Vaïcarani is a river of fire in Indian (Hindu) belief, which souls must cross to reach the underworld (Yama’s realm). If a dying person grasps the tail of a cow at the moment of death, the cow will appear to them on the riverbank in the afterlife, allowing safe passage across. This concept is embedded … Read more
Urine has held a place in folk medicine and magical practices across various cultures. Traditional beliefs describe urine as having curative properties for ailments such as scalp ringworm, ear ulcers, and bites from snakes and venomous creatures, provided the urine comes from a healthy individual. Accounts exist of urine used in weather magic, including rainmaking, … Read more
References to Sommeil (sleep) in French sources include stories of prolonged slumber, such as the ancient Greek philosopher Epimenides alleged to have slept in a cave for decades. Examples of extended sleep in legends and historical anecdotes convey fascination with unusual physical and spiritual states, sometimes interpreted as miraculous. Modern science views these as rare … Read more
Smyrna (Smyrne in French) is an ancient city in Anatolia, said to have been founded by an Amazon named Smyrna in pre-Hellenic myth. Historically, the region became an Ionian Greek center and was later incorporated into the Roman and Byzantine Empires. It was a prominent port city. Modern-day Izmir in Turkey stands on or near … Read more
Sistra (French Sistre) originally referred to the Sistrum, an ancient Egyptian percussion instrument used in religious ceremonies, especially in the worship of Isis. The text references a claim by Aristotle about a plant called ‘Sistre’ found in the Scamander River, resembling chickpeas and allegedly protecting people from specters, though this aspect is largely anecdotal. The … Read more
French sources mention Singes (monkeys) as venerated animals in ancient Egypt, while Romans considered meeting a monkey a bad omen when leaving home. This contrast mirrors broader cultural attitudes toward sacred and profane symbols. In Christian demonology, the devil has sometimes been termed the ‘ape of God,’ an analogy referencing trickery or mimicry. These references … Read more
Funerary Meal (Repas du mort) was a funeral ceremony observed by ancient Hebrews and other groups. Initially, it involved consuming a