Lamia

**Origin:** Greek or Berber (Amazigh)

In Greek mythology, Lamia was a Libyan queen loved by Zeus. Their relationship lasted long enough to bear at least two children. Hera, Zeus’ jealous wife, discovered the affair and retaliated by either stealing or killing Lamia’s children. Lamia was so distraught that she ripped her own eyes right out of her head. In grief, rage and desolation, she moved into an undersea cavern and transformed into a vengeful, evil spirit who steals other women’s children. (An alternative version says that Zeus pitied her after Hera’s attack and so he hid her in a cave, transformed her into a monster and gave her permission to attack other women’s children.)

* Lamia may be an indigenous Berber spirit, Demonized by Greeks
* She may be Poseidon’s daughter
* She may be a shark goddess
* She may be all of the above

Lamia’s name is related to a word meaning “gullet”. Lamia may be interpreted as “single shark” or “lone shark”. Lamia’s son is definitely a shark spirit. She is among the goddesses named as Scylla’s mother.

Lamia has two distinct manifestations: one corresponds to classical Greek myth and the other to her origins as a dangerous marine spirit. It’s not entirely clear that they are the same spirit despite the fact that they share the same name.

The Lamia that corresponds to the Greek myth is not associated with underwater attacks or any sort of water mythology. She’s a child-stealer, plain and simple. This Lamia is accused of stealing children (she’s blamed for children who literally disappear); miscarriage, stillbirth, crib death or the deaths of young children. It is possible that this Lamia is actually derived from the Sumerian goddess Lamashtu. This Lamia is a shape-shifter who can take the eyes out of her head to keep watch even when she’s sleeping. She can send her eyes on scouting missions so that she can stay in one place but see another.

**See Also:** Hera; Lamashtu; Poseidon; Scylla; Zeus

## Lamia of the Sea

**Also Known As:** Lamia of the Shore

**Origin:** Greek

Lamia of the Sea is an ominous sea spirit who roams the modern Greek coasts. It is not entirely clear whether she is the same as child-killing Lamia. She more closely resembles the Sirens. This Lamia is dangerous, too, but in different ways.

Lamia may be a mermaid or a woman who emerges from the sea. Sometimes she dances on the shore or on the waves. Sometimes she stands waist deep in water and sings beautiful, passionate love songs in a seductive voice. Men are drawn to her; they may not realize that she isn’t a mortal woman but if they yield to her allure, they’ll end up at the bottom of the sea. Antidote: stick a black-handled knife into the water to disarm her.

Lamia sometimes emerges from the water, usually in mermaid form, to inquire whether Alexander the Great yet lives. Tell her yes and you’ll be fine. Confirming his death enrages her and she’ll drown you.

**Manifestations:** A mermaid; a beautiful woman; a waterspout or whirlwind

**See Also:** Exotika; Gorgon; Mermaid

## Lamiae

**Also Known As:** Lamias

**Origin:** Greek

The name Lamia may be interpreted as meaning “single shark” but the plural, Lamiae are ominous spirits associated with snakes. (Each individual Lamiae is a Lamia.) These Lamias are perceived as threatening to men as well as children. They are succubus-like spirits who creep up on sleeping men, hold them spellbound with sexual fantasy while consuming their flesh and draining their blood.

Sometimes Lamiae manifest as women of easy virtue who solicit young men, especially those who are robust and well fed. Once alone however, the men are consumed, literally; their bones picked clean. In the Middle Ages, the term Lamia became a synonym for witch; it is now sometimes used to indicate a female vampire. They thirst for blood. Like baby-killing Lamia, these Lamiae can remove and replace their eye balls at will; magically directing their movements to facilitate sight. (Their eyeballs can gaze behind their back; out the window; across the hall and so forth.)

Lamiae still haunt modern Greek folklore. They live with dragons in caverns and deserts but sometimes try to insinuate themselves into households possibly so that they can eventually attack. Their sneak attacks are more effective, however, than these long range plots. Lamiae tend to be inept, gluttonous, stupid, and not very clean. Well-fed Lamiae become lazy and corpulent.

The tip-off to their true identity is their absolute inability to do any sort of housework, especially cook. They literally cannot boil water and never seem to learn. They sometimes display gratitude towards those who help them out of their inevitable kitchen troubles.

They may be bloodthirsty vampires but the Lamiae bear a reputation for honesty (if only because they’re not smart enough to lie) and for keeping promises.

**Manifestation:** Lamiae many manifest as women or as beautiful women from the waist up but snakes below. John Keats in his poem, Lamia describes her as a snake disguised as a woman. Modern Greek folklore suggests that the clue to identifying the Lamiae lie in their feet. They may be mismatched or there may be more than two. One may be of bronze or there may be an animal foot: a donkey, goat or ox foot.

**See Also:** Aisha Qandisha; Baba Yaga; Diablesse; Exotika; Kumiho; Vampire

## Appearance in Modern Media

From Fate Grand OrderFrom Shin Megami TenseiFrom Tower of SaviorsFrom Blood BrothersFrom Brave FrontierFrom Rage of BahamutFrom Reign of DragonsFrom Kamihime Project
## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes