The Hidden History Of Elves And Dwarfs

Download The Hidden History Of Elves And Dwarfs full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online The Hidden History Of Elves And Dwarfs ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!

The Hidden History of Elves and Dwarfs

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1620557169
Total Pages : 324 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (25 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Hidden History of Elves and Dwarfs by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book The Hidden History of Elves and Dwarfs written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-10-23 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive examination of the intertwined mythology, folklore, and literary history of the little people • Explores the pagan roots of dwarfs and elves and their evolution in myth and literature • Reveals the role the church played in changing them from fearless, shape-shifting warriors with magical powers into cheerful helpmates and cute garden gnomes • Traces their history from ancient Celtic and Germanic lore through their emergence in the literature of the Middle Ages to their modern popularization by the Brothers Grimm and Walt Disney Most people are familiar with the popular image of elves as Santa’s helpers and dwarfs as little bearded men wearing red caps, who are mischievous and playful, helpful and sly, industrious and dexterous. But their roots go far deeper than their appearance in fairy tales and popular stories. Elves and dwarfs are survivors of a much older belief system that predates Christianity and was widespread throughout Western Europe. Sharing his extensive analysis of Germanic and Norse legends, as well as Roman, Celtic, and medieval literature, Claude Lecouteux explores the ancient, intertwined history of dwarfs and elves. He reveals how both were once peoples who lived in wild regions as keepers of the secrets of nature. They were able to change their size at will and had superhuman strength and healing powers. They were excellent smiths, crafting swords that nothing could dull as well as magical jewelry, and often entered into the service of lords or heroes. They were a part of the everyday life of our ancestors before they were transformed by fairy tales and church texts into the mythical creatures we know today. Lecouteux shows how, in earlier folklore, elves and dwarfs were interchangeable, gradually evolving over time to express very different kinds of beings. “Dwarf,” “giant,” and even “elf” did not necessarily connote size but referred to races with different skills. Elves were more ethereal, offering protection and kindness, while dwarfs reflected a more corporeal form of spirit, often appearing as messengers from the underworld. Yet dwarfs and elves could be bargained with, and our ancestors would leave a broken object outside the door at night with the hope that a dwarf or elf (or other local spirit) would repair it. Revealing the true roots of these helpful and powerful beings, including an in-depth exploration of one of the most famous dwarf/elf/fairy beings of the Middle Ages, Auberon or Oberon, also known as Alberich, Lecouteux shows how the magic of dwarfs and elves can be rekindled if we recognize their signs and invite them back into our world.

Field Guide to the Little People

Author : Nancy Arrowsmith
Publisher : Pan
ISBN 13 : 9780330254250
Total Pages : 297 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (542 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Field Guide to the Little People by : Nancy Arrowsmith

Download or read book Field Guide to the Little People written by Nancy Arrowsmith and published by Pan. This book was released on 1977 with total page 297 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Over the Hills and Far Away

Author : Els Boekelaar
Publisher : Floris Books - Floris Books
ISBN 13 : 9780863157301
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (573 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Over the Hills and Far Away by : Els Boekelaar

Download or read book Over the Hills and Far Away written by Els Boekelaar and published by Floris Books - Floris Books. This book was released on 2010 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A revised color edition of a collection of forty stories from around Europe about gnomes, dwarfs, leprechauns and fairies.

Imps, Elves, Fairies and Goblins CD-ROM and Book

Author : Jeff A. Menges
Publisher : Courier Corporation
ISBN 13 : 0486990095
Total Pages : 52 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (869 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Imps, Elves, Fairies and Goblins CD-ROM and Book by : Jeff A. Menges

Download or read book Imps, Elves, Fairies and Goblins CD-ROM and Book written by Jeff A. Menges and published by Courier Corporation. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Selected from rare historical sources that date from 1870 to 1930, 243 magical black-and-white images celebrate the most legendary names from the Golden Age of Illustration, including Rackham, Pogány, and Goble as well as many anonymous artists. Perfect for stationery, posters, and a host of other arts and crafts applications.

