What is a lycanthrope?

A lycanthrope generally refers to a legendary creature that transforms into a predatory animal , for several reasons, which differ, depending on the era, from one mythology to another.

This bizarre metamorphosis, also called lycanthropy, is essentially linked to the transformation of humans into wolves . This combined creature represents the inevitable hero in many myths. This is what we will discover in this article.

Why become a lycanthrope?

Lycanthropy can result from divine punishment, satanic ritual, exposure to the moon, or a bite from another lycanthrope or wolf. Aspects of a lycanthrope's transformation vary depending on beliefs and mythologies:

• In Greek myth , the lycanthrope represents a wolf-man who possesses an evil power combining the forces of wolf and man.

• In Indian and African myths : the lycanthrope can take the form of a leopard-man, a tiger-man, or a crocodile-man.

• The Scandinavian myth : Man can transform into a bear to hunt. This myth originates from the Norse legend, according to which humans transform into bears or wolves.

The lycanthrope Lycaon: the king transformed into a wolf

The lycanthrope derives from the name of King Lycaon: the tyrannical king of the Greek kingdom. According to Greek mythology, spies of Zeus (the god of gods and king of Olympus) report to him that humans behave like rabid animals: they are murderers who commit crimes, dishonest beings who master betrayal and deception, adulterers, and so on.

To verify these claims, Zeus disguised himself as an old man wearing rags. He traveled to Arcadia. There, he ensured that the reports he had received were reliable.

Zeus understands that the world appears to be full of virtue, but in reality it is quite the opposite. He observes how the strongest beings degrade and torture the weakest and how they hide their horrific deeds behind an innocent gaze.

As soon as the people realize that Zeus is a god disguised as an old wretch, they regret the wickedness of their souls and begin to ask for forgiveness, except for Lycaon , the king of Arcadia, who decides to confront this god through a diabolical ruse. Lycaon orders the so-called god to be invited to dinner and the throat of the young slave Arcas to be slit to serve him at supper.

Zeus arrives at the palace as agreed. As soon as the servants begin to present their steaming dishes, he realizes Lycaon's suspicious maneuver. He was able to recognize the smell of human flesh, thanks to a similar previous experience with Tantalus, the king of Phrygia.

The god Zeus flew into a terrible rage: violent lightning streaked across the sky and devastated the kingdom, which was ruined by fire and flooded with blood. Even Lycaon could not escape this divine punishment. He found himself surrounded by flames that devoured his entire kingdom. He lost his voice, so he was unable to call for help. He also lost the strength to stand on his feet and flee.

Lycaon also notices bizarre transformations on his body, which has become entirely clad in a disgusting fleece of hideous hair and covered in disgusting itches.

The body of the ruler of Arcadia is transformed into a terrible monster, which feeds on the flesh of its victims. King Zeus of the gods concludes that this is the perfect punishment for Lycaon, who does not deserve to live as a human, but rather as a wolf.

Lycanthropy: The Legend of the Werewolf

The werewolf is a unique legendary character who has left his mark on several myths, particularly European ones: Nordic, Greek, French, etc., since Antiquity. As a result, several stories have been created around this mythical character.

A werewolf is a creature that behaves like a normal human being during the day and transforms into a cruel monster every night, at the full moon . It has the horrible appearance of a half-man, half-wolf creature, with a single eyebrow, a large mouth, sharp teeth and claws.

The werewolf spends the night wandering and cruelly devouring anything that crosses its path: animals or humans, especially children. This nocturnal creature was bloodthirsty and loved fresh flesh.

Werewolves have greatly captivated creative cultural minds. They notably played a prominent role in cinema, with "The Wolf" being a prime example. Werewolves are also heavily featured in Halloween celebrations due to their frightening appearance.

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