Werewolf
| Werewolf | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Woodcut of a werewolf attack, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1512 | |
| Creature | |
| Name: | Werewolf |
| AKA: | Lycanthrope |
| Classification | |
| Grouping: | Legendary creature |
| Similar creatures: | Revenant, vampire, yōkai |
| Data | |
| Country: | England |
| Region: | The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa |
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope, is a species of legendary creature that can turn into a wolf or wolf-like creature.
There are many different ways that werewolves are described in fiction. For example, in some stories, werewolves can choose to transform, but in others the transformation is against the werewolf's will. The werewolf is commonly said to transform on the full moon. Depending on the fiction or legend, a werewolf can be killed by a silver bullet. However, a werewolf cannot be killed by crosses or holy water, like vampires in similar legends.
The name is derived from "wer" meaning man and "wulf" meaning wolf. They are sometimes referred to as "lycans".
Some of the earliest myths of werewolves are those of Greek and Romania roots. Ovid in the Metamorphoses, told of King Lycaon, who was visited by the Greek god Zeus. Doubtful of Zeus being a true god, King Lycaon decided to test Zeus's ability of knowing everything; he served him meat that was secretly the human flesh of King Lycaon's son Nyctimus during their banquet of honor. When Zeus discovered what the meat really was, he punished King Lycaon by changing him into a wolf. The word "lycanthropy" has Greek roots (lykoi meaning wolf and anthropos meaning man).
While the most popular concept of werewolves were created in England, different cultures also have their own versions of lycanthropy such as Romania's Pricolici, East Africa's werehyenas, West Africa's Leopard Society and more.
Becoming a werewolf
[change | change source]Several ways for becoming a werewolf have been told in fiction, such as being cursed by a witch, being bitten or scratched by a werewolf, or wearing a wolf's skin. In other cases, the body is rubbed with a magic ointment.[1] Drinking rainwater out of the footprint of a wolf was reported to work.[2]
In Italy, France and Germany, it was said someone could turn into a werewolf if they, on a certain Wednesday or Friday, slept outside on a summer night with the full moon shining directly on their face.
References
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