WerewolvesYou ask and I deliver! Over on our Facebook page I asked you, my fantastic werewolf fans, what you wanted me to write about and you replied that you want silver. More specifically, you want to know what’s up with werewolves and silver. We all know the story about silver bullets being the only way…Continue readingDeadly Silver and Full Moons
In Season 3 of MTV’s Teen Wolf there is a character named Deucalion, a blind and cryptic alpha wolf with a very twisted past. Seeing this character’s name – Deucalion – got me thinking. Why did the show choose this name for the character, the self-proclaimed “Alpha of alphas?” The myth of Deucalion doesn’t seem…Continue readingThe Tale of Deucalion
Werewolves and other werecreatures can be found all over the world and all throughout time. Countless cultures have their own unique werewolf tales and legends. Today we shall explore the ancient lore of South America, to a time when the nagual reigned, a being with many different manifestations. In ancient Aztec lore, the nagual were…Continue readingThe Eerie Nagual
Today, Dear Readers, we are traveling back in time. We are going hundreds of years into the past, back when the belief in werewolves was very real. A time when villagers hid in their homes, fearing that a ferocious and horrific werewolf would rip them to shreds. Today I am telling the tale of the…Continue readingThe Deadly Anspach Werewolf
The vast majority of werewolf sightings took place over a hundred years ago, back in a time when people were much more superstitious than they are now. There just aren’t many reported these days. However, in Tauá, Ceará, Brazil there have been quite a few werewolf sightings reported in the past few years, so many…Continue readingThe Werewolf Capitol of South America
When most think of Valentine’s Day they imagine sappy romantic comedies, cheesy Hallmark cards, chalky candy hearts and all of that other rubbish. But here at Werewolves.com, when we think of Valentine’s Day we picture wolves and bloodshed – we’re romantic like that. Well actually, according to an article written by werewolf expert Brad Steiger,…Continue readingThe True Bloody Wolf-Filled History of Valentine’s Day
In light of the recent film Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, I would like to take another look at the history of the werewolf in the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. I know we’ve already discussed the hidden meaning behind the story’s elementary components, but what of the history behind this well-known werewolf…Continue readingLittle Red Cape
The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest historical works of literature, is an epic about a king and his beast-man companion, Enkidu. Although various sections of the work exist, the most complete version of the story was found in the library of a 7th Century BC Mesopotamian King named Ahurbanipal. Written on 12 clay…Continue readingEnkidu: Original Werewolf or Historical Wild Man?
While reading one of my favorite werewolf books, I came across a wonderfully wicked tale involving not only wolves, but werewolves too. In certain parts of the world it was believed that werewolves, as well as natural wolves and other forest animals, were under the control by a powerful and inhuman being – a being…Continue readingBeware the Wrath of Le Maître de Forêt
We have written about the werewolves of Ossory before, but after discovering some new information we couldn’t resist writing about them again. There are several stories in particular that frame the majority of Irish folklore regarding werewolves. In Northern Ireland it is said that there were tribes of wolf-men living in the wild that ancient…Continue readingWerewolves of Ossory
400~ B C, it is said that in ancient Greece, a boxer named Damarchus was transformed into a wolf for nine years before once again re-donning human form. There is little to be found regarding this part of werewolf history, yet what we do know about Damarchus can be found in Pausanias’ Description of Greece,…Continue readingDamarchus’ Nine Year Werewolf Curse
All throughout history you can find stories in nearly every country of men that transform into beasts, and ancient Ireland is no different. Ireland is home to stories of ancient warriors known as the Laignach Faelad, warriors that could change their form into that of a savage beast, such as a wolf. Just imagine it,…Continue readingLegendary Irish Wolf Warriors
While science has never been an area of interest for me, living with two roommates that both study biology, chemistry, biotechnology and a wide assortment of other scientific fields has triggered my curiosity and lust for knowledge. That said, I have been spending a lot of time reading scientific journals, researching everything from evolution to…Continue readingDid Darwinian Theory Kill Off the Werewolf?
In the 16th century when witch and werewolf trials were still going very strong and countless individuals were wrongly killed due to mass hysteria, most people supported it; they felt that these evil beings needed to be destroyed. However, there were in fact some brave men spoke against it. The Dutch physician Dr. Johann Weyer…Continue readingThe Good Dr. Johann Weyer
In the 1500s and 1600s the people of France were plagued by the fear of werewolves. There were werewolf sightings, stories, trials and even executions of those who were believed to be a werewolf. It was mass hysteria and many innocents were burned to death all because someone claimed that they were a werewolf. But…Continue readingThe Tailor of Chalons
Back in the 1500s and for centuries after, Europe was plagued by the fear of werewolves. Nearly every country reported werewolf sightings, werewolf deaths and so on. But no country has as many werewolf stories as France, which is where today’s tale hales from. The story is that of the Bete de Gevaudon, a creature…Continue readingBete de Gevaudon
I’ve got quite the treat for you dear readers, an old tale of black magic and wolves. The story hales from Iceland, where items known as “corpse breeches” could help a warlock change his shape into that of a wolf. Corpse breeches (also known as nabrock trousers) were said to be used by ancient Icelandic…Continue readingBlack Magic and Corpse Breeches
Many months ago I switched things up a bit and wrote about werefoxes, the werewolf’s “cousin,” and I hadn’t thought about until recently when a reader asked me why I hadn’t covered werebears as well. So thanks to that reader I am adding some more variety to the mix by giving you werewolf fans another…Continue readingThe Werewolf’s Cousin: The Werebear
From Team Jacob Fans, to the San Antonio “teen Werewolf” culture (claims of teen werewolves also apparently occurred in the media in 2003 from Brisbane Australia), a fascinating side of werewolves is their interpretations by modern culture. But what does it really mean when claiming to be a werewolf or having a deep fascination for…Continue readingIs Werewolf Culture Dangerous?
