I'm writing a story for english and I came across a theme of 'werewolves'. At once I decided 'I want to write about this!' but I came to a hitch...

I would like to know more about them, and actual legends-stories as such. I know, GOOGLE... but I tried and couldn't find much...

I'm trying to make this story as good and historically correct, as it counts for a large part of my end of year mark.

Please help!

Good for you, trying to make it histocially correct.
Now the classic werewolf of myth was generally a sorcerer or shaman who acheived transformation into a wolf (not a wolf man hybrid,) by use of a wolfstrap or wolf belt (a peice of wolf hide worn on the body,) once in this form the werewolf was free to move about as an animal would giving onlookers the impression that he was indeed a real wolf. Though generally speaking the wolf visage was not completely stable allowing, (under closer obsevation) the true nature of the creature to be seen. A special salve and incantation was often used to give the shaman or sorcerer the speed, strength, and savagery of the wild wolf (often times such salves and potions contained dangerous hallucinagines such as Belladonna and Lilly of the Valley.) In elder days, until about the 4th century, werewolves were an accepted part of European culture, sometimes whole citys were werewolves, but with the rise of church power these shapeshifters became servants of the devil. During the same era where witches burned by the thousands at the stake werewolves faired no better in the courts of the Inquisition. It was during this time that most of the ways of the werewolf were destroyed and demonized, twisted around to be something that it was not originally. Now I am not defending the werewolves accused of multiple murder, who lashed out as members of an opressed sect or just plain mad, but just like the witches burned at the stake most of them were not true werewolves, but people framed by enemies and rivals then tortured in to making ghastly confessions. After this the age of enlightenment put a stopper in most known occult practices, leaving only the bloodstained records of the Inquisition to tell the tale of the werewolf, from which was spawned the modern werewolf of fiction.

Thank you

Does that mean, like witches, many were burned at the stake? Or did they have other methods of execution?

The good thing about werwolves, is that since they're fictional, you can say whatever you want about them, and it technically makes it true.

You know, you're right!

But it still wouldn't do any damage to write something a little believable.

Burned, stretched, beheaded, put on the rack, general execution of the day



Thats like saying witches are fictional. . . There are tons of documented accounts of the werewolves I'm speaking about, not the monsters of Hollywood that are purely the product of the film industry, Im talking about the beleif and practice that they are based on, I beleive that's what Muffin was asking about otherwise she could have just rented The Howling, and the WolfMan and call it a night.

Werewolves



thats a timeline of werewolves dating back to 1550 BC

it includes the tales as well, not just the dates so it might be fairly useful to you.

werewolves are powerful shamans who can cast magic and shapeshift into any other animal. they tend to eat children who dont behave. they were viewed as more of a bogeyman than an animal in my cultures stories

♥

I cannot stand it when people are all, "Who cares, it's fictional, do whatever the hell you want with it." I don't even know a good word to describe the way I feel about that. Of course you can't do whatever you want with it! Historical documents, no matter how far fetched and how ludicrous they are, you cannot change what a creature is supposed to be, or... anything that has been recorded as historically significant. You can't change what happened at Pearl Harbor, and the same goes for werewolves--it was recorded as fact, and no matter how much Hollywood plays with the theme, you cannot change what a werewolf is.


My suggestion to you, to look up quick references and information on werewolves, would honestly just be Wikipedia. It's simple, and it has external sources that you can reference later on if you come to feel Wiki is unreliable. It's got a load of good information, and again, external sources--so your information (though posted on Wiki) is coming from elsewhere.

Just because they're historical doesn't mean you can't change it, and doesn't make it automaically fact. The Aztec recorded the world is going to end in 2012, does that mean its going to happen?

Its like saying that DC is right about dragons, because every culture has some form of "dragon in their cultures stories and beliefs.

And comparing a devestating national incident to werewolves, was a bad choice, and kind of disgusting.
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Anyway, my point is, what do people think of when you say Werewolf? Do they think of Native American shamans, or do they think of hollywood style wolf-men?
The majority would probably go with Hollywood's.

Culture has turned them into what they are, and their is no changing that. If suddenly people started making werewolf movies, where the monsters were purple with four-arms, maybe our generation would be like "That's not what a werewolf is supposed to look like..", but the next generation would become used to it, and it would be a werewolf to them.


