recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Istaevo

Istaevo is one of the sons of Mannus and founder of the Istaevones, a group of Germanic tribes who lived in modern day western Germany, the Netherlands, and north-western Belgium.

## Comparative Mythology

Istaevo has been linked to Askr, on an etymological basis of an alternate rendition of the name. He is likely a reflex of the otherwise-unnamed fourth brother from Proto-Indo-European mythology who represented the slave social class. The name "Istaevo" is made of the elements "to be" and "long time", suggesting a link to eternity and philosophy. Looking at the names of individuals who are associated with immortality shows a number of them with names that are some variation of "eternal one", with a number also having reference to philosophy within their names. This would imply that the fourth brother, whose story is otherwise unknown, attained immortality and wisdom through his life of toil, and a potential reconstruction of his name could be "Hoyu".

## References

1. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.2
16th Card (Book of Thoth Tarot)

## Upright Position - Judgement

In its upright position, this card has the following meanings:

* Death of a person referred to by Card 17
* Opinion
* Judgement of true
* Good
* False
* Just
* Discernment
* Intelligence
* Conception
* Reason
* Understanding
* Good judgement
* Fair spirit
* Genius
* Reasoning
* Comparison
* Deliberation
* View
* Thought
* Opinion
* Feeling
* Last judgement
* Biblical flood

## Reverse Position - Judgement

In its reverse position, this card has the following meanings:

* Arrest
* Decree
* Deliberation
* Decision
* Arbitration
* Pacification
* Poor judgement
* Weak spirit
* Pusillanimity
* Insanity
* Injustice
* Simplicity
* Stupidity

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Etteilla, (1790). *Cours theorique et pratique de livre de Thot*. App
Assyrian Mythology

The Assyrian people, in ancient times, came initially from northern Mesopotamia, and came to rule an empire spreading throughout the Middle East, from Egypt to Türkiye to the Persian Gulf. While the Assyrian people are still extant in the world, this page focuses on the folklore and mythology of the Ancient Assyrians, which is not necessarily the same as that of the modern Assyrians.

Much of Assyrian mythology was adapted from that of the earlier Sumerians, and their folklore is generally separated from the legal and religious contexts of texts by identifying motifs that appear in other sources from the region, and using these motifs to determine a range for these beliefs.

An issue of confusion for those studying Assyrian folklore is that the Assyrians often used the same term, *ilu*, as a general term for a supernatural being, and rarely went beyond that to clarify what they were talking about.

Assyrian gods and kings are multi-rolled entities, and often display the aspects of one role while performing actions associated with another.

## Animal Stories

A common theme in reconstructed folk tales is a dialogue between two animals.

A common one is between the horse and the ox, with the horse claiming to be the most useful due to its use in both battle and transport, while the ox says that the horse is only useful because of its ox-hide saddle, and that it is the ox who ploughs the Earth to provide food.

There is also a fragmentary dialogue between a fox and a dog, which ultimately explains why foxes were hunted and dogs domesticated.

## Proverbs

A number of Assyrian proverbs were found in the Library of King Ashurbanipal.

## Funerals

During a funeral, a *limping dance* would be performed. This sort of dance is still performed at funerals in parts of Syria and Egypt.

## Cultural Practices

At funerals, people would walk around both the bier and the mortuary chapel three times. This was the forerunner of the modern practice of Sephardic Jews walking around a bier of dignitaries seven times. The original purpose of this was to create a closed circle around a thing to protect it from demons.

Images were burned to put curses on people.

## Further Reading

* Dhorne and Langdon, in *Revue d'assyriologie et d'archarologie orientale*

## See Also

* Circumambulation
* Vampires in Ancient Babylon and Assyria

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Gaster, T.H. (1972). "Semitic folklore", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.981-989
Book of the Penitence of Adam

The *Book of the Penitence of Adam* is a kabbalistic text, the original manuscript of which is located in the Library of the Arsenal, Paris.

## Content

The text describes how Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, killed each other, leaving the inheritance of Adam to pass to his third son, Seth. Seth was permitted to pass to the very gates of Eden without being threatened by the sword-wielding angel guarding it, which is taken by Spence to mean Seth was knowledgeable in the occult. Seth saw the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, which had grown into each other, forming a single tree, which is taken as symbolising the harmony of science and religion in Kabbala.

The guardian angel gave Seth three seeds from the tree, telling him to put them in the mouth of Adam when he died. These seeds later grew into the burning bush God later used to communicate with Moses, and which Moses used to make himself a magic wand. This wand was later placed within the Ark of the Covenant before being removed by King David and planted on Mount Zion, growing into a triple tree which was later cut down by Solomon to form the pillars of Jachin and Boaz which were placed at the entrance to his temple. The third part of the tree was put in the threshold of the great gate of the temple, acting as a protective talisman to prevent the unclean from entering the sanctuary. Evil priests then removed this third piece, weighted it with stones, and threw it into the Temple reservoir, where an angel guarded it and prevented humans from seeing it. During the lifetime of Jesus, the reservoir was drained and the wood found. It was then used as a bridge across the Kedron brook, which Jesus passed over after his arrest. The wood was then taken from the brook and used to make Jesus' cross.

