Incubus and succubus myths

[[File:Lilith (John Collier painting).jpg|thumb|165px|''[[Lilith]]'' by John Collier, 1892]]{{religion}}
The '''incubus''' and '''succubus''' are [[myth|mythical]] creatures from [[Medieval]] [[Christian]] [[demon|demonology]] that perform their [[evil]] deeds by [[fuck|doing the deed]] with their victims. The incubus is the male version of the demon while the succubus is the female counterpart.

==In Christianity==
[[File:Incubus.jpg|thumb|right|Who forgot to put up the demon bed netting again!? (''Incubus'', 1870, artist unknown)]]
The exact origin of the myth is unknown, though [[St Augustine|St. Augustine]] mentioned sexual creatures in some of his works.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120205051604/http://www.louisaburton.com/explore/incubiandsuccubi.html Demonologists and Theologists on the Existence and Nature of Sexual Demons]</ref> The first actual mention of the succubus comes from the 1300's.

There are a few basic variations on the myth. In some accounts, the incubus and succubus are two separate demons. The incubus impregnates women with its demon semen while the succubus impregnates itself using a man with its deviled egg. In others, the incubus and succubus are the same shape-shifting demon which needs to collect semen as a succubus first before it transforms into an incubus to impregnate a woman. Less often, these demons use sexual intercourse as a means to directly [[demonic possession|possess]] the body of their victims. This is generally done while the victim is [[sleep]]ing.

The means by which incubi and succubi were to be dealt with were laid out in the [[Malleus Maleficarum]]. [[Exorcism]] and [[confession]] were considered the two best methods for disposing of the demons. Some of the kookier [[fundamentalists]] still believe in the existence of these demons and seek out or offer exorcisms to get rid of them.<ref>For example, [http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/incubus.htm this webshite] serves up a bunch of [[green ink]] on incubi and succubi.</ref>

==In other cultures and religions==
Many other cultures have sex demons as part of their mythology that are analogous or similar to the incubus and succubus.<ref>[http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/paranormal_paramours/ Paranormal Paramours], [[Committee for Skeptical Inquiry]]</ref> In Arabic cultures, [[jinn]]s were thought to be responsible for the same acts; {{wpl|Sila (mythology)|Sila}} are a specific type which according to legend appears in shape of a woman, seducing men into dancing, marrying, and fathering their half-genie young. There are also a number of non-sexual variants which generally involve the demon pinning the person to the bed, and strangling or suffocating them in some way.

Many of the succubus myths are derived from [[Jewish]] [[mysticism]] and [[Kabbalah]]. The most famous succubus is {{wpl|Lilith||,}} who is believed to have been the first woman instead of [[Eve]]. She became a succubus after leaving the [[Garden of Eden]] and having sex with the [[angel|archangel]] Samael.<ref>[http://jewishchristianlit.com/Topics/Lilith/alphabet.html The Story of Lilith], The Alphabet of ben Sira Question #5 (23a-b)</ref> Of note is that Lilith left because [[Adam]] and [[God]] didn't want her because she (*gasp!*) [[feminism|refused to be a submissive doormat to Adam and wanted to be independent]], so Adam threw a hissy-fit and God made Eve in response. The mistresses of Samael were thought to be the first succubi.

In Arthurian legend, Merlin is a {{wpl|cambion||,}} the child of an incubus with a human woman, who subsequently became a [[nun]].<ref>[http://muse.jhu.edu/article/565275/pdf "Merlin’s Conception by Devil in William Rowley’s Play The Birth of Merlin"], Anita Obermeier, ''Project Muse''</ref> In modern-day comic books, {{wpl|Raven (Teen Titans|Raven}} of Detective Comics' {{wpl|Teen Titans}} is sired under similar circumstances by the inter-dimensional demon {{wpl|Trigon (comics|Trigon|.}} In almost every case, the mother is human, rather than the other way around.

==Explanations==
Due to the widespread prevalence of these myths, many [[anthropology|anthropologists]] and [[psychology|psychologists]] believe them to be [[supernatural]] explanations for [[sleep paralysis]] and hypnagogic and hypnopompic [[hallucination]]s.<ref>[http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/200809/incubus-attack Incubus Attack], Psychology Today</ref> A common thread in these stories is an inability to move, which fits well with sleep paralysis. They also speculate that in religions with sexual taboos like Christianity, the demons offered a convenient "devil made me do it" excuse. Unwanted [[Pregnancy|pregnancies]], [[incest]], and nocturnal emissions ([[masturbation|intentional]] or not) could be blamed on incubi or succubi. 

The sleep paralysis and sexual encounters bear some resemblance to what is sometimes passed off today as [[alien abduction]]. Purported victims of such abductions regularly report being frozen in bed and sexual reproduction with aliens or probing is also a common thread. The underlying psychological experience is likely to have been very similar, but explained away by whatever was most culturally relevant at the time: in older times, demons, and in more modern times, [[extraterrestrials]].

==References==
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[[Category:Paranormal]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Folklore]]
[[Category:Judaism]]
[[Category:Christian mythology]]
[[Category:Old Testament]]
[[Category:Sexuality]]

Categories: Paranormal, Christianity, Folklore, Judaism, Christian mythology, Old Testament, Sexuality