Mysteries of the Werewolf

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1644110792
Total Pages : 285 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (441 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Mysteries of the Werewolf by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book Mysteries of the Werewolf written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-07-27 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: • Examines werewolf tales and stories from early Greece, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, China, and Japan, as well as legends of other shapeshifting creatures such as were-tigers, were-jackals, and were-caribou • Looks at the various ways people become werewolves, including pacts with the devil, magic, and spells, and explores ways to identify, escape, and do away with werewolves • Includes the trial records from medieval Europe for individuals who were tried on suspicion of being werewolves and the personal records of people whose spouses could shapeshift into wolves An animal both mythical and real, a terrifying predator and the villain in many a fairytale, the wolf has haunted the human imagination since prehistoric times. Even more disturbing is the possibility that some individuals can change into wolves. These werewolves, or lycanthropes, are able to divest themselves of their human nature and transform into enemies that are all the more dangerous as no one knows who they are. Means of protecting oneself from this beast have been a concern for people since Classical Antiquity, and werewolf legends offer both fascinating tales of horror as well as advice for thwarting these creatures or breaking the werewolf curse. In this exploration of werewolf folktales, legends, and historical accounts, Claude Lecouteux examines werewolf beliefs and stories from early Greece to the post-medieval age, including the beliefs of the Norse and tales from France, Germany, Eastern Europe, China, and Japan. The author includes the trial records from medieval Europe for individuals who were tried on suspicion of being werewolves and the personal records of people whose spouses could shapeshift into wolves. He investigates the nature of the werewolf, how it can act as the double or lead to out-of-body experiences, and its counterparts in other parts of the world such as were-tigers, were-jackals, and even were-caribou in the Inuit regions of North America. Lecouteux also looks at the various ways people become werewolves, including pacts with the devil and spells, and explores ways to identify, escape, and do away with werewolves. Sharing werewolf mysteries from around the world, Lecouteux shows that by studying the legends of the werewolf we also gain insight into the psyche and ancient imagination of humanity.

Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1644111713
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (441 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: • Offers commentary for each story, revealing its historical context, cultural and esoteric associations, and hidden pagan beliefs • Explores how the tales transformed over the ages and their origins in Classical Antiquity, the Middle East, and India • Includes stories never-before-translated from their original Latin and many purposely left in obscurity due to scandalous depictions of popes and other notables The Middle Ages witnessed the blossoming of oral traditions whose echoes can still be found in many legends, fables, and tales today. In this collection of medieval tales of witchcraft, wonder, and the supernatural, Claude and Corinne Lecouteux explain how many of these stories arose in Classical Antiquity while some made their way into Dark Ages Europe from the Middle East and India. Offering commentary for each tale, the authors place them in historical context and analyze their cultural and esoteric associations. They include stories never- before-translated from their original Latin or demotic versions and show how, unlike the well-known fairy tales made popular by the Brothers Grimm, many stories were purposely left in obscurity because they presented scandalous depictions of popes and other notables. Additionally, for many of the tales, the authors scrupulously peel back the Christian veneer to show how the stories were instrumental in assuring the survival of age-old pagan beliefs across the centuries. These beliefs are explored through tales of animals with magical powers and the ability to converse with humans, including the tale of the Grateful Lion made famous through Aesop’s fables; stories of individuals with supernatural or otherworldly powers, like the Venomous Maiden who poisons all men who have relations with her; legends of miracles and wondrous things that violate the laws of nature, such as people returning from the dead to help a descendant; and stories of witchcraft, magic, and demonic apparitions, including the pope who was a disguised demon. The authors also explore tales of supernatural spouses and illicit love affairs, wisdom teachings and parables of fools, and heroic legends.

Silver Bough

Author : Amy Dyer
Publisher : eBook Partnership
ISBN 13 : 1839522526
Total Pages : 464 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (395 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Silver Bough by : Amy Dyer

Download or read book Silver Bough written by Amy Dyer and published by eBook Partnership. This book was released on 2021-02-03 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Silver Bough is a journey into a forgotten Otherworld of hollow hills, glass mountains and fabled islands. With over twenty myths and folktales arising from the rich traditions of the world, from ancient Egypt and Iceland, to New Zealand, Siberia and the Celtic lands, among the stories are Gwyn and the Lady of the Lake, The Shipwrecked Sailor, Galahad's Quest for the Grail and Apples of Immortality. Each of the five accompanying sections is woven from the threads of each tale. Rich in symbolism, shamanic traditions and esoteric wisdom, The Silver Bough traverses ancient cosmologies, from the kingdom of the dead and the starlit realm, to the domain of the flood and the land of the hidden folk.