CaitSith said:


There are documented accounts of werewolves, but can any actually be put forward as fact..? Where as with "witches" there is proof of their existence, though not the "fly around on broomsticks and eat children" kind of children stories. These witches are just people who performed in cult-like rituals, and "hexed" people etc. Technically, the shamans who claimed to be werewolves could be called witches.

well dc is right on the dragons from every culture. they had to be based on something physical. and suggesting that it was based on mundane animals is not a far fetched theory nor is it implausible

They predicted. Recorded indicates it's already happened.

And to add, the world isn't ending in 2012, it's "renewing".




...because he is? He knows his stuff, whether or not dragons do exist. Each culture has it's own beliefs, many of which do believe in dragons, or dragon-like creatures. The same goes for vampire-like creatures, and were-wolf like creatures. Because they believed in such things doesn't make them real, but because they did believe in them, you cannot change what they're supposed to be and what they're supposed to represent to those people.



I compared them because it's not possible to change the meaning and events that precede either one.




Hollywood, because that is the only example that most people know. Not everyone is educated enough to know that werewolves were actually thought to exist, nor would they know that Hollywood's depiction is completely inaccurate given the description of a "true" werewolf in, say, Native American culture.

The idea of a werewolf differs based on culture, but to understand a "werewolf" is, then study the term. Other cultures call them different things, and therefore, not every culture believes in the so called "werewolf"--however similar the appearances may be, there are differences between the werewolf and a skinwalker, or a werewolf and a Mai-cob.

aren't those shaman that shape-shift called Skin-walkers

yes, in some tribes they are. my recollections of stories do indeed recall some sort of "walkers". they are spirits of the forest and will eat children who do not behave , and take them for their lunch. no i dont believe my own folk tales, they are intended to provide morals and lessons, not real animals ( except bigfoot)

I pretty much agree. People who ride roughshod over mythology and folklore seem to have a really tin ear for the whispers of History.

werwolves are nothing to scoff at. whether real or not, they do teach important morals to people and native americans. perhaps some of you should visit your local indian reservations and ask them if they can tell you stories of the skinwalkers.

I'm not saying that your wrong Darkside, I totally get where your coming from on this, but it was my impression that the OP was seeking the classic historical version of werewolves, before fiction writers and Hollywood transformed the creatures into the thought-form they exist in today. The modern image of a werewolf as depicted in fiction IS the first thought that pops into the head of most uneducated people, but that creature was built upon something, finding its basis in the classic werewolf, which may seem less exciting than the modern blood thirsty monster impervious to all but a silver bullet.
If someone asks me what a witch is I tell them that it is a practitioner of pagan religion, I don't say its an old hag with green skin who flies around on a broom. Yes real werewolves were most definitely witches, there is no debating that, as they achieved transformation through occult means. You're going to have to elaborate a little more on what you mean by

I really don't see how there exist more proof of one than the other, especially, as you seem to agree, the nature of each overlaps the other.

these werewolves are no more than misunderstood diseases

Don't forget hallucinogenics!

Luv em!

Sorry for any unclarity.

When I say there is no real proof of werewolves, I mean there is no proof about them being able to actually turn into wolves of any sort, normal or man-beast varieties. While with witches, there is proof due to as you said the Pagans and Wickens (I may not have spelt that right).

And what I mean by the Werewolf Shamans as being witches is because they must have used some sort of "potion" or herb or "elixer" to come up with the idea, and be like "Hey, know what? I think i'm a wolfman now, pretty sweet, am I right?", and I just personally believe that anyone who can get someone to believe something as ludicrous as that (no offense) can be considered a witch.

Ironically, pastor's are included

After reading the posts to your questions I thought I would give you some information that might be of some use. Here are a few book ideas for you to check out and get a historical synopsis on the werewolf mostly from the European point of view.

Werewolves - Elliot O'donnell
The Book of Werewolves - Sabine Baring-Gould
The Werewolf in Lore and Legend - Montague Summers
The Beast Within - Adam Douglas
A Lycanthropy Reader, Werewolves in Western Culture - Charlotte F. Otten

Hope these help you out some, if you can't find them in your school library try the city library or a university library if at all feasible. They all deal with the legends and lore of the werewolf and touch upon how one believed they can transform into one. Magic Pelts (belts), Salves, Curses, Being bitten (of course), and hallucinations due to eating tainted rye bread that had ergot in it.