## Analysis

This narrative, similar to the legend of the Holy Grail, can be summarised as humanity being restored through the same thing that caused the Fall of Man originally.

The legend of the Cross being made from a cutting of the Tree of Knowledge was widespread in the Middle Ages. A version of the story can be found in the *Quete del St. Graal*, dating to the 12th century and ascribed to Walter Map, who is now thought to only have edited an older legend for his narrative.

According to Spence, the *Book of the Penitence of Adam* contains allegory embodying all the kabbalistic traditions, and study of the text can help one understand all kabbalistic literature.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Spence, L. (1920). *An Encyclopædia of Occultism*. 2 ed. pg. 2-3
Berith

Berith is a Duke of Hell, well-known for being a liar. He is considered a patron of alchemists. He commands twenty six legions. Berith is controlled by the summoner using magic rings. As a god, he was worshipped in Shechem.

## History

It is recorded in *The Solid Treasure of the Little Albert* a story about a man who had performed a ritual to summon Berith and bound him to serve him for twenty years. After six years of Berith maintaining the clocks and looking after the horses, Berith started animating a merry-go-round. This Berith may or may not be the demon Berith, and is generally said to be an elf, goblin, leprechaun, imp, mandrake, or sylph.

## Appearance

When summoned, Berith takes the form of a soldier in red, mounted on a red horse, wearing a crown.

## Summoning

The following ritual is recorded in the story from *The Solid Treasure of the Little Albert*:

1. A little black hen is to be killed and bled at a great crossroad.
2. The blood of the hen is to be used to write on a piece of paper "Berith will do my work for twenty years, and I shall reward him;"
3. The hen's corpse is then to be buried one foot under the earth. Berith should then start working later that day.

## Knowledge

Berith can grant his summoner the following knowledge:

* The past, present and future
* Dignity
* How to make their singing voice clear and uplifting

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.93
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.94
Aaron (Magician)

For other uses, see Aaron (disambiguation).

Aaron was a 12th century Byzantine Magician.

## History

During the reign of Emperor Manuel Komnenos, Aaron is recorded by Niketas in book IV of his *Annales* as possessing the grimoire *Clavicula Salomonis*, which he used to command legions of demons, as well as dabbling in necromancy.

He was tried for banditry, and was blinded before his tongue was cut out. Amongst his possessions, a corpse was found with his feet in chains and a nail through his heart.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.1
Stolas

Stolas is a Prince of Hell, and general of twenty six legions.

## Appearance

When summoned, he takes the form of an owl.

He can also take the form of a man, which he uses when teaching his summoner.

## Knowledge

Stolas can teach his summoner the following:

* Astronomy
* Properties of plants
* Value of precious stones

## References

1. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.635
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.636
Angel (Buffy)

Angel is a character from the television series *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*. He was played by David Boreanaz.

## Character Biography

Angel was turned into a vampire by Darla roughly 240 years before the series takes place. He was known as Angelus in the period immediately following his transformation.

Like many vampires, he lacked a conscience after becoming undead, and killed his own family and his neighbours. He travelled Europe looking for more victims. There, he killed a Roma girl, whose family retaliated by using a spell to restore his conscience to him. Afterwards, despite being a vampire, he refused to drink human blood. He changed his name from Angelus to Angel, and in the early 20th century emigrated to America.

In the town of Sunnydale in the 1990s, he reunited with Darla and The Master who offered to bring him back into the fold. He refused this offer. He took a liking to Buffy, and started protecting her. He helped her fight three vampires sent by The Master, and warned her that The Master was attempting to take advantage of The Harvest to establish himself in Sunnydale. He was later injured and Buffy helped look after him, falling in love with him in the process.

While they were dealing with vampires Spike and Drusilla, Angel and Buffy had sex, with the pure happiness Angel felt breaking his curse, causing him to revert back to the soulless Angelus.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.14
Ipes

Ipes is one of the Princes of Hell, as well as one of its earls. He commands thirty six legions.

## Appearance

When summoned, Ipes most often appears in the form of an angel.

Sometimes, he instead appears in the form of a lion, with the head and paws of a goose and with a notably short hare tail.

## Knowledge

Ipes can teach his summoner the following:

* The past & future
* Intelligence
* Audacity

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.366
Balan

Balan is one of the Kings of Hell, and commands forty legions. He was formerly an angel of the order of Dominions.