Pantheon - The Norse

Author : Morgan Daimler
Publisher : John Hunt Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1789041422
Total Pages : 156 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (89 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Pantheon - The Norse by : Morgan Daimler

Download or read book Pantheon - The Norse written by Morgan Daimler and published by John Hunt Publishing. This book was released on 2022-04-29 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pantheon - The Norse explores the beliefs and practices found within Heathenry including a look at cosmology and various celebrations. It also discusses the gods and spirits that are acknowledged within the belief system giving brief descriptions of each and how they were and are understood. Designed as an introduction to the Norse pantheon, this book will guide beginners into a basic understanding of the beliefs and offer further suggested resources for those who want to dive deeper.

Atlantis Rising Magazine - 134 - March/April 2019

Author : J. Douglas Kenyon
Publisher : Atlantis Rising LLC
ISBN 13 : 0999509586
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (995 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Atlantis Rising Magazine - 134 - March/April 2019 by : J. Douglas Kenyon

Download or read book Atlantis Rising Magazine - 134 - March/April 2019 written by J. Douglas Kenyon and published by Atlantis Rising LLC. This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ANCIENT MYSTERIESJESUS & THE GNOSTICS The Quest for Historical Reality Takes Some Startling New Turns BY MARTIN RUGGLES LOST HISTORY OAK ISLAND: THE INCA/SPANISH CONNECTION Following the Evidence to South America BY FRANK JOSEPH UFOs ROSWELL TO THE 33RD DEGREE A Former Air Force UFO Investigator Makes Some Startling Observations BY WILLIAM B. STOECKER LOST HISTORY DENISOVANS IN AMERICA? A Closer Look at DNA and the Coming of the "Thunder People" BY ANDREW COLLINS ANCIENT MYSTERIES PYRAMIDS & THE GODS OF WEATHER An Electrifying New Take on Possible Lost Ancient Technology? BY KONSTANTIN BORISOV, Ph.D. LOST HISTORY PYGMIES & DWARFS Is There More Truth to the Legends than We Realized? BY CLAUDE LECOUTEUX POPULAR CULTURE THE MANY FACES OF "SKEPTICISM" Taking a Closer Look at Where All the Noise Is Coming from BY MICHAEL E. TYMN ANCIENT MYSTERIES PROPHECIES AND THE THIRD TEMPLE Are We About Due for the Apocalypse? BY JONATHON PERRIN ANCIENT MYSTERIES JESUS IN KASHMIR? Did the Bible Tell the Whole Story? ARCHAEOLOGY SEARCHING FOR EGYPTIAN ORIGINS IN NIGER Could the "Zinder Pyramid and Sphinx" Hold Clues to Zep Tepi? BY ROBERT M. SCHOCH, Ph.D. THE FORBIDDEN ARCHAEOLOGIST A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ROBERT SALAS BY MICHAEL CREMO ASTROLOGY THE "LONG ZODIAC" OF DENDERA Unlocking the Mysteries of Cancer BY JULIE LOAR PUBLISHER'S LETTER ON THE TRAIL OF OSIRIS AND THE "FIRST TIME" BY J. DOUGLAS KENYON

