Halloween Special

Myth-diagnosis:

Vampirism or Porphyria?

What creature has very pale skin, has teeth of an unusual colour, sports long fingernails and only comes out at night? Everyone knows it’s a vampire.

Or is it?

The vampire legend probably arose from the appearance and behaviour of people suffering from porphyria, a disease that is actually a group of related disorders.
All variants of the disease are caused by overproduction of porphyrins—chemicals that do not normally accumulate in the body. Although symptoms are many, most notable is extreme sensitivity to sunlight.
Porphyria is rare, especially outside Eastern Europe, and difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of the disease mimic those of many other ailments: They include insomnia, anxiety, skin lesions, nausea and muscle weakness; some types of porphyria also cause excessive nail growth and receding gums. Exposure to sunlight causes the skin to become so fragile it breaks easily, and people with porphyria avoid being outside at any time during the day—hence the idea that vampires fear sun and roam the earth only at night.

Shedding Light on the Vampire Legend

The most notorious alleged vampire lived in 15th-century Romania. Vlad the Impaler was indeed a ghoulish ruler, whose bloodthirsty habits were known far and wide even before Bram Stoker’s day, but he was not the earliest vampire legend. Records of vampire stories exist from 12th-century England. The Impaler’s sadistic punishments for minor offences certainly fuelled legends, and by all accounts he did actually indulge in the blood of his victims.
By the 17th century, vampires were linked to evil and witchcraft. The 18th century saw vampire hysteria in Eastern Europe into which even government officials were drawn. And in the 19th century, of course, Bram Stoker’s Dracula cemented into popular cultures the myths that had developed over centuries.
The early beliefs—that vampires drank blood, were creatures of darkness, and were fascinated with counting—were enriched by the newer aspects of the myth. Only within the last 200 years were we introduced to vampires who are dressed in capes and who turn into bats. But with the migration of cultures and their legends, some of the interesting traditions were lost—such as leaving a pile of seeds outside the door so a vampire would be distracted by counting them, thus losing interest in drinking the inhabitants’ blood.
Even with some of the finer details lost, and with evidence that porphyria was the likely cause of an odd appearance and behaviour, the vampire has captured the imagination of the public like no other legend.

Werewolves or hypertrichosis

The myth of the werewolf or "shape-shifter" dates back to the cavemen. The condition on which the myth was based is almost surely older than that.
A condition that probably contributed to the werewolf myth is hypertrichosis or hirsutism, which causes excessive hair growth over the entire body. The condition is linked to endocrine malfunction, which can be genetic and present at birth. The gene that causes the disease was recently isolated by geneticists and is thought to be an atavism, a once common genetic trait that became less common as humans evolved. The trait is sex-linked and dominant; males who inherit the disease from their mothers develop the condition, while females who inherit only one of the trait-bearing chromosomes exhibit the thick hair growth in random patches.
The condition can also develop over the course of a lifetime. Often, acquired hypertrichosis is the result of hormonal irregularities.
Hypertrichosis, especially from birth, is rare, but well-documented. In the past and even today, people with the condition have appeared in circuses as "wolf-men" or "dog-boys." No doubt these public exhibitions have contributed to the werewolf fascination.

The Werewolf Evolves

Every culture has its werewolf. The mythology has had a stronger hold on some cultures than others. Germany is famous for its werewolves, popularized by the Brothers Grimm. In early legends, people who became werewolves were cursed with the condition, and simply acted as wolves after they were transformed. In later legends, the werewolf was better able to control the transformation, usually using a salve or special article of clothing, and used the ability only to attack livestock in enemy farmers’ fields. In these stories, people are accidental victims of the werewolf, if victims at all.
Over time, werewolf folklore evolved from simple shape-shifting and animal worship to the 19th century and present-day conceptions, which are closely, linked to both witch and vampire legends. The Western werewolf, epitomized in Stephen King’s The Silver Bullet, transforms according to lunar changes which are linked to witchcraft, and can only be killed by a silver bullet formed from a molten crucifix, reminiscent of vampire lore.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
(Brexians lair)

Beowolf - The Epic Poem

ΕΝΑ SPLATTER ΦΙΛΜ ΠΟΥ ΑΞΙΖΕΙ ΝΑ ΔΕΙΤΕ

The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the
Anglo-Saxon times.

The hero, Beowulf, is a seemingly invincible person
with all the extraordinary traits required of a hero. He is able to
use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people
before himself.

He encounters hideous monsters and the most ferocious
of beasts but he never fears the threat of death. His leadership
skills are superb and he is even able to boast about all his
achievements. Beowulf is the ultimate epic hero who risks his life
countless times for immortal glory and for the good of others.
Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his
amazing physical strength.

He fought in numerous battles and returned
victorious from all but his last. In his argument with Unferth,
Beowulf explains the reason he "lost" a simple swimming match with his
youthful opponent Brecca. Not only had Beowulf been swimming for seven
nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths
of the ocean.

