WEREWOLVES: The REAL History Behind the Legends, Lore, and Lycanthropy

From ancient Sumerian epics to modern-day sightings in England's Cannock Chase, the werewolf has terrorized humanity for over 2,000 years — and the real history includes medieval trials that tortured and executed thousands of accused shapeshifters, medical conditions that spawned the legends, and 35 documented sightings in a single forest that continue to this day. Journey through the dark truth behind lycanthropy, from the She-Wolves of Jülich who allegedly killed 94 people to the shocking werewolf trials that made witch hunts look merciful, and discover why every culture on Earth has its own terrifying version of the wolf-human hybrid.Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE for the ad-free version: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateTake the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/surveyIN THIS EPISODE: The idea of the werewolf has been with us for a long time – the first mention of a werewolf that we know of is over two thousand years ago. We’ll look at the origins of the werewolf, look at whether they are actually real, and if so, how one goes about becoming one, and some of the cures believed to release the man from the beast. Of course, it’s not always the Wolf-Man… sometimes it’s the Wolf-Woman. We’ll look at the most fearsome lady werewolves throughout history! I’ll tell you about the trials and punishments of those convicted of being werewolves – many probably wish they’d have confessed to being witches instead! Plus, what if I was to tell you that werewolves truly ARE real – and that a small village has been terrorized by them for decades – right up to modern day? There is convincing evidence to back up my claim! All of this and more werewolfism can be found in this episode!CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:02:57.556 = Show Intro00:04:50.336 = Ancient Origins of Werewolves00:26:04.006 = Who’s Afraid of Virginia Werewolf?00:35:55.899 = The Werewolf Trials00:48:53.940 = The Lycanthrope Metaphor00:54:10.432 = Lycans of Cannock Chase01:02:35.974 = Little-Known Lycan Lore01:05:35.605 = Show CloseSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…BOOK: “Giants, Monsters and Dragons” by Carol Rose: https://amzn.to/36k0VW0BOOK: “The Werewolf Delusion” by Ian Woodward: https://amzn.to/2Sa74LVBOOK: “The Book of Werewolves” by Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould: https://amzn.to/3jgTLp5EPISODE: “The Werewolf Panic of the 1970’s”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/48s5bbkk EPISODE: “Werewolves of Central England”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2vpt52rn EPISODE: “Werewolf In The Bronx”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y3auryjk EPISODE: “A Summer of Werewolves”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p875ynn EPISODE: “Planet Werewolf”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yb6ck67a EPISODE: “The Beast Of The Land Between The Lakes”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5n8jc