## Appearance

Sometimes, he has the form of a man with three heads: one of a bull, one of a man, and one of a ram. He has a snake's tail, and can shoot fire from his eyes.

More often, he appears as a naked, horned man with a hoarse, violent voice. He rides on a bear and has a hawk on his fist.

## Knowledge

Balan can teach his summoner the following:

* The past, present, and future
* Cunning
* Finesse
* How to conveniently see without being seen

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.76
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.77
Miraculous Childbirth

On occasions when a woman gives birth to a large number of children at once, there was a habit as recent as the 19th century at the very least to declare it a miracle.

The following examples from the Dictionnaire Infernal recount occasions of multiple births that were said to be miraculous:

* In his *Exameron*, Torquemada gives an account of a woman from Medina del Campo who have birth to septuplets, and of a woman from Salamanca who gave birth to nonuplets.
* Jean Pic de la Mirandole gives an account of a woman from his homeland who gave birth to a set of nonuplets and a set of undenuplets.

There are also accounts of births that can only be described as miraculous, though it is doubtful they actually occured:

* Torquemada claimed that an Italian woman gave birth to seventy children at once.
* Albert the Great claimed that a German woman gave birth to one hundred and fifty children at once, each the size of a little finger, and all wrapped in film.

## See Also

* Irmentrude
* Trazegnies
* Imagination

## Further Reading

* *Légendes des vertus théologales et des vertus cardinales* - *Les plats de Loosduynen* for a similar event given as a magical punishment in Holland.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.5
Soul of Animals

The *Soul of Animals* is a witty book by a Jesuit priest.

## Content

In this work, the priest developed the ideas of ancient philosophers regarding the nature of the souls of animals. His theory was that animals, instead of having souls like humans, were instead animated by demons whose crimes were most forgivable. Their time as animals was meant to be part of their atonement.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.27
Gudatri-Gakwitl

Gudatri-Gakwitl, also known as "Above Old Man" is the creator god of the Wiyot people.

Christians identified him with their God due to their close superficial similarities.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Unknown. (1972). "Above Old Man", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.4
Albert (disambiguation)

Disambiguation page for Albert (disambiguation)The following is a list of links to pages that might share the same title.Please follow one of the disambiguation links below or search to find the page you were looking for if it is not listed. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
* Albert d'Alby
* Albert de Saint-Jacques
* Albert the Great
Abraham Abdeel

For other uses, see Abraham (disambiguation).

Abraham Abdeel was a 16th century Brandenburgish preacher active in Küstrin.

## History

In 1572 he published the *Book of the Hidden World* in the town of Than. In this volume, he used a corrupted passage from the biblical *Book of Daniel* or the *Book of Revelations* and used the numerical values of each letter to perform calculations to determine various things. Amongst other things, he claimed the following:

* Pope Leo X was the antichrist
* The antichrist would be discovered by the angels Huss, Luther, and Noah. Huss is identified as Jan Hus, and Luther with Martin Luther. The living identity of Noah is unknown.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.2
Philosopher's Stone

The Philosopher's Stone, also known as the Elixir, is a magical substance, the creation of which is the final goal of Alchemy.

## Abilities

According to the *Picatrix*, the main feature of the Philosopher's Stone is the ability to break down a substance into a purer form, making it more potent, generally better, and ultimately something different to what it was before. It does this by overcoming the material's spirit, hardness, and resonance by removing dross and noise.

## Creation

According to the *Picatrix*, the Philosopher's Stone is made using earth, water, air, and fire in the forms of animals, trees, plants, and minerals at each stage of its construction, and the final result is supposed to be a reflection of the world.

The instructions for making the Philosopher's Stone are said to be hidden in the cryptic text of the Emerald Tablet.

## Users

Alchemists who manage to create the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life are known as Adepts. At any given point in time, there can be only eleven adepts. If another alchemist creates these, one of the older adepts must leave Earth and instead dwell on an elementary world.

Albert the Great is said to have been taught how to make the Philosopher's Stone by the Dominicans, and he later taught it to St. Thomas Aquinas.

## Further Reading

* *Rutbat al-Ḥakīm* - Further information on the Elixir.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Picatrix, (1256). *Picatrix*. Bk.1, Ch.2
2. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.8
3. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.14
Haborym

Haborym is a fire demon who serves as a Duke of Hell, commanding twenty six legions.

## Appearance

Haborym has three heads: one serpentine, one of a man, and one feline. He rides on a snake and carries a lit torch in his hand.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.316
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.317
Xaphan

Xaphan is a relatively weak demon. The bellows are his emblem.

## History

He took part in the rebellion against God, and was well received by the rebels for his inventiveness. He came up with the idea to set fire to the sky, but was banished to Hell before he could enact his plan. He now works to keep blowing on the embers in Hell's furnaces.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.702
Vritra

Vritra was the cosmic dragon of Vedic mythology.