There are also books out there that deal with Native American mythology that talks about the abilities of shamans, holy people and warriors of the tribes being able to shape shift into an animal. Usually this gift was bestowed upon the person by that animal after the person performed a certain ritual that could include prayer, dancing, singing, or chanting.

You might also look into Psychology books that give a clinical definition and point of view as well.

"ABSTRACT

Objective: Lycanthropy is an unusual psychiatric syndrome involving the delusion of being an animal. Cotard's syndrome is another rare condition in which the patient has nihilistic delusions and ideation of immortality. We report a psychiatric patient who had both syndromes simultaneously.

Method: A single case was reported.

Results: A patient meeting DSM-IV criteria for bipolar mood disorder, mixed type with psychotic feature had the delusion of being transformed into a dog. He also deluded that he was dead. He was restless and had a serious sense of guilt about his previous sexual contact with a sheep.

Conclusion: Co-existence of lycanthropy and Cotard's syndrome has not been reported before. In this patient zoophilic orientation associated with a sense of guilt were concluded to be important factors causing his delusions." cited from http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal...=1&SRETRY=0

If you want the basic synopsis of Montague Summers' book; it discusses how physical metamorphasis is virtually impossible and SATAN SATAN SATAN SATAN SATAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's it in a nutshell.

Since they want to do a report on lycanthropy then they should look at books that discuss the subject from all angles. I could have used my entire library on werewolves but I would have been typing for an hour. Part of doing research on a subject is documenting things that you may or may not agree with.

You could also check out the numerous movies (though they are generally made for the sake of entertainment only) made, though some of them may be difficult to get ahold of due to rarity, country of origin or both.

1) Brotherhood of the Wolf (very loosely based on an incident that happened in France) is the only one I can think of that has an actual basis in history. There are probably others.
2) Teen Wolf (Michael J Fox), and Teen Wolf Too (Justin Bateman), deal with well teenage lycanthropy. These were made simply for the entertainment value.
3) Wolf Man starring Lon Chaney jr.
4) She Wolf of London (1946)
5) Werewolf of London (1936) - (she wolf of London is the sequel)
6) Dog Soldiers
7) Cursed (Christina Ricci)
8) American Werewolf in London/Paris.
9) Underworld I-II

These are just a few you may wish to check out. Like I had said Brotherhood of the Wolf is the only one that I am aware of that is actually based on a historical event. But movies have a tendancy to take very creative licenses with such happenings to make the movies more titillating. Of course you may wish to check out the ratings on the movies first to make sure that they are suitable to watch in your home.

The Beast(s) of Gevaudan, circa 1764-1767. Some say that there was only one Beast but the majority say it was two.

The 18th Century is considered modern times, so the written documentation is quite stunning.

But such attacks were by no means limited to the Gevaudan, and Gevaudan didn't even experience the worst death toll. There were more than a dozen major attacks in France from the late 1500s through the early 20th Century. And there were others in Austria and Switzerland.

I understand that you are looking for some type of logical, historical, and yet true existence of werewolves. To some historic fact, the werewolf theme was stated in history by like some type of sorcery or magic or curse placed upon one by a gypsy. If you look up the term "Lycan" you should find some what of an answer to the question that you seek. Although science believes it is all in the conscience of man's mind that he/she is indeed a animal or beast of some sort, there have been numerous sightings of half man/half wolf like creatures. In Argentina, there's "EL Lobozon", so its all rather if you believe or not that such creatures exist.

Since evidently not a shred of proof exists. Welcome to U-M.

While I don't believe that human shapeshifters exist, humans who can turn themselves into wolves, the "spectral wolves" and "Black Dogs" reportedly observed by hundreds or even thousands of otherwise-reliable eye-witnesses may at least partially fill the bill.

I am surprised no one mentioned Lyssavirus rabies (The rabies virus) yet as one of the explanations for werewolves. The medical similarities to those suffering from rabies infections and those thought to be werewolves is strikingly similar. An interesting thing as well is that rabies can and did occur throughout history in epidemics.

So here you have people; raving, snarling, growling, mad, foaming at the mouth, hunched over etc biting other individuals who then become infected themselves....Ring any bells?

