In the German town of Bedburg, a series of cattle mutilations and monstrous killings took place between the years of 1564 and 1589. The investigation went beyond suspected wolf attacks to circulating lycanthropy accusations in the 1580s. Rumours of a wolf-like creature initially stemmed from an attack of a local girl who called on divine intervention and was saved by a cattle stampede. It was in this stampede, men from…
Folkloric Tales
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What is a Banshee?
A banshee is a female spirit stemming from Irish folklore. The tales tell the story of a ‘wailing woman’ who is able to predict the death of a family member. The banshee is represented in Irish, Scottish and Welsh folklore. The spirit presents itself in…
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What is a Werewolf?
A werewolf is a creature stemming from European folklore. Tales concerning werewolves explain how they are able to shape shift from human to wolf and back again. They were most associated with acts of murder (particularly children) and cannibalism. The belief in werewolves dates back…
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What is a Vampire?
A vampire is an undead creature stemming from European folklore. The tales expose the vampire as having an extremely violent nature; Vampires are known for causing chaos amongst communities and draining bodies of blood. The eighteenth-century witnessed a mass panic similar to that of the…
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What is a Siren?
A siren is a dangerous creature stemming from Greek mythology. The tales claim that these creatures would lure sailors in to the rocks causing shipwrecks and destruction. Sirens would do this by using their beautiful voices to sing enchanting song, often accompanied by musical instruments…