I’ve got a treat for you today Dear Readers, a werewolf tale that dates back to the 12th century. The author of the story is unknown, but it originated in Picardy some time between 1190 and 1204 and was told across England by traveling bards. The story tells the tale of Melion, a knight at…Continue readingThe Tale of Melion
I have quite a few books on the history of werewolves (yaaaay books!) and some of these books mention a creature known as the wodewose (also known as the woodwose). The name refers to either a group of men or outlaws living in the forest, or to a mythical being that has existed deep in…Continue readingIs the Wodewose a Werewolf?
More moon myths! You guys loved the first edition of Moon Myths, so I am giving you a second post to enjoy. Here are more of the old superstitions surrounding the moon. It was believed that a waning moon was bad luck and that it was a horrible time for births and weddings. It was…Continue readingMoon Myths: Part 2
Manuel Blanco Romasanta was Spain’s first documented criminal psychopath and serial killer – he was also believed to be a werewolf. Romasanta confessed to thirteen murders in the mid-nineteenth century and he told the court which tried him that he was afflicted with a terrible curse that turned him into a ravenous wolf. But was…Continue readingThe Werewolf of Allariz
What is the best known myth about the full moon? That it triggers a werewolf’s transformation of course. But that’s not the only moon myth out there, back in day people believed all sorts of strange things about the moon. So today we’re going to take a little break from the werewolf lore and explore…Continue readingMoon Myths: Part 1
That’s right boys and girls, today we’re taking a peek at the world of Christianity! I’ll be covering St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, due to the fact that in medieval depictions of him, he usually has the head of a dog. According to the ancient legends, Christopher was one of a dog-headed race…Continue readingThe Dog-Headed St. Christopher
Time to delve into the world of Turkic mythology dear readers. Do you remember the Roman myth of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers raised by a she-wolf that built Rome? Well, today’s legend is a little like that one. Rome wasn’t the only created thanks to wolves, it’s said that a Turkish nation was…Continue readingAsena the Wolf Child
I bet many of you are wondering how someone is turned into a werewolf. We all know the most popular way which involves being bitten by another werewolf. But if you take a look at folklore, old customs and traditions throughout the world you’ll learn that there are several ways someone was believed to turn…Continue readingThe Many Ways To Become A Werewolf
Heya readers, remember a while back when I wrote about the crazy bishop Olaus Magnus? He was one of many men from the 1500s that considered themselves experts on the supernatural. Well, good news (sorta) I dug up even more of Olaus Magnus’ thoughts on werewolves, and they’re just as strange as his other theories…Continue readingWerewolves Love Beer and Flesh
A lot of our old folktales come from the fact that people in the Middle Ages didn’t have the scientific knowledge to logically explain certain medical conditions, so they assumed that it was simply magic. From their ignorance came forth many of the myths and folktales we know so well. But what about werewolves? Is…Continue readingAre Rabies Responsible For Werewolf Myths?