The virus infects the nervous system causing delusions, insomnia, paranoia, extreme aggressive behaviors, psychosis etc. Victims also loose the ability to speak or drink water. Victims are unable to drink water because they loose the muscle reflex to swallow, but in the old days you can probably imagine how someone who couldn't take a drink of water was exaggerated to be "afraid of water" (like it was believed werewolves were).

Anyway, check out Ian Woodward's book "The werewolf delusion". Very good reading. He walks through historical accounts of werewolf outbreaks that coincide nicely with rabies epidemics, as well as more similarities in symptoms.

i highly value ur opinion and praise it too!

what people dont focus on is the morals of a story regarding a werewolf!

Good job, on the follow up.

The Lyssavirus rabies angle brought up by Copasetic was a great point.

But when human beings contract rabies they normally retain enough of their basic humanity that they don't turn into the hideously demented raving beasts so often depicted in fiction.

By the way, the last human death from rabies here in Cincinnati was 61 years ago.

Although its become popular, and standard to portray werewolves as contagious, I challenge anyone to find a document on werewolves that portray them as such previous to the writing of Werewolf of London.

And whatever was going on in the Gevaudan during the middle 1760s it WAS NOT rabies.

For the simple reason that none of the estimated one hundred bitten survivors came down with that terrible disease.

Actually oldtimeradio, that's not true at all. Rabies symptoms start off very similar to flu-like symptoms, which are due to the effects of the bodies own immune system -Namely interferons.

After the general symptoms pass, which begin to manifest from 30-90 days after infection, the viral induced symptoms become prevalent. The expression of the acute neurological pathology is expressed in numerous ways. In about 80% of patients the symptoms are expressed as furious rabies. Which are characterized by extremely violent outbursts, hallucinations, extreme anxiety, insomnia, severe depression and seizures.

So I am not sure where you are getting "people retain their basic humanity". Take a medical virology class, they will tell ya all about it!

Rabies certainly has, at least in developed countries, become largely a non-competitor for human lives. This is due largely to three reasons. Number one, in developed countries people are less apt to be living in close contact with wild animals. Its not nonexistent, but much less than in a developing world.

Number two; In most developed countries there are sufficient animal control programs/organizations who help reduce incidence of diseased animals that are able to come into contact with people. As well as pet vaccination programs. Take the UK for instance which is rabies virus free. They have guards in the Chunnel, who's sole job is to shoot stray animals attempting to cross it. While this may seem extreme, it has kept rabies out of Britain. Similarly in other developed, large euthanasia programs help curb some of rabies natural reservoirs -Cats and dogs.

Number three; Post-exposure prophylaxis. This is by and large, the greatest contributing factor as to why rabies related mortalities has plummeted.

Rabies vaccinations were developed by the great Pasture in 1885, but the treatment was not all that effective and widely distributed till the 30's and 40's. The disease, while no longer endemic is still prevalent in many parts of the world. All and all, it claims between 50,000-60,000 people a year world wide.

As in interesting side note, the first recorded cases of wolf attacks which were not related to predation were noted in Europe during the mid to late 16th century. Interesting read HERE

I did considerable research years ago into rabies in the 19th Century and came up with several interesting clinical examples:

A dying patient regularly hid under his bed. Why? In his own words, he was trying to avoid contact with doctors and nurses, so he couldn't accidentally infect them.

A second dying patient went missing until it was discovered that he had climbed up into the branches of a tall tree. He gave the same reason as above for his actions.

A third dying patient refused to let either doctors or nurses enter his sickroom unless he was supplied with alcohol-soaked surgical bandages to wear during those visits. He was highly concerned that his spittle, expelled with force during his paroxysms, could otherwise strike them.

While those actions may not strike you as "basically humane," I have to tell you that they do fill that bill for me.

As I stated above, 80% of acute neurological dysfunction is manifested as furious rabies. So that is not to say all victims of the disease suffer from violent outbursts, hallucinations, delirium etc. Hydrophobia (the inability to swallow and throat spasms) combined with facial paralytic symptoms result in the foaming of the mouth and inability to speak. The violent episodes stop after a few days due to severe disorientation and paralysis -Which eventually lead to death.

The other 20% of cases is called paralytic rabies. In which the hallucinations, violent behaviors etc are absent. This is typical of bat strain rabies viruses. The patient feels numbness start to spread from the area of the bit and eventually dies due to respiratory failure because of paralysis of the respiratory system. In this case, the body is destroying neurons to combat the disease which results in the fast paralysis. Undoubtedly the clinical examples you are also speaking of.

