Werewolves: The mythical being
One of my most topics to talk about! Werewolves are a part of the most mythical creatures in the history of mankind. Today we all can see that werewolves are being targeted as perfect story bases for novels, movies and the like.
Werewolf
Werewolves are also known as the ‘lycanthropes’, which is a Greek word. They are folkloric humans with the ability to shift or change their shapes. They can change their shapes to wolves or what is called ‘anthro-morphic’ wolf like creatures. They can change shape by purpose, or by having been bitten or scratched by the above mentioned, or it can happen by being placed under a curse. I have also noted that this specific transformation occurs under the presence of a full moon. I found this characteristic noted in the medieval chronicler, ‘Gervase of Tilbury’.
It is often found that these mythological creatures are often gifted with extra-human strength, more vital senses, which are very much above the average level of a common man or woman, or common wolves. Now I find that quite interesting! To add to this I would like to say that these creatures were mostly thought to be of a European race. Of course, the myths later spread to various parts of the world at a much later period. This concept of shape-shifters, were all common tales from all over the world. But mostly, the Native-Americans were associated to it notably. I found that they were also found to be linked with other animals too.
There were a lot of tell-tales in identifying a werewolf. Most of these included that a werewolf could be identified by the joining of its eyebrows, the curve of its fingernails, its low set ears and its stride. I read that a specific method of identifying a werewolf was to cut its flesh in its human form and one might find fur beneath the wound. Although Russian folklore claims that by looking under the tongue of a werewolf, one would find bristle like structures.
This is by far the most interesting part of my research, becoming a werewolf. The simplest method of becoming a werewolf is to wear a belt made of animal skin. In other theories, I have read that one can become a werewolf by sleeping outside on a particular Wednesday or Friday night on a summer night, with the full moon shining brightly on the person’s face. Another theory says that a person can become a werewolf by simply drinking the rainwater out of the footprint of the animal. There are also other theories which state that drinking water from enchanted streams or rivers, make one a werewolf. In one theory I read that, people drink a special beer formulated with an essence to make them become werewolves. While rest of the theories stated that becoming a werewolf started from curses received from a powerful sorcerer, many other texts I have found, state that people who were excommunicated from their religion, were also said to become werewolves. But so far, becoming a werewolf by being bitten by one is found only in horror stories and fiction. It is the rarest of rare in legends.
I found this piece also to be of great value, werewolves can be resisted by rye and mistletoe. Other myths include that werewolves can be resisted by mountain ash and wolfs bane.
I will now tell you the most important and the most interesting part of my founding, how to cure a werewolf. In Greek and Roman legends, curing a werewolf involved in making the werewolf indulge in tedious and extreme physical activity, with the hope that they would be drained off their strengths and power. However, I also found in these studies that there were traditionally three methods of curing a werewolf. They are, by surgical methods, medicinal methods and by exorcism. Other methods speak of striking a knife between the wolf’s scalp and forehead to cure it, or plunge its nails with a knife, or by addressing it thrice using its Christian name, or by simply scolding it.
//Bruce
