The increased interest in werewolves can easily be attributed to the character of Jacob Black, (portrayed by Taylor Lautner in the movies,) thanks to the popular Twilight series written by Stephenie Meyer.
Just like the character of Edward Cullen, (who shows a softer, kinder side of vampires,) the character of Jacob Black, with his werewolf-like traits, brings a much more positive view of werewolves into light. However, history sees werewolves much differently.
The History of Werewolves
One of the earliest known tales of a werewolf comes from Greek mythology in which Zeus, furious at Lykaon for giving him human flesh to eat, turns him into a wolf.
The first written account of a werewolf dates back to the eleventh century. The most common beliefs in the subject of werewolves is that a person transforms from human form into a wolf during the full moon and can only be killed with a silver bullet.
How to Become a Werewolf
Although there is no scientific evidence to support the existence of werewolves, there is a way for people to think they're a werewolf. In the past, people have used what is known as a "witches salve" on their bodies.
The salve contained hallucinogenics from plants which caused people to believe they were werewolves. Another cause of people believing they are werewolves is mental illness.
Well Known Werewolves in Movies
The first werewolf movie came out in 1913. It was a silent film entitled The Werewolf. The most memorable early film about werewolves was The Wolf Man starring Lon Chaney Jr. and featuring Bela Lugosi.
Popular werewolf movies throughout the years include Underworld, Teen Wolf, The Howling, and An American Werewolf in London, with The Wolfman, starring Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins being the latest werewolf movie to hit the big screen.
Medical Reasons for Appearing as a Werewolf
There are a couple of medical reasons that can cause a person to have werewolf-type qualities. One is porphyria, which can cause skin lesions, sensitivity to light, and skin discoloration causing the skin to take on a brown pigmentation.
Another cause is hypertrichosis, which is nicknamed "Werewolf Syndrome." This causes excessive hair growth on the body, including the face, which can cause a person to resemble a werewolf.
Although literature has written many fascinating tales of werewolves and Hollywood has produced numerous movies that keep people on the edge of their seats, in reality, there is no evidence to suggest that people transform into wolves under a full moon.
Readers may also enjoy Are Vampires Real?, along with Are Zombies Real? and Are UFOs and Aliens Real?
Source:
Encyclopedia of Strange and Unexplained Physical Phenomena, Jerome Clark, (Gale Research International Limited,) 1993.
Janis Masyk-Jackson - I'm here to seek out the truth about some of life's mysteries. There is nothing new about New Age beliefs. These are beliefs that have ...
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