Having taking a virology classes at a medical school, I have had the misfortune of watching videos of patients from the 60's and 70's being treated for different manifestations of rabies. People whose acute neurological dysfunction manifests as furious rabies -Certainly act like furious animals and require to be strapped to beds. You can also find videos on the internet if you wish. Below is a couple.

Here is a classical example of hydrophobia -Notice when the glass is moved near the child how he reacts almost with fear of it. Also note how his eyes seem to have no ability to focous on a on object and the vocal outbursts as well as the bearing of teeth. This is very typical, yet mild symptoms of furious rabies manifestations.

Warning. These videos are of people who are suffering from acute neurological dysfunction due to the rabies virus. Videos maybe disturbing.

This video is of a child with end stage rabies, Viewer beware.

You can find some more video documentation of symptoms here at; Rabiesfreeworld.net if you are interested in really learning about rabies Oldtimeradio.

I’m butting in, just because I’ve been reading the thread but don’t have a lot of time to comment (I’m either at work or holding a newborn when I’m online lol so can’t type a lot like I’d like to).

I looked at the RFW site and it’s awful- I think I’m going to have to do some more research.
A quick thing I noticed, though, several of the patients when vocalizing almost seem to tilt their head back like they’re trying to “howl”. The first clip you posted (right after she brings the water near him) you can see it. It almost could be misconstrued that they WERE howling. The vocalizations sound a bit like it, and the head stretch/tilt reminds me of it. I wonder if that could be where some of the rumors came from?

That being said, Copasetic why do you think Gevaudan was a rabies attack? Or are you just positing it? I’m curious because I think I’m missing the parallel, or the connection (and I don’t have an epidemiological background, so maybe I’m missing something simple). If it was rabies, wouldn't the victims who were bit "turn into wolves" themselves (i.e. contract rabies)? So why didn't everyone get it?

For me, the most recent articles on Werewolfs is from the Dresden Series:

"Classic" Werewolf

The "classic" werewolf is someone who uses magic to transform themselves into a wolf. This is not necessarily a wizard or well-trained practitioner of magic, since the transformation spell will work for anyone who learns it. The physical body is transformed, but the mind remains the same. This can be a disadvantage in the beginning because, although the person gains all the senses of a wolf, they do not have the life experience of using them. The werewolf must learn to use smell and hearing as their primary sensory input rather than sight, and learn to move and react to their environment as a four-legged creature. All this takes time, but the werewolf can eventually learn to do well in their new form. The wolf form has all the natural capabilities of an ordinary wolf; silver is not needed to kill them and they do not heal wounds any more quickly than normal wolves. This type of werewolf can reassume its human form whenever it wishes.

The transformation spell can be cast on another, forcing someone to assume the form of a wolf (or any animal the caster chooses). This is a violation of the Second Law of Magic (see above), because the mind of the transformed person is eventually lost and all that is left is the mind of a wolf. If the spell is reversed in time, the victim will recover; however, once lost, the personality cannot be restored and the person is, in a sense, dead. The Alphas are the werewolves featured predominately in the series.

Hexenwolf

A hexenwolf uses a talisman imbued with powerful magic to transform itself into a huge wolf. The hexenwolf's wolf form is much larger and more powerful than any natural wolf, possessing enhanced speed, strength, and ferocity. The only part of the hexenwolf that is unaffected by the transformation are the eyes, which remain the same color as their human form. The talisman itself may take many forms, including a ring or amulet, but most commonly appears as a belt made from a wolf pelt. The talisman engenders the transformation by providing an anchor for a spirit of bestial rage, and is activated with an incantation by the wearer. This spirit protects the human personality while in wolf form. However, the hexenwolf loses all human inhibitions and runs more on primal human desires. The hexenwolf can be wounded or killed by normal weapons and can be forced to transform back into human form if someone manages to remove their talisman. A hexenwolf may reassume human form at will, but the power that the talisman gives the user is addictive -- in many cases, this addiction begins to affect the user's mind and personality in human form, much like a drug addict needing a fix. The most seriously afflicted lose all impulse control, becoming violent and sociopathic.