The name "Ahi" is often used as another name for Vritra, though it is occasionally used for other dragons. It literally means "the Snake".

Ahi and/or Vritra is sometimes thought to be a personification of winter, with the slaying representing the melting of ice, causing rivers and streams to flow again.

## Legends

Vritra absorbed the cosmic waters and rested on the mountains, earning the name "Cloud Demon". Indra killed the dragon with his thunderbolt, freeing the waters from his stomach, as well as causing sap and blood to once again flow through trees and mortals respectively.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Unknown. (1972). "Ahi", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.29
Azhi Dahāka

Azhi Dahāka, known in later stories as Dahāk, is a dragon created by Angra Mainyu to kill the faithful of Ahura Mazda.

## Legends

According to the *Avesta*, Azhi Dahāka ruled during the second millennium of human history (eighth millennium of existence).

According to the *Būndahishn*, Azhi Dahāka committed incest with his mother, the demon Aūțak.

He slew Yima and conquered the land, ruling for a thousand years before being defeated by either Thrāētaona or Ātār. After his defeat, he was bound on Mount Demāvand, and is fated to break free at the end of the world, at which point he will kill a third of humanity, as well as destroy all water, fire, and vegetation. He will eventually be slain by Keresāspa. It is thought that he is the personification of the thousand years the Babylonians oppressed the Iranians.

## Appearance

According to the *Avesta*, Azhi Dahāka is a three-headed dragon.

According to the *Shāhnāmah*, he is a man with a serpent growing from each of his shoulders.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Unknown. (1972). "Azhi Dahāka or Dahāk (Pahlavi *Až-ī Dahāk*, New Persian *Až Dahāk*)", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. pp.99-100
Ganga-Gramma

Ganga-Gramma is a demonised form of the Indian goddess Ganga.

## History

According to de Plancy, she is led in a procession atop a tank, and occasionally some religious fanatics are crushed under its wheels. Goats are generally sacrificed to her.

On the night after her feast, a buffalo is sacrificed, and its blood collected in a bowl. This bowl is then placed in front of her idol, being empty the next morning. It is claimed by some that, in the past, a human sacrifice was used instead of a buffalo.

## Ritual to Thank Ganga-Gramma

After times of great sickness and other dangers, de Plancy says some perform the following ritual in Ganga-Gramma's name to thank her for her aid:

* Hooks are pushed into the back of a woman, which are used to raise the woman into the air, where she does acrobatics.
* Assistants are nearby to make loud noises to cover up the screams of the woman.

## Ritual of Penance

A ritual performed in honour of Ganga-Gramma as a form of penance is described by de Plancy as follows:

* Strings are passed through the flesh of the penitent, stringing them in a similar way to a marionette.
* Other people then control the strings to make the penitent dance for Ganga-Gramma.

## Appearance

As a demon, Ganga-Gramma has a head and four arms. In one arms she holds a small bowl, and in another a three-pointed fork.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.295
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.296
Wodan

Wodan was traditionally considered the chief Germanic god. He was associated with many things, including magic and war. He notably had many aspects. The Romans equated him to Mercury.

He was identified with the god Alfader - a creator god who ruled over an afterlife for the righteous dead.

## Legends

The Semnones, the oldest Suebi tribe, had a sacred grove where they performed human sacrifices to Wodan at the start of their major rites. Only those who were bound by a cord could enter the grove, acknowledging their inferiority to Wodan, and if they fell over they couldn't stand again until they managed to leave the grove. They believed that this grove was where the Suebi nation was born, and Wodan lived there.

## Aspects

Wodan had a number of aspects, including:

* Nickar - Genius used for causing destruction

## References

1. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.9
2. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.20
3. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.39
4. ↑ de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.492
Mannus

Mannus is the legendary founder of the Germanic peoples, according to the information compiled by Tacitus.

Like other Germanic gods, he was not worshipped in a temple, but instead in a grove or the woods.

## Legend

According to the legend, Mannus was a son of Tuisto and had three sons; Ingaevo, Hermin, and Istaevo, who each founded one of the major Germanic tribal groups, Ingaevones, Herminones, and Istaevones.

Tacitus records that there are variants of the story where additional children are added or replace some of the others. The reconstructed forms of their names are Marsus (founder of the Marsi), Gambrivius (founder of the Gambrivii), Suebus (founder of the Suebi), and Vandilicus (founder of the Vandilici).

## Comparative Mythology

Mannus has a number of equivalents in other mythologies, such as the Roman Romulus, Indic Manu, and the Persian Manus and Manuschihr. All are thought to be reflexes of the Proto-Indo-European Manu, one of four brothers in that myth cycle. The Germanic Mannus seems to have had a generational shift, with the reflexes of Manu's siblings ending up as the sons of Mannus.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.2
2. ↑ Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.9
Delaying Childbirth

Certain Greek spellcasters could perform a charm to delay childbirth for as long as they continued to perform it.

