Kurgon

Kurgon is a term used in Gascony and Dauphiné, regions in southeastern France, to refer to witches who were believed to worship the devil in the form of a goat at the witches’ sabbath. The term ‘Kurgon’ likely derives from the Occitan word ‘curgu,’ meaning ‘to bend’ or ‘to bow,’ possibly alluding to the act of worshipping the devil. Beliefs about witches and their sabbath meetings were widespread in Europe during the early modern period, often associated with heresy and devil worship. The Kurgon represents the fear and persecution of women accused of witchcraft in those regions of France.