upon her in the kitchen, he found her nursing a wounded arm in the kitchen he removed the bandage only to find that her hand had been cut off.
Upon questioning her she finally admitted to being the wolf with whom the hunter encountered, and by her confession, she marked herself for certain execution -- in a matter of days she was burned at the stake.
The Beserker
In the Folklore of Norseman, there are many legends of warriors called Berserkers. They are band of ancient Norse warriors that are legendary for their savagery and reckless frenzy in battle. Fearing no one, feeling no pain, having superhuman strength and never surrendering are common characteristics.
Preparing for battle these warriors would attire themselves in skins from bears or wolfs. The term Berserker translates from old Norse to be "bear skin". There were also warriors who donned the wolf skins known as "ulfheobar" or "ulfhedinn" (wolf-coats) but they were eventually lumped together to be known as Berserkers.
The feeling was that once dressed with the skins of an animal, the warrior would take on the characteristics of that animal. Ynglingasaga records this tradition, saying of the warriors of Óðinn that "they went without coats of mail, and acted like mad dogs and wolves". A Byzantine emperor described the Berserkers in battle as being possessed by a ferocity and madness seen only in wild beasts. The term "berserk" was derived from the Beserkers.