Dictionary of Gypsy Mythology

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1620556685
Total Pages : 241 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (25 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Dictionary of Gypsy Mythology by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book Dictionary of Gypsy Mythology written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-07-10 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive A-to-Z reconstruction of the oral tradition of the Rom--gypsies--based on sources never before available in English • Presents the origin myths and magical traditions of the gypsies, including their legendary ties to Egypt, animal ancestors, and tree spirits • Examines the three major settings of gypsy folktales--the forest, the waters, and the mountain--and shows how their world is full of spirits • Shows how the religious concepts of the Rom testify to a profound syncretism of the pagan traditions and Christianity Although their own myths and their common name point to Egyptian origins for the gypsies, the Rom, as they call themselves, originated in India, as evidenced by studies of their language. They arrived in Europe in the ninth century and spread across the continent from East to West, reaching England in the 15th century and Scandinavia by the end of the 16th century. A nomadic people, these wanderers were reviled by local populaces wherever they went and regarded as misfits, intruders, foreigners, and thieves. Drawing on a number of sources never before available outside of Eastern Europe, Claude Lecouteux reconstructs the gypsy oral tradition to provide a comprehensive A-to-Z look at gypsy mythology, including their folktales, rites, songs, nursery rhymes, jokes, and magical traditions. His main source is material collected by Heinrich Adalbert von Wlislocki (1856-1907), an ethnologist who lived with gypsies in Romania, Transylvania, and Hungary in the latter half of the 19th century. He presents the origin myths of the gypsies, legends which form the ancestral memory of the gypsy tribes and often closely touch on their daily life. Lecouteux explores the full range of supernatural beings that inhabit the gypsy world, including fairies, undines, ogres, giants, dog-people, and demons, and he examines the three major settings of gypsy folktales--the forest, the waters, and the mountain, which they worshiped as a sacred being in its own right. He also reveals how coexisting with peoples of different religions led the gypsies to adapt or borrow stories and figures from these groups, and he shows how the religious concepts and sacred stories of the Rom testify to a profound syncretism of pagan traditions and Christianity. Complete with rare illustrations and information from obscure sources appearing for the first time in English, this detailed reference work represents an excellent resource for scholars and those seeking to reconnect to their forgotten gypsy heritage.

Travels to the Otherworld and Other Fantastic Realms

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1620559439
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (25 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Travels to the Otherworld and Other Fantastic Realms by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book Travels to the Otherworld and Other Fantastic Realms written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2020-08-04 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of tales from the Middle Ages that reveal voyages to Heaven and Hell, the realm of the Faery, mystical lands, and encounters with mythic beasts • Shares travelers’ accounts of voyages into the afterlife, alarming creatures of unparalleled strangeness, encounters with doppelgangers and angels, chivalric romantic misadventures, and legends of heroes • Explains how travelers’ tales from the Middle Ages drew on geographies, encyclopedias, travel accounts, bestiaries, and herbals for material to capture the imagination of their audiences • Includes rare illustrations from incunabula and medieval manuscripts Heading off to discover unknown lands was always a risky undertaking during the Middle Ages due to the countless dangers lying in wait for the traveler--if we can believe what the written accounts tell us. In the medieval age of intercontinental exploration, tales of sea monsters, strange hybrid beasts, trickster faeries, accidental trips to the afterlife, and peoples as fantastic and dangerous as the lands they inhabited abounded. In this curated collection of medieval travelers’ tales, editors Claude and Corinne Lecouteux explain how the Middle Ages were a melting pot of narrative traditions from the four corners of the then-known world. Tales from this period often drew on geographies, encyclopedias, travel accounts, bestiaries, and herbals for material to capture the imagination of their audiences, who were fascinated by the wonders being discovered by explorers of the time. Accompanied by rare illustrations from incunabula and medieval manuscripts, the stories in this collection include voyages into the afterlife, with guided tours of Hell and glimpses of Heaven, as well as journeys into other fantastic realms, such as the pagan land of the Faery. It also includes accounts from travelers such as Alexander the Great of alarming creatures of unparalleled strangeness, encounters with doppelgangers and angels, legends of heroes, and tales of chivalric romantic misadventures, with protagonists swept to exotic new places by fate or by quest. In each story, the marvelous is omnipresent, and each portrays the reactions of the protagonist when faced with the unknown. Offering an introduction to the medieval imaginings of a wondrous universe, these tales reflect the dreams and beliefs of the Middle Ages’ era of discovery and allow readers to survey mythic geography, meet people from the far ends of the earth, and experience the supernatural.