Beowulf is also strong enough to kill the monster
Grendel, who has been terrorizing the Danes for twelve years, with his
bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting Grendel's
mother, who is seeking revenge on her son's death, he is able to slay
her by slashing the monster's neck with a Giant's sword that can
only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. When he chops off her
head, he carries it from the ocean with ease, but it takes four men to
lift and carry it back to Herot mead-hall. This strength is a key
trait of Beowulf's heroism.

Another heroic trait of Beowulf is his ability to put his peoples
welfare before his own. Beowulf's uncle is king of the Geats so he is
sent as an emissary to help rid the Danes of the evil Grendel. Beowulf
risks his own life for the Danes, asking help from no one. He realizes
the dangers but fears nothing for his own life. After Beowulf had
served his people as King of the Geats for fifty years, he goes to
battle one last time to fight a horrible dragon who is frightening all
of his people. Beowulf is old and tired but he defeats the dragon in
order to protect his people. Even in death he wished so secure safety
for the Geats so a tall lighthouse is built in order to help the
people find there way back from sea.

The most heroic of traits within Beowulf is that he is not afraid
to die. He always explains his death wishes before going into battle
and requests to have any assets delivered to his people. "And if death
does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Higlac, return the
inheritance I had from Hrehtel, and from Wayland. Fate will unwind as
it must! " He is aware of the heroic paradox; he will be glorified
in life or death for his actions. He knows that when he fights an
enemy like Grendel or Grendel's mother he will achieve immortality as
the victor or the loser. "When we crossed the sea, my comrades and I,
I already knew that all my purpose was this: to win the good will of
your people or die in battle, pressed in Grendel's fierce grip.

Let me live in greatness and courage, or here in this hall welcome my
death! " Even with the enormous amount of confidence Beowulf
possesses, he understands that Fate or Wyrd will work its magic no
matter what and he could be killed at any point in his life. He faces
that reality by showing no fear and preparing for a positive or a
fatal outcome.

Beowulf is the prime example of an epic hero. His bravery and
strength surpass all mortal men; loyalty and the ability to think of
himself last makes him reveared by all. Beowulf came openly and
wholeheartedly to help the Danes which was an unusual occurrence in a
time of war and wide-spread fear. He set a noble example for all human
beings relaying the necessity of brotherhood and friendship. Beowulf
is most definitely an epic hero of epic proportions.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOUCopyright © Demetrios the Traveler
(Brexians lair)

Σχετικά με τον όρο «Paganismus»

Από το βιβλίο του Ίνγκβαρ: «Οι Αρχαιόθρησκοι Απέναντι στους Αποκρυφιστές», εκδόσεις «Ανοιχτή Πόλη», Αθήναι 1996.

Όταν οι Χριστιανοί προσηλυτιστές πρωτοπάτησαν τα πόδια τους στην Αγγλία, η λέξη «heathen» (η οποία κατά κυριολεξία σημαίνει «κάτοικος της υπαίθρου») χρησιμοποιήθηκε από αυτούς ως άμεση μετάφραση του λατινικού «paganus» για να περιγράψει το ίδιο ακριβώς είδος ανθρώπων: εκείνους δηλαδή που ακολουθούσαν τις παραδοσιακές και φυσικές μορφές λατρείας, οι οποίες επί αιώνες επικρατούσαν σε πολύ παλαιότερους καιρούς από τους χριστιανικούς εκείνους.

Ωστόσο, οι λέξεις δεν μπορούν να οριστούν μόνο από το έτυμό τους. Η έννοιες του λεξιλογίου προσδιορίζονται από τον γενικευμένο τρόπο της χρήσης του. Τι μπορούμε λοιπόν να μάθουμε από τον τρόπο με τον οποίο όλοι αυτοί οι όροι χρησιμοποιήθηκαν σε πλατιά κλίμακα; Και, άραγε, χρησιμοποίησαν σωστά κάποιοι σεβαστοί κι έγκυροι συγγραφείς ή μελετητές τις πιό πάνω λέξεις;

Για ν' απαντήσουμε σε αυτά τα ερωτηματικά, ίσως θα ήταν καλύτερο το να προτρέψουμε τον κάθε αναγνώστη ν'ανατρέξει στα βιβλία της προσωπικής βιβλιοθήκης του και να ερευνήσει το πώς αυτές οι λέξεις χρησιμοποιούνται μέσα σε αυτά.

Αξίζει βέβαια από την πλευρά μας να τονίσουμε ότι, για παράδειγμα, οι R. I. Page, R. W. V. Elliott, H. R. Ellis Davidson, Kevin Crossley Holland, David Wilson, Charles Seltman, E. V. Rieu, C. Kerenyi και William King, για ν'αναφέρουμε μόνο ένα μικρό δείγμα μελετητών που ειδικεύτηκαν στις προ-Χριστιανικές θρησκείες, χρησιμοποίησαν μηδενός εξαιρουμένου τους όρους «heathen» και «pagan», μάλλον παρασυρόμενοι ο ένας από τον άλλον, για ν'αναφερθούν στην μία ή άλλη μορφή του λεγόμενου Πολυθεϊσμού που επικρατούσε πριν τον Χριστιανισμό. Ο ίδιος τρόπος χρήσης απαντάται και στα γραπτά αξιόλογων ιστορικών (όπως λ.χ. του Arthur Bryant ή του Winston Churchill) ή διηγηματογράφων (λ.χ. του Walter Scott ή του Bulwer Lytton).