To perform the charm, they would stand with their legs crossed and their fingers intertwined at the door of the woman who is about to give birth.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.5
Hadrian

Hadrian was a Roman Emperor.

## History

He was responsible for the construction of Hadrian's Wall in Scotland, also known as the Devil's Wall.

## Legends

Towards the end of the reign of Domitian, Hadrian was the leader of an auxiliary legion in Mesia. He consulted a diviner, who predicted he'd one day become the emperor. This diviner was supposedly not the first person to tell him this. He was later adopted by Trajan, and succeeded him as emperor.

According to Fulgose, Hadrian was a very skilled astrologer, and claimed that Hadrian wrote a book on the first day of the first month of each year describing exactly what would happen to him that year, and in the final year of his life he only went as far as the month of his death, indicating that he foresaw his own death. This was later debunked as the books were actually Hadrian's diaries.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.8
46th Card (Book of Thoth Tarot)

This card is typically represented using the 4 of Cups.

## Upright Position - Long While

In its upright position, this card has the following meanings:

* Displeasure
* Discontentment
* Disgust
* Aversion
* Enmity
* Hate
* Horror
* Anxiety
* Spiritual pain
* Light grief
* Affliction
* Tiresome
* Detrimental
* Unpleasant
* Grievous
* Depressing

## Reverse Position - New Acquaintance

In its reverse position, this card has the following meanings:

* New instruction
* New information
* New light
* New intelligence
* New clarification
* Sign
* Indication
* Conjecture
* Augur
* Presage
* Presentiment
* Prognosis
* Oracle
* Prediction
* Prophecy
* Divination
* Novelty

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Etteilla, (1790). *Cours theorique et pratique de livre de Thot*. App
Vampires in Australia

While there are not many vampires in Australian folklore, some vampiric beings are still present.

## *Yara-ma-yha-who*

The *yara-ma-yha-who* is a vampiric being who appears in the myths of a number of aboriginal cultures.

Physically, the *yara-ma-yha-who* is four feet tall, has red skin, an unusually large head, no teeth, and octopus-like suckers at the tips of its fingers and toes. Instead of biting its victims, it would swallow them whole.

It lives in the top of wild fig trees, and instead of hunting its prey, it waits for them to seek shelter under the tree, dropping down on them from above. It was used as a warning to stop children from wandering from the tribe, and to scare naughty children with the threat of it coming to take them away.

When a person camps under its tree, it places its hands and feet on their body, draining the blood from their body to weaken them to the point that they can't move. While it can kill by draining the blood of a creature, it very rarely does so. It then goes away, returning later at its leisure to swallow them, before going off to drink some water and then having a nap. When it then wakes up, it vomits up what's left of its victim, who could potentially still be alive, particularly if they didn't struggle when it came to swallow them.

Whenever a person survives this, they physically transform to be more like the *yara-ma-yha-who*, first growing a little shorter each time. If they become the same height as the *yara-ma-yha-who*, their skin skin first smoothens, and then long hair grows from all over their body. This eventually causes them to become one of the little hairy creatures who legend says live in Australia's forests. This requires the same person to be swallowed a number of times.

## Further Reading

* *Myths and Legends of the Australian Aboriginals*, Smith, W.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.25
Kur

Kur, meaning "Mountain", is the name of both the Sumerian underworld, and of a dragon who appears in early Sumerian myths.

## Myths

In the myth of *Inanna and Ebih*, Kur is the name of an enemy nation north-east of Sumer.

Ninurta and Enki fought and slew Kur. According to the myth of *Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Nether World,* Enki fought the dragon to rescue Ereshkigal from it, and in some versions of *The Feats and Exploits of Ninurta*, Ninurta fought the dragon Kur (Asag in later versions) with the assistance of Enki, releasing the trapped waters of the earth with the dragon's death, allowing farmland to be irrigated again.

## Analysis

Kur, through the meaning of "Mountain", represents mountainous regions, and hence the earth itself. They are also associated with foreign lands. Together this fits the description of the Sumerian underworld as a foreign land to the north beyond the mountains which encircle the mortal world. This also fits with the idea of the dragon, in Proto-Indo-European mythology, being the ultimate manifestation of the power of the earth and nature. The story of Ninurta and Kur also fits the pattern of the PIE myth with the dragon storing away the waters of the world, with its death being necessary to release them, and Enki wanting to rescue Ereshkigal from Kur also fits this pattern, as the PIE dragon had imprisoned cattle (who were replaced with princesses in many later dragon myths) who the hero had to rescue.

The story of Enki trying to rescue Ereshkigal from Kur is thought to be linked to early Greek myths about Persephone.