The Pagan Book of the Dead

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1644110482
Total Pages : 291 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (441 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Pagan Book of the Dead by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book The Pagan Book of the Dead written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2020-09-01 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An extensive look at the cartography and folklore of the afterlife worlds as seen by our ancestors • Examines how ancient European cultures viewed the beyond, including the Blessed Isles of early Greek and Celtic faith, the Hebrew Sheol, Hades from Homer’s Odyssey, Hel and Valhalla of the Norse, and the Aralu of Babylon • Shows how medieval accounts of journeys into the Other World represent the first recorded near-death experiences • Connects medieval afterlife beliefs and NDE narratives with shamanism, looking in particular at psychopomps, power animals, the double, the fetch, and what people bring back from their journeys to the spirit realms Charting the evolution of afterlife beliefs in both pagan and medieval Christian times, Claude Lecouteux offers an extensive look at the cartography and folklore of the afterlife worlds as seen by our ancestors. Exploring the locations and topographies of the various forms taken by Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, he examines how ancient European cultures viewed the beyond, including the Blessed Isles of early Greek and Celtic faith, the Hebrew Sheol, the pale world of Hades from Homer’s Odyssey, Hel and Valhalla of the Norse, and the Aralu of Babylon, the land where nothing can be seen. The author also explores beliefs in Other Worlds, lands different from our own that are not the afterlife but places where time flows differently and which are inhabited by fantastic or supernatural beings such as fairies or dwarfs. Sharing medieval tales of journeys into the beyond, Lecouteux shows how these accounts represent the first recorded near-death experiences (NDEs) and examines how they compare with modern NDE narratives as well as the work of NDE researchers like Raymond Moody. In addition, he also explores tales of out-of-body experiences, dream journeys, and travels made by a double or fetch and connects these narratives with shamanism, looking in particular at psychopomps, power animals, and what people bring back from their journeys to the spirit realms. Analyzing the afterlife beliefs of the Middle Ages as a whole, Lecouteux concludes with a collection of medieval afterlife-related traditions, such as placing polished stones in the coffin so the departed soul can find its way back to friends and family at those times of the year when the veil between the worlds grows thin.

Secrets After Dark (After Dark Book 2)

Author : Sadie Matthews
Publisher : Hodder & Stoughton
ISBN 13 : 1444766716
Total Pages : 304 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (447 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Secrets After Dark (After Dark Book 2) by : Sadie Matthews

Download or read book Secrets After Dark (After Dark Book 2) written by Sadie Matthews and published by Hodder & Stoughton. This book was released on 2012-11-08 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Secrets After Dark will take you one step closer to the edge of passion: the perfect read for fans of L.S. Hilton's Maestra, Sylvia Day's Crossfire series, or E.L. James' Fifty Shades of Grey. Ours was a love bound by power... Falling in love with Dominic changed me. I relinquished myself completely and placed my heart and my trust in Dominic's hands, but in one exquisite, excruciating moment he abandoned his control. Anguished by his actions, he has locked those darkest desires inside, unable to share my conviction that it would never happen again. Now it's not only Dominic who craves that delicate, seductive game of give and take, of walking the line between pain and pleasure, abandon and release. Persuading Dominic to let those secret parts of himself unravel will be the biggest risk I've ever taken, but I can't resist. Even if it means we fall apart... Provocative and sophisticated, exhilarating and seductive, the AFTER DARK series is a compelling pleasure we should all indulge in.

The Dwarves

Author : Markus Heitz
Publisher : Hachette UK
ISBN 13 : 0748116648
Total Pages : 557 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (481 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis The Dwarves by : Markus Heitz

Download or read book The Dwarves written by Markus Heitz and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2010-03-04 with total page 557 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For countless millennia, no man or beast has ever succeeded in breaching the stone gateway into Girdlegard. Until now . . . Abandoned as a child, Tungdil the blacksmith is the only dwarf in a kingdom of men. But when he is sent out into the world to deliver a message and reacquaint himself with his people, the young foundling finds himself thrust into a battle for which he has not been trained. Not only his own safety, but the life of every man, woman and child in Girdlegard depends upon his ability to embrace his heritage. Although he has many unanswered questions, Tungdil is certain of one thing: no matter where he was raised, he is a true dwarf. And no one has ever questioned the courage of the Dwarves. The international bestselling fantasy epic now available in English for the first time. Other books by Markus Heitz: War of the Dwarves The Revenge of the Dwarves The Fate of the Dwarves The Triumph of the Dwarves Righteous Fury Devastating Hate Dark Paths Raging Storm Aera book's one to ten