Lycanthrope

A lycanthrope is someone who is a natural channel or medium for a spirit of rage. The lycanthrope is born with this ability; it does not allow them to physically change into a wolf, but grants them a beast-like strength. When this spirit takes over, the lycanthrope becomes stronger, more aggressive, and more resistant to pain, injury and sickness. They heal wounds rapidly and tend to congregate in groups much like packs with an Alpha leader. Although harder to hurt or kill than an ordinary person, lycanthropes can be killed with ordinary weapons. In Fool Moon, Bob explains that the Norse berserkers were lycanthropes. The lycanthropes featured in the series are a biker gang known as the Streetwolves.

Loup-garou

A Loup-garou is the closest to the monsters of legend. These werewolves have been intentionally cursed by someone, usually a very powerful sorcerer, demon lord, saint, or one of the Faerie Queens to be possessed by a wolflike demonic entity at every full moon. They become near-mindless killing machines with supernatural speed, strength and ferocity. They recover from injury almost instantly, are immune to poisons as well as any kind of sorcery that attacks the mind. They can only be killed by a weapon made from silver which has been inherited -- not just purchased. The curse of the loup-garou can be hereditary if the one who placed the curse specified it as such. Usually the person afflicted with the curse is aware of their condition and will have enough sense to isolate or shield themselves from society to prevent the horrible damage they would inflict on the rest of the people with the next full moon. As such, Loup-garou attacks on the populace are thankfully rare. The only one featured in the series to date is Harley MacFinn whose family curse originated from St. Patrick himself.

Taken straight from Wikipedia

Sorry for that confusion I was not trying to imply the Gevaudan incident was caused by rabies. Nor was I stating that werewolf legends began exclusively from rabies victims. I was just explaining that the parallels between the disease and some historical accounts sound very similar and that rabies maybe responsible for some historical accounts of werewolves. Sorry if anyone else was confused by that.

I didn't get that impression either. None of the bitten Gevaudan survivors (and there were many more of them than fatalities) seemed to have contracted rabies.

Moreover, many previous French wolf attacks don't seem to have been caused by rabies either. There were two major wolf attacks on Paris itself during exceptionally frigid winters during the first half of the 15th Century. In both cases wolves of the countryside entered the City up the frozen River and devoured people on the streets.

The wolves in both episodes are said to have operated with an almost-military precision, under the command of a wolf-"general." That doesn't sound like rabid behavior.

These wolves were merely hungry.

But were the Gevaudan animals wolves? The peoples of the Gevaudan know their wolves and even feed them and construct them windbreaks during rough winters. They insisted the attacking animals were NOT wolves!

Not really my place in the discussion, but while I was reading that I did get an idea. They knew their wolves, but were they aware of wolf-hyrbids? It might have been possible that a she-wolf had a litter in the wild and the pups, once aged, did not appear to be either dog or wolf. Depending on the appearance and genetics of the mother and father, I imagine it wouldn't be incredibly difficult for a pup of a wolf and dog (depending on the breed, of course) to come out looking a bit like the Beast of Gevaudan. Just my thoughts though.

Do you have a source for the second major wolf attack on Paris? For one I am sure you are referring to the "wolves of Paris", which I agree was not likely rabies related. Wolves are apex predators and do predate humans from time to time. Though the vast majority of wolf related bites and attacks can be shown to likely come from rabid animals.

In interesting note I found about the Gevaudan "beast" regarding the victims of the attacks: They were mostly women and children. Which would suggest the behavior of a typical opportunistic predator. Not some unexplained mystery. Furthermore, didn't the attacks subside after two large wolves were killed by hunters?

I can give you at least the dates of both attacks. I published them on our main rival Fortean list a few years back and will have to search that list's archives.



There is a contemporary woodcut extant of the Beast on display in the Paris Museum. If it is a wolf it's the biggest darn one I've ever seen. What it looks a little bit like is a dire wolf - but those were North American and went extinct approximately 10,000 years ago.

But in an area full of both wolves and dogs, down long centuries, why would the locals have never seen wolf-dog hybrids before?

