Howls in the Night

In the era of the Vikings,in Norse mythology there were warriors who wore wolf pelts called Berserkers (though it's really BEAR-zerker) that sound as though they were shape-shifters. They worked themselves up so much before a fight, it is said they actually turned into the animal.

The World's first historian, Herodotus living in Greece in the 5th century traveled the known world learning first hand about the people he met. His book 'The Histories' (originally written on papyrus scrolls) records him learning of the tribes that lived around the Black Sea, and of the Neuri he says "each of them changes themselves once a year into a wolf in which he remains for a few days before changing back into his human self.

Prhistoric cave paitings show people dressed as wolves. Doning wolf heads and pelts, to capture the spirit of the creature. Transforamtion is said to permit men the Vigor, Cunning, & hunting dexterity of the Wolf (or whatever attributes that you see in the animal)

I know he's not a werewolf (were fox maybe) but I loved this image

Since 1913 when 'The Werewolf' Motion picture was first established in the film industry there have been hundres more made

Lycanthropy

1. a Human Transformation into a wolf

2. Clinically more modern use of the word is in reference to a mental illness called lycanthropy in which a patient believes he or she is, or has transformed into, an animal and behaves accordingly. This is sometimes referred to as clinical lycanthropy to distinguish it from its use in legends.

(wait...I thought the 'Clinical' meaning) was someone that grew too much hair (or too fast)

Lycanthropy is the transformation of a human into the form of a wolf, & takes place by magic to satisfy the taste for human flesh or by the desire of the gods as punishment for wrong doing.

Werewolves are men who change into wolf form, however it is not unknown among women and children. (Usually a metaphor for puberty and the onset starts around the time) You move around like the animal however, you supposedly are able to retain your human reasoning.

If you are harmed as a wolf, then you bring that injury back with you to the human form.

One of the ways you are supposed to determine if someone is werewolf, is that they have a pentagram in their palm, or hairy palms.

Normally the ability to change yourself into a werewolf is hereditary, bitten by a werewolf or a 'talent you can learn'

Some legends say that if you intentionally transform you must hide your clothes carefully because without them, you can not turn back to your human form.

also there's plenty superstitions abound on how you can become one OTHER than being bitten or a spell. If you are murdered, the son of a priest, eat a wolf, drink from haunted water or from a wolfs paw print, if you are born on Christmas Eve, conceived under a new moon, or sleep at night in the open with moonshine on your face.

Becoming a werewolf

hair in the palm or a pentagram in the palm

(birth mark that looks like a crescent moon or pentagram)

• different visual capabilities,
• sharper hearing and a
• better sense of smell.
• faster than most humans

Gut wrenching pain in all your bones as they and your organs undergo the transition from Human to animal and your perceptual awareness changes.

-Your tongue gets dry and you get thirsty

-Have an abnormal fear of water (akin to a rabid dog)

-You have a uni-brow,

-your nails grow abnormally fast & long.