Kur, as both dragon and underworld, is the origin of Tiamat (and, by extension, Leviathan), being both a cosmic dragon and a manifestation of a physical place (the sea in Tiamat's case).

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Unknown. (1972). "Kur", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.595-596
Baël

According to both the *Grand Grimoire* and the *Pseudomonarchia Daemonum*, Baël is the ultimate ruler of Hell, and most powerful of its kings. His private estates are located in the east of hell. He commands sixty six legions, and is implied to be the same individual as Baal.

## Appearance

When summoned, Baël has three heads: one a toad, one a man, and one a cat. He has a hoarse voice, and fights very well.

## Knowledge

Baël can teach the following to his summoner:

* Finesse
* Cunning
* How to become invisible

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.71
The Vampire of Alnwick Castle

The Vampire of Alnwick castle was a vampire from the 12th Century who appeared in the accounts collected by William of Newburgh.

## Account

While alive, the man who would become the vampire was known for being wicked. His wife was having an affair with another man, so he climbed the ceiling above his bed to catch her red handed, only to fall and die the next day from his injuries.

After his burial, witnesses claimed to have seen him walking around Alnwick, and out of fear started locking themselves in their homes when it got dark. At this time Alnwick was also struck by an epidemic of a disease of which no name has been recorded. This disease was blamed on the vampire. On Palm Sunday, the priest and a group made of devout townsfolk and leading citizens went to the cemetery and exhumed the corpse. The corpse was engorged with blood, and when struck by a spade caused the blood of his victims to gush forth. The corpse was then dragged from the town and burned, and the epidemic ended soon afterwards.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.9-10
The Addams Family

The Addams Family originated as a cartoon that appeared in the *New Yorker* magazine, in has become one of the most recognisable sets of comic characters in American pop culture.

## History

The Addams Family was originally created by Charles S. Addams in the 1930s when he was a regular contributor to the magazine, and his early works were collated into the *Drawn and Quartered* anthology in 1942. The Addams Family comics took place in Addams' shared comic world, wherein he attempted to portray many bizarre, monstrous things in everyday settings.

In 1964, the cartoons were adapted for television, wherein the characters were given names for the first time. Morticia Addams was played by Carolyn Jones, the family matriarch with long, black hair, a revealing skin-tight dress, and vampiric traits. She fits the character archetype of the vamp. Gomez Addams, a lawyer, was portrayed by John Astin. Their children, Pugsley and Wednesday, were played by Ken Weatherwax and and Lisa Loring, respectively. Uncle Fester was played by Jackie Coogan, Grandmama by Blossom Rock, and Lurch the butler by Ted Cassidy. Like the cartoon, the series focused on turning the bizarre into the norm, and then interacting with truly normal society. The first episode aired on ABC on September 18th, and the series lasted two seasons. Another ABC series, *The Munsters*, competed with it, starting and finishing at roughly the same time as *The Addams Family*.

A television cartoon adaption was produced by Hanna-Barbera Studios, airing on Saturday Mornings starting in 1973, and a comic book adaption was also made by the same company from 1974, lasting three issues before it was cancelled. A film adaption with the original cast, *Halloween with the Addams Family* first aired on the 30th October 1977, but failed to revive the series properly.

In 1991, Paramount Pictures released *The Addam's Family*, a film adaption staring Angelica Huston and Raul Julia and Morticia and Gomez Addams respectively. This film was a success, inspired two board games (The Addams Family Family Reunion Game, and The Addams Family Find Uncle Fester Game), a pinball game, a computer game, and two novelizations aimed at different age groups.

Another animated series, also created by Paramount, was released in 1992, with John Astin reprising the role of Gomez, while Morticia was voiced by Nanci Linari.

A sequel to the 1991 film, *Addams Family Values*, was released in 1993, with the cast of the first film reprising their roles.

There is a shared The Munsters and The Addams Family Fan Club for fans of both franchises.

## Further Reading

* *The Addams Family - The Official Poster Book*
* "The Addams Family" in *Epi-log 37*, Anchors Jr. W.
* *The Addams Family*, Calmenson, S.
* The Addams Family, Faucher, E.
* "The Campaign for *Addams Family Values*" in *Fangoria 129*, Ferrante, A.
* *The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide*, Jones, S.
* *The Official Addams Family Magazine*
* *Addams Family Revealed: An Unauthorized Look at America's Spookiest Family*, Van Hise, J.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.3-4
Agathodemon

Agathodemon, or "good demon", was a being worshipped as a god in Ancient Egypt.

## Appearance

Agathodemon took the form of a human-headed serpent. .

## Legends

He was associated with Zeus, with one of Zeus' names in Arcadia being Zeus Agathodaemon.

Agathodemon was associated with sacred dragons or winged serpents known as Agathodaemones, or "good spirits".

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.9
66th Card (Book of Thoth Tarot)

This card is typically represented using the Knight of Coins.