Phantom Armies of the Night

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 159477806X
Total Pages : 287 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Phantom Armies of the Night by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book Phantom Armies of the Night written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-08-16 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exploration of the many forms of the ancient myth of the Wild Hunt and its influence in pagan and early Christian Europe • Recounts the myriad variations of this legend, from the Cursed Huntsman and King Herla to phantom armies and vast processions of sinners and demons • Explains how this belief was an integral part of the pagan worldview and was thus employed by the church to spread Christian doctrine • Reveals how the secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions for soul travel and prophecies of impending death Once upon a time a phenomenon existed in medieval Europe that continuously fueled local lore: during the long winter nights a strange and unknown troop could be heard passing outside over the land or through the air. Anyone caught by surprise in the open fields or depths of the woods would see a bizarre procession of demons, giants, hounds, ladies of the night, soldiers, and knights, some covered in blood and others carrying their heads beneath their arms. This was the Wild or Infernal Hunt, the host of the damned, the phantom army of the night--a theme that still inspires poets, writers, and painters to this day. Millennia older than Christianity, this pagan belief was employed by the church to spread their doctrine, with the shapeshifters' and giants of the pagan nightly processions becoming sinners led by demons seeking out unwary souls to add to their retinues. Myth or legend, it represents a belief that has deep roots in Europe, particularly Celtic and Scandinavian countries. The first scholar to fully examine this myth in each of its myriad forms, Claude Lecouteux strips away the Christian gloss and shows how the Wild Hunt was an integral part of the pagan worldview and the structure of their societies. Additionally, he looks at how secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions through cult rituals culminating in masquerades and carnival-like cavalcades often associated with astral doubles, visions of the afterlife, belief in multiple souls, and prophecies of impending death. He reveals how the nearly infinite variations of this myth are a still living, evolving tradition that offers us a window into the world in which our ancestors lived.

Witches, Werewolves, and Fairies

Author : Claude Lecouteux
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1594776822
Total Pages : 258 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Witches, Werewolves, and Fairies by : Claude Lecouteux

Download or read book Witches, Werewolves, and Fairies written by Claude Lecouteux and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2003-07-23 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reveals the true nature of medieval belief in the Double of the Soul • Demonstrates the survival of a pagan belief that each individual owns three souls, including a double that can journey outside the physical body • Explains the nature of death and the Other World hidden beneath the monsters and superstitions in stories from the Middle Ages Monsters, werewolves, witches, and fairies remain a strong presence in our stories and dreams. But as Claude Lecouteux shows, their roots go far deeper than their appearance in medieval folklore; they are survivors of a much older belief system that predates Christianity and was widespread over Western Europe. Through his extensive analysis of Germano-Scandinavian legends, as well as those from other areas of Europe, Lecouteux has uncovered an almost forgotten religious concept: that every individual owns three souls and that one of these souls, the Double, can—in animal or human form—leave the physical body while in sleep or a trance, journey where it chooses, then reenter its physical body. While there were many who experienced this phenomenon involuntarily, there were others—those who attracted the unwelcome persecution of the Church—who were able to provoke it at will: witches. In a thorough excavation of the medieval soul, Claude Lecouteux reveals the origin and significance of this belief in the Double, and follows its transforming features through the ages. He shows that far from being fantasy or vague superstition, fairies, witches, and werewolves all testify to a consistent ancient vision of our world and the world beyond.

Elves in Anglo-Saxon England

Author : Alaric Hall
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 248 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 ( download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Book Synopsis Elves in Anglo-Saxon England by : Alaric Hall

Download or read book Elves in Anglo-Saxon England written by Alaric Hall and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Elves and elf-belief during the Anglo-Saxon period are reassessed in this lively and provocative study. Anglo-Saxon elves [Old English ælfe] are one of the best attested non-Christian beliefs in early medieval Europe, but current interpretations of the evidence derive directly from outdated nineteenth- and early twentieth-century scholarship. Integrating linguistic and textual approaches into an anthropologically-inspired framework, this book reassesses the full range of evidence. It traces continuities and changes in medieval non-Christian beliefs with a new degree of reliability, from pre-conversion times to the eleventh century and beyond, and uses comparative material from medieval Ireland and Scandinavia to argue for a dynamic relationship between beliefs and society. Inparticular, it interprets the cultural significance of elves as a cause of illness in medical texts, and provides new insights into the much-discussed Scandinavian magic of seidr. Elf-beliefs, moreover, were connected withAnglo-Saxon constructions of sex and gender; their changing nature provides a rare insight into a fascinating area of early medieval European culture. Shortlisted for the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award 2007 ALARIC HALL is a fellow of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies.