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History’s Creatures: Lore of the Werewolves
Werewolves, also known as lycanthropes, have captivated movie-goers for over 70 years. However, the tales and history of these shape-shifting beasts stretches much farther back in history.
A werewolf is quite different in appearance than a typical wolf, according to the History Channel’s “MonsterQuest.” A werewolf stands approximately 6 to 8 feet tall with a large upper build and long, sharp teeth. The body typically resembles a large, hairy human with a wolf or bear-like head and face.
Since the movie “The Wolf Man,” starring Lon Chaney Jr., dazzled audiences in 1941, werewolves have been a strong part of American pop-culture. Today, werewolves can be found on television as well as in the movies. Shows like “True Blood,” “Hemlock Grove,” and the “Twilight” movie series have glamorized lycanthropy, which was previously portrayed as a curse in such films as “The Wolf Man,” “An American Werewolf in London,” and the 1987 television show “Werewolf.”
But before American pop culture, stories of werewolves were present in many different cultures across the world.
Perhaps one of the most famous cases of lycanthropy from European history is the story of the Beast of Gévauden, which terrorized France in the 1760s, apparently killing around 80 adults and children. Modern historians believe that the acts were committed by a serial killer, a group of killers, or a pack of hungry wolves. However, wolf attacks are extremely rare, with only two North American attacks on record in the past 100 years, according to Living with Wolves, a nonprofit that seeks to educate the public about wolves.
Prior to the modern era, werewolves were not considered mythical creatures and were even recognized by the Catholic Church and the populace of Medieval Europe. Throughout western and eastern Europe, werewolf trials paralleled the American witch trials. Throughout the 16th century, many supposed werewolves were tortured and put to death.
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Ancient Egypt – head of Jackal, body of man