## Upright Position - Benefit

In its upright position, this card has the following meanings:

* Advantage
* Gain
* Profit
* Interest
* Utility
* Profitable
* Interesting
* Advantageous
* Important
* Necessary
* Obliging
* Unofficial

## Reverse Position - Inactivity

In its reverse position, this card has the following meanings:

* Peace
* Tranquillity
* Repose
* Sleep
* Apathy
* Inertia
* Stagnation
* Inactivity
* Idleness
* Leisure
* Pastime
* Recreation
* Insouciance
* Nonchalance
* Indolence
* Laziness
* Sloth
* Drowsiness
* Discouragement
* Annihilation

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Etteilla, (1790). *Cours theorique et pratique de livre de Thot*. App
Garuda

Garuda is an avian Indian god who serves as a mount for Vishnu, similarly to how the eagle served Jupiter.

## History

Garuda hatched from an egg that his mother, Diti, had been sitting on for five years.

## Appearance

Garuda has the body of an eagle and the head of a handsome man. He wears a white collar.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.297
Jean Albrecht Adelgreiff

Jean Albrecht Adelgreiff was a German man who claimed to have been given a mission from God to chastise the sovereigns of Earth.

## History

Jean's father was a pastor, who taught him Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and a number of languages spoken in the 17th Century.

He believed he received visions from heaven, with the most notable being seven angels telling him he was God's representative on Earth, and that he had to chastise the sovereigns of the land with rods of iron.

He gained a following of believers, and signed his decrees to them with:

"Jean Albrecht Adelgreiff, Kihi Schmalkhitmandis, arch-sovereign pontiff, king of the kingdom of heaven, judge of the living and the dead, Holy father, in whose glory Christ will come on the last day, Lord of all lords and King of all kings"

He lived an extravagant lifestyle, and eventually ran afoul of the law. He was tried for witchcraft, heresy, and troublemaking on account of his claims of performing miracles, and was burned at the stake in Königsberg on October 11th, 1636. Before he died, he predicted that he would rise from the dead three days later, but this did not come true.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.7
Byleth

Byleth is one of the Kings of Hell, and is said to be one of the easiest major demons to summon, though difficult to properly control, and is generally furious when summoned. He was once an angel of the order of Powers, and wishes to reclaim his place in Heaven. He commands eighty legions.

## Appearance

When summoned, he appears on a white horse, preceded by cats who sound horns.

## Summoning

Byleth is said to be so easy to summon that failing the ritual means the summoner is either incapable of magic, or because they are hated by Hell. Controlling Byleth once summoned is a different story, and doing so requires the following as part of the summoning ritual for Byleth:

* The summoner must have in hand a wand of hazel.
* Outside the ritual circle, facing southeast, they must draw a triangle for Byleth to appear in after the summoning formula is spoken.
* Putting a glass of wine in the triangle before the summoning is a recommended method of appeasing him and making him willing to serve.
* He should be given a gracious welcome and complimented on his looks, and it should be made clear that he and his cats are respected, since he is a very sensitive individual, and first impressions are very important to him.
* When interacting with him, the summoner should wear a silver ring on their middle finger of their left hand, and that finger should be kept near the face.

## Other Abilities

Assuming the summoner is capable of controlling Byleth, Byleth is said to make them the most powerful of men.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.125
76th Card (Book of Thoth Tarot)

This card is typically represented using the 2 of Coins.

## Upright Position - Embarrassment

In its upright position, this card has the following meanings:

* Obstacle
* Congestion
* Obstruction
* Trouble
* Problems
* Emotions
* Agitation
* Anxiety
* Perplexity

## Reverse Position - Letter

In its reverse position, this card has the following meanings:

* Ticket
* Written
* Script
* Sacred text
* Profane text
* Literature
* Doctrine
* Erudition
* Work
* Book
* Production
* Composition
* Alphabet
* Elements
* Principles
* Bill of exchange

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Etteilla, (1790). *Cours theorique et pratique de livre de Thot*. App
Açon

Açons are rattles made from calabashes containing seeds or pebbles. They are used in Haitian vodun rites alongside drums and ogans.

In these rites, they are played by an initiate skilled at singing, and are used to create a ground rhythm that the drums work elaborate patterns around. When they are shook to make a long, continuous sound, it signifies the end of one song and start of another. The person playing the açon often dances with the other dancers, shaking the instruments above their head and controlling when the song changes. A number of these rites include açcon solos in the music, often as exchanges between the açon and the chorus.

In preparation for these rites, the açon, along with drums and ogan, are ritually baptised.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Unknown. (1972). "açon", in Leach, M. (ed) *Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend*. 3rd ed. p.7
57th Card (Book of Thoth Tarot)

This card is typically represented using the 7 of Swords.