They very well could have, but the possibilities with varying appearances with wolf-hybrids may have led them to think it was something completely different--not a dog, and not a wolf. I don't know, really. If it were a dire wolf, I still think they would have known what it was though, as the coat coloration of a dire wolf was said not to have varied from the normal coloration of a timber wolf. Dire wolves even weren't much larger than a normal wolf, at that, simply a bit stockier, shorter legs, broader heads, but were overall the same--not even six inches taller than your average timber wolf. So I don't think they would have differentiated a dire wolf and timber wolf, simply thought that (if there was a possibly) if the attacks were brought on by a dire wolf, it would have simply been a wolf of greater proportions, not a whole other species. I don't know though, I have no other explaination, and as a believer in spectral dogs, it's a bit too easy for me to accept that the Beast of Gevaudon might have been your good Ol' Shuck.

Please do if you can find them.




I believe the wolf killed by François Antoine was said to be 31 in high at the shoulder and 5'7" long, weighing 130 lbs. Gray wolves typically range from 4-5 feet in length, stand 26-38" at the shoulder and typically weigh between 40-150 lbs. So while the animal François Antoine killed was certainly large, I have no problem (at those dimensions) of it being a gray wolf. Hunters have bagged grays in excess of 170 lbs and 6.5 in length.

Furthermore, European grays tend to be a bit smaller than there N. American and Soviet cousins. So, for those people that may have been an exceptionally large wolf.

If the animal were "large enough to appear as a dire wolf". Then there maybe more than meets the eye to the hybrid thing. Hybrid vigor, or heterosis, often results in exceptionally large specimens. Such as a liger.

You may enjoy this read Oldtime:

Here. The parts on the Beast of Gévaudan begin on page 20. You might find it worth while to check out their sources regarding the beast too, as it was well documented historically (and all the new documentation seems very embellished). The whole read is a good overview of wolf attacks on people though.

let me tell you that the first werewolf in the world was Lycaon, king of rome and he was said to temp zeus to the point of him being cursed to spend the rest of his days as a wolf, but that is just legend... i am not allowed to say the real wolf....

The first wolf-man transformation in Greek mythology. Consider other mythologies and those that came before the Romans and Greeks, as there are many more references to wolfmen before those days, especially in native and tribal culture. There are many references to "werewolves" before the time of Lycaon.

"In the Latin work of prose, the Satyricon, written about 60 C.E. by Gaius Petronius Arbiter, one of the characters, Niceros, tells a story at a banquet about a friend who turned into a wolf (chs. 61-62). He describes the incident as follows, "When I look for my buddy I see he'd stripped and piled his clothes by the roadside...He pees in a circle round his clothes and then, just like that, turns into a wolf!...after he turned into a wolf he started howling and then ran off into the woods."

Also, consider the true name for "werewolves" of different cultures, not everyone sees them as "werewolves"--it is a term that everyone uses lightly, but it does not describe creatures from other beliefs.

The name most likely derives from Old English wer (or were) and wulf. The first part, wer, translates as "man" (in the sense of male human, not the race of humanity).

A few:

Albania (oik), Armenia (mardagayl) France (loup-garou), Greece (lycanthropos), Spain (hombre lobo), Argentina (lobizón), Mexico (hombre lobo and nahual), Bulgaria (върколак - varkolak), Turkey (kurtadam), Czech Republic/Slovakia (vlkodlak), Serbia/Montenegro/Bosnia (vukodlak, вукодлак), Belarus (vaukalak, ваўкалак), Russia (vourdalak, оборотень), Ukraine (vovkulak(a), vurdalak(a), vovkun, перевертень), Croatia (vukodlak), Poland (wilkołak), Romania (vârcolac, priculici), Macedonia (vrkolak), Slovenia (volkodlak), Scotland (werewolf, wulver), England (werewolf), Ireland (faoladh or conriocht), Germany (Werwolf), the Netherlands (weerwolf), Denmark/Sweden/Norway (Varulv), Norway/Iceland (kveld-ulf, varúlfur), Galicia (lobisón), Portugal/ (lobisomem), Lithuania (vilkolakis and vilkatlakis), Latvia (vilkatis and vilkacis), Andorra/Catalonia (home llop), Hungary (Vérfarkas and Farkasember), Estonia (libahunt), Finland (ihmissusi and vironsusi), and Italy (lupo mannaro).

Though the creature may be described similarly in certain cultures, they are NOT the same--an Argentian lobizon and an English werewolf are very different in their own respects.

From your friendly Wiki. Yay quick sources for when you can't remember crap from the top of your head.
And also good for lists.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf