The Origin of the Werewolf SuperstitionStewart, Caroline Taylor
History
The Origin of the Werewolf Superstition
Stewart, Caroline Taylor
Werewolves
[52] Encyc. Brit. under Lycanthropy:—In modern savage life we
find beastform of chiefs or spirits, medicine men, some hunt in
beast form for the community; others are said to assume beast
form in order to avenge themselves justly on enemies; others
for love of bloodshed and cannibalism. See also note 58.
[53] No doubt some of these men disguised as wolves won
considerable fame through their skill and bravery, as we should
judge from such proper names as _Rudolf_, which means really
_Ruhmwolf_, _Ruhm_ related to Gothic _hropeigs_ “victorious,”
Sanskrit _kir_ “to praise”; or _Adolf_ from _Adalolf_, which
means _Edelwolf_, originally, therefore, _Edelräuber_, for
_wolf_ meant originally about the same as _robber_ (Kluge).
So _robber_ or _wolf_ was originally a highly respectable
appellation, at a time when men lived from robbery and the
chase, either as searobbers, or mountain robbers, etc. (about
this early profession see Hirt, Die Indogermanen, 1905, p. 268
fol.), and the profession was not looked on as a disgrace (see
appellation “wolves” applied to Pawnees, p. 12.). Later we find
such names as _Wulfila_ “little wolf.” Many Indian names are
those of animals, such as Good Fox, Good Bear, Walking Bear,
Conquering Bear, Rushing Bear, Stumbling Bear, Brave Bear, Bear
Rib, Smoking Bear, Biting Bear, Bear-Looks-Back, Cloud Bear,
Mad Bear, Mad Wolf, Lone Wolf, Lean Wolf, Wolf-Ear, Wolf-Robe,
etc. See Ethn. Rep. 1882-83, p. 169: The names of Indians very
often refer to some animal, predicating some attribute or
position of that animal. For discussion of names, see note 111.
The kind of animal makes no difference, the underlying principle is
the same; namely, the transformation of a living human being into an
animal. The origin of the belief in such a transformation, as stated
above[54] was the simple putting on of an animal skin by early man. The
object of putting on animal skins was,
[54] Ante p. 6.
(1) To gain food. For this purpose the motions and cries of animals
were imitated (origin of dancing and singing),[55] artificial decoys
(like decoy ducks to-day)[56] and finally even masks were used.[57]
[55] See (3) below.
[56] See ante p. 8.
[57] See note 4 and also Ethn. Rep. 1881-82, p. 73 fol. (see
note 37):—The use of masks is worldwide. The origin and
development of the use of masks is very much the same as
the origin and development of the werewolf as given in the
preceding pages. The wolfrobe and the mask, both originally
useful devices, degenerated in unscrupulous hands into
instruments for personal aggrandizement and gain. The use of
the mask is described in the above report as follows:
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