## Upright Position - Hope

In its upright position, this card has the following meanings:

* Waiting
* Desire
* Will
* Wish
* Vow
* Craving
* Taste
* Fantasy

## Reverse Position - Good Advice

In its reverse position, this card has the following meanings:

* Good counsel
* Salutary warning
* Novelty
* Announcement
* Notice
* Consultation
* Admonition

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Etteilla, (1790). *Cours theorique et pratique de livre de Thot*. App
Leo Allatius

Leo Allatius was a 17th Century vampirologist, considered the first modern author to write about vampires.

## Biography

Leo was born on the island of Sanjak of Sakiz in the Ottoman Empire (modern Chios, Greece) in 1586. He moved to Rome at the age of 14 to attend the Greek College. Once he finished his studies, he returned to Sanjak of Sakiz to work as the assistant of Bishop Marco Giustiniani, before later returning to Rome to study medicine and rhetoric. Once these studies were complete, he worked for many years in the Vatican Library, becoming its Keeper in 1661. He is noted as having been very passionate about the unification of Greek and Roman churches.

In 1645, he completed his *De Graecorum hodie quirundam opinationibus*, which, amongst other things, contained a description of the *vrykolakas*, an undecomposed corpse possessed by a demon, and the methods used by the Greek Orthodox Church to discern and dispel them. He also noted in this work that he believed in vampires due to them being reported in his homeland. This work helped popularise the connection between vampires and Greece.

## Works

* *De Graecorum hodie quirundam opinationibus*, a work discussing the beliefs of the Greek people.

## Further Reading

* *The Vampire: His Kith and Kin*, Summers, M.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.8-9
Orobas

Orobas is a Prince of Hell who commands twenty legions.

## Appearance

When summoned, he generally appears as a beautiful horse.

Alternatively, he appears as a man.

## Knowledge

Orobas can teach his summoner the following:

* Divine essence
* The past, present and future
* How to tell when someone is lying
* Dignity
* How to get a job
* Reconciliation with an enemy.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.510
Kingfisher

Kingfishers are a type of bird.

## Beliefs

In the coastal regions of France, it was believed until at least the 19th century that kingfishers acted as natural weather vanes, always facing the direction the wind is coming from when they have a perch. This belief was adapted from the observation that they seem to study the winds when they make their nests on the water around the winter solstice, leading to the idea that they were blessed with supernatural instincts by God.

There was an ancient custom in France to keep kingfishers in chests of fabrics, owing to the belief that they protected the woollen fabrics from worms. This was linked to another belief that having a strung-up kingfisher attached to a ceiling (presumably with a perch) would not only cause it to point towards the wind at all times, but would also protect the structure from worms.

There was also a belief that a dead kingfisher would continue regrowing feathers as though it was alive, something Albert the Great tried using in his experiments.

There were a number of other beliefs about kingfishers, such as them making their owners rich, keeping their owner's family together, and making women who wore their feathers more beautiful.

Among the Tartar, Khanty, and Ket peoples, there is a belief that, by collecting kingfisher feathers, putting them in a large vessel of water, collecting the ones that float, and touching people with these feathers, the person touched will find love. The Khanty and Ket peoples made talismans using a pouch, which they would put the preserved beak, legs, and skin of a deceased kingfisher they had domesticated. These talismans were said to protect the wearer from any misfortune as long as they were worn.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.16
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 de Plancy, J. C., (1863). *Dictionnaire Infernal*. 6ed. pg.17
Vampires in Armenia

Armenia is a nation in West Asia and the first country to make Christianity its state religion, with the Armenian Apostolic Church being an Orthodox church that developed separately between the 5th-7th centuries. Armenians were subject to multiple massacres in the late 19th century by their Ottoman rulers, and spent most of the 20th century as part of the Soviet Union.

## Dakhanavar

In 1854, Baron August von Haxthausen wrote a text, mentioned by Montague Summers, about the legend of Dakhanavar near Mount Ararat. Dakhanavar protected the valleys in the area from intruders, attacking travellers at night and drinking blood from their feet.

A pair of travellers learned about him and, when they came to sleep in the region, slept with their feet under each others' head. Dakhanavar, thinking that this was a monster with two heads and no feet, fled the region.

## Further Reading

* *The Vampire in Europe*, Summers, M.
* *Transcaucasia*, von Haxthausen, A.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Melton, J. G. (1999). *The Vampire Book*. 2 ed. p.23
Isis of the Suebi

This deity we don't actually know the name of, just that the Romans identified her with Isis. She was seemingly not universally worshipped in Germania, just by some of the Suebi.

Her emblem was a light war vessel, which Tacitus gives as proof that she was a foreign god brought into this region.

Like other Germanic gods, she was not worshipped in a temple, but instead in a grove or the woods.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tacitus, P. C., (98). *Germania*. Ch.9