Παρόλα αυτά, εκείνο που αξίζει να τονιστεί εδώ, είναι το ότι κανείς από όλους αυτούς τους συγγραφείς δεν χρησιμοποιεί τους όρους για ν'αναφερθεί σε μαγεία, ένα φαινόμενο εξαιρετικά ξέχωρο από όλες τις ιστορικές μορφές του λεγόμενου Πολυθεϊσμού. Και δικαίως, αφού η κάκιστη χρήση αυτών των όρων για την περιγραφή καταστάσεων σχετικών με μαγεία, ή με την λεγόμενη «Βίκα» («Wicca») δεν νομιμοποιείται καθόλου περισσότερο στη λογοτεχνία, από όσο μηδενικά νομιμοποιείται στην απλή ετυμολογία.

Για αρκετούς αναγνώστες, ειδικά για τους αρχαιόθρησκους εκείνους, το να τονίζουμε την άβυσσο διαφοράς ανάμεσα στον Παγανισμό και στη μαγεία ίσως φαντάζει άσκοπο, σαν ν' αποκαλύπτουμε το πασιφανές.

Για άλλους επίσης, ειδικά για κάποιους θιασώτες της μαγείας, οι υπογραμμίσεις μας αυτές θα φανούν εξαιρετικά αντιπαθείς κι ενοχλητικές. Κάτι τέτοιο ωστόσο, επ ουδενί θα μας εμποδίσει να διακηρύξουμε την αλήθεια πάνω σ' αυτό το θέμα, μια αλήθεια η οποία άλλωστε μπορεί να καταδειχθεί με άπειρους τρόπους, όπως για παράδειγμα με την απλή ιστορική ανάμνηση κάποιων επιφανών παγανιστών του παρελθόντος.

Ο Όμηρος, λόγου χάριν, όχι μόνο απεκλήθη πατέρας της ευρωπαϊκής ποιήσεως -η οποία επίσης υπήρξε παγανιστική- αλλά επιπροσθέτως αναγνωριζόταν από όλον τον Αρχαίο Κόσμο ως ο επιφανέστερος θρησκευτικός και ηθικός του διδάσκαλος. Ένας παγανιστής των παγανιστών ο Όμηρος λοιπόν, επ ουδενί μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί ωστόσο μάγος. Ο Πλάτων και ο Αριστοτέλης ήταν φυσικά επίσης παγανιστές και η σκέψη τους σημάδεψε για αιώνες ολόκληρους μετά τον θάνατό τους τη φιλοσοφία της Ευρώπης, όμως κανείς τους δεν υπήρξε συνήγορος ή οπαδός της μαγείας.

Τό ίδιο και οι Προσωκρατικοί, και ο Αισχύλος, και ο Αίσωπος, και ο Ιούλιος Καίσαρ, και ο Κικέρων, και ο Ιπποκράτης, και ο Οράτιος, ή οι Λίβιος, Λουκρήτιος, Σενέκας, Τάκιτος, Βιργίλιος και ο Ζήνων ο Στωϊκός.. όλοι τους μηδενός εξαιρουμένου υπήρξαν παγανιστές και απολύτως κανείς τους πρακτικός της μαγικής «τέχνης» ή των όποιων σχετικών. Και την ζοφερή ακόμη εποχή, όταν οι παγανιστές αντιμετώπιζαν τον μεγαλύτερο κίνδυνο στην Ιστορία του ανθρώπινου πολιτισμού, ο Αυτοκράτωρ Ιουλιανός και ο μέντοράς του Λιβάνιος, αγωνίστηκαν όχι για την αποκατάσταση της.. μαγείας, αλλά για την αποκατάσταση της λατρείας των Ολυμπίων Θεών και των αρχαίων ιεροπραξιών.

Κι εμείς οι βόρειοι, μπορούμε να θυμηθούμε επίσης τους ήρωες και τις ηρωϊδες του δικού μας γένους, τα αρχέτυπα της εθνικής μας Ψυχής: τους Arminius (που βεβαίως δεν ασκούσε μαγεία!), Boadicea (που βεβαίως δεν ασκούσε μαγεία!), Hengest (που βεβαίως δεν ασκούσε μαγεία!), Penda (που βεβαίως δεν ασκούσε μαγεία!), Eric the Red (που επίσης δεν ασκούσε βεβαίως μαγεία!). Όλοι οι προγονικοί μας ήρωες δεν ασκούσαν μαγεία, αλλά αντιθέτως υπήρξαν αυτοί αληθείς θρησκευτές των αρχαίων Θεών, πολυθεϊστές, ευσεβείς λατρευτές και ηρωϊκές μορφές του πάτριου Παγανισμού. Όλα σε ένα.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
(Brexians lair)

to the Lady

"My Lady of the Moon,

who is called Diana,

Artemis, Ishtar, Isis

and by any other names,

I come to you to bring you my love and my devotion.

May you grant me the joy of your presence."