Records of a giant wolf-like creature in North Wales date back to 1790, when a stagecoach traveling between Denbigh and Wrexham was attacked and overturned by a big black beast that was said to be as long as the coach horses. This werewolf pounced on and savagely ripped apart one of the horses, the other…Continue readingThe Werewolves of Wales
Bishop Olaf Magnussen, who signed his treatise “History of the Goths, Swedes, and Vandals” (published in 1555) with his Latinized name Olaus Magnus, stated that the people living in Prussia, Lithuania, and Livonia often lost their livestock to bands of hungry wolves. But, their losses caused by natural wolves were nothing compared to what the…Continue readingBishop Olaus Magnus
According to local legends, outside of the village of Eggerstedt, Germany lived a mysterious figure known simply as “the Old Man.” This man would appear from the Brandsleber Forest and offer to perform tasks for the villagers, such as watching over their flocks of sheep. One day the Old Man herded sheep for a shepherd…Continue readingThe Tale of Werewolf Rock
Today we’re going to mix it up a bit and take a look at a different kind of shapeshifter. After one of our readers asked about werefoxes I figured, why the hell not? They may not be werewolves but they fall into the same shapeshifting furry family. So today we’ll take a tiny break from…Continue readingThe Werewolf’s Cousin: The Werefox
Back in the 1500s mass werewolf hysteria spread throughout France like a plague. The entire country was deathly afraid of werewolves, so much so that hundreds upon hundreds of innocents, believed to be werewolves, were brutally executed. During the spring of 1598 in the Franche-Comte region of France, two children were out picking fruit. The…Continue readingThe Gandillon Family
You’ve gotta know that with a name like “Skinwalker Ranch” bad things are bound to happen. And this tale is as creepy as it sounds. And, it’s as recent as 1994 although where exactly Skinwalker Ranch is is exactly is unknown. It was in 1994 that a farmer bought a ranch for himself, his wife,…Continue readingThe Creepy Tale of Skinwalker Ranch
A recent study done this past year at the Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital in Sydney, Australia says that 91 of the emergency patients admitted with very violent and dangerous disturbances were similar to werewolf behavior. And a quarter of these happened on the night of a full moon, which is double the number for the…Continue readingStudy Says Full Moon Brings Out Our Inner Beast
Today we’ll take a trip to the grassy woodlands of northern Hungary for a tale about a werewolf reported in 1881. This story starts out with a fiddler by the name of Kropan who made his living by playing his music at local inns. But the money he earned was barely enough to keep him…Continue readingGreed Kills
Wolves and werewolves have a big part in history, so big in fact that countless wolf-related expressions have been created and used for centuries. These are usually insulting phrases used to describe something with bad intentions, but what can I say, wolves have a bad rep. But I bet that even some of you have…Continue readingSpeaking of Wolves
Close your eyes, clear your mind and imagine blood dripping down your face, growling and hungry wolves and ancient fearsome hunters. Good, now you have a pretty good picture of the Lupercali Festival embedded into your mind. In the ancient times the Romans held the Lupercali Festival every year and it honored young novice hunters…Continue readingAncient Blood Festival
Some of you have wondered why out of all the reported werewolf cases posted here, few of them are American. Well good news, today’s post is on a story that comes straight from the US of A. This story was reported to have happened in 1899 in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. Many of the folks living there…Continue readingAn American Werewolf Tale
Hey there readers, it’s time again for another real werewolf tale. If you are a long time reader then you know the deal, if you’re new here then let me explain real quick. There have been countless cases of lycanthropy reported all throughout history; some of these stories are super old, while others surprisingly recent.…Continue readingAs The Flame Blows Out
If you’re here then I think it’s safe to assume you love werewolves. Am I right? But do you love vampires as well, or are you pretty anti-vampire like most werewolf fans are? Vampires and werewolves hating one another isn’t anything new. It’s an age old feud known by all. You have movies like Underworld,…Continue readingWerewolves vs. Vampires
Time again for another supposedly true tale reported in the middle ages. This werewolf occurrence happened in Hüsby, Germany. In this small village lived an old, penny-pinching woman. So stingy was this woman that she gave her farmhands very little to eat, although there was fresh meat every Sunday. The household wondered about this, because…Continue readingThe Werewolf of Hüsby
Centuries old records from towns and cities throughout Europe often mention infestations of some sort of supernatural foe. Sometimes it was vampires, other times it was demons or evil spirits, and of course, some times it was werewolves. Records from 1640 show that the German city of Greifswald was once completely overrun by gruesome werewolves.…Continue readingThe Werewolves of Greifswald
Hey readers, this post is about a celebration from way back. Woo! Party? Well not exactly, I’m afraid this is a little different than what you imagined. The celebration of the green wolf marks an ancient custom that observes the times way back when wolves, outlaws and you guessed it, werewolves would hide in the…Continue readingThe Green Wolf Celebration
A werewolf needs to be careful; you don’t want someone to discover what you are. People destroy what they fear and if people happen to learn that there is a monstrous werewolf living among them then they will do everything they can to get rid of it. So today I’ll tell you two true tales…Continue readingA Cautionary Tale
Wolfsbane. This plant had been known in the werewolf world for some time. Lets say you aren’t here to learn about our beloved werewolves, that you aren’t one of those that want to become a wolf; you are in fact on the hunt and are looking for ways to kill these supposed beasts. There are…Continue readingDestruction: Wolfsbane
There are probably several raunchy werewolf scenes in movies, but here are the grossest that I can remember, –others are probably worse, and if you want to contribute your “grossest werewolf” experience, feel free to add it in the comments. I’ll look back in a week, and if you’ve got any good ones, I’ll watch…Continue readingThe Top Three Grossest Werewolves In Cinema
Hey guys, it’s time again for another ancient werewolf tale. This time we are going way back to ancient Greece. The time of vengeful and fearful gods and goddesses, a time of ghastly curses and harsh revenge. Our tale today takes us to the mysterious top of Mount Lykaion, a remote spot in Arcadia in…Continue readingMount Lykaion’s Curse
Now we’ve already covered the first fictional werewolf tale, but what about the first real werewolf story? For this story we’ll have to go to the beautiful country of Ireland. Yes, one of the very first real werewolves comes from the picturesque Ireland. Once, long ago Ireland was known as “Wolfland” for all the countless…Continue readingThe Original Werewolves
