Simulacrums

**Simulacrums** are all manner of artificial beings imaginable. They are a popular appearance in a wide spectrum of fiction, being as common to fantasy and science fiction as

they are to the horror genre.

This article has the following simulacrum types split off into their own articles:

* Gargoyles
* Robots

## Etymology

The word "simulacrum" is Latin in origin and means "image" or "likeness". It may be recognizable as the inspiration of the English words "similar" and "simulate". "Simulacrum" has been used in several European languages since the late sixteenth century to refer to anything that is a depiction or mimicry of another thing. For example, (non-manipulated) photos are simulacrums by definition because they always depict something else, but the likes of paintings and statues can be an original design, and thus they aren't necessarily simulacrums.

Though the philosophical considerations of what role a copy plays in reality predate the sixteenth century, when the word "simulacrum" came into use in Europe, it was a neutral word. This had changed by the nineteenth century, when the word "simulacrum" was associated with fakeness and inferiority in the same vein as the word "phantom".

It is unknown when "simulacrum" was first applied to an artificial being, but one would assume it to have done so not too long after the term's introduction. Around the time "simulacrum" obtained its negative connotations, a shift in role occurred for artificial beings. Whereas before the nineteenth century, simulacrums were either willing servants or loyal spouses, starting the nineteenth-century stories about simulacrums who are unhappy with their lower lot in life and constantly strive to become "human" appeared at an increasing frequency.

An alternative term for artificial beings is androids, though the latter word is more often thought to apply only to mechanical simulacrums. Also, "android" is Ancient Greek and translates to "likeness of a man", meaning it fails as a word to describe those simulacrums who are female, non-humanoid or both.

## History

An important theme in religion and people's worldviews throughout history are the stories of how everything and, in particular, humans came to be. These stories have had and have a profound effect on the way humans looked and look at themselves.

Most religions feature one or more primary gods who either have always been or at one point came forth from some pre-existence chaos. These gods, in turn, created everything else. A common theme in creation myths is that the gods created humans from non-living material, often mud, clay, or wood. Humans of many cultures viewed themselves as inherently artificial beings to the gods, who were inherently natural beings. This idea also played a large role in human acceptance that the gods were their superiors and should be obeyed and appeased. Depending on the details of the religion, the idea of artificiality was also used to explain and justify a hierarchy among humans, such as that the upper class, (wo)men or relevant race/nationality consisted of humans made from better materials, formed with greater care, or created first.

Also, depending on the religion was the tolerance for humans taking the role as creators of other creatures. For instance, the golems of Jewish mythology were not always appreciated, and the homunculi were largely seen by the Islamic and Christian religions as a product of magic and, therefore, of evil.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Voodoo**: Like a voodoo doll, when Hoodude is hurt, whoever is close to him or whose stuff he is holding will feel the pain for him and suffer the respective consequences. Usually, this effect creates a little spark around the zone affected, possibly a callback to his creator. He can transfer pain to others without holding their stuff, but only to males.
* **Pain Inability**: A voodoo doll like Hoodude cannot feel pain and is hardly ever damaged, as Hoodude has been through several deadly situations without a scratch.
* **Powering Things**: When their bolts are attached to something via jumper cables (usually), a monster like Frankie can power up something with electricity like a power bank.
* **Lightning Immunity**: If a simulacrum like Frankie is hit by lightning, no harm will come to them, and if anything, they feel refreshed.
* **Detachable Limbs**: Frankie is shown countless times to remove her limbs, and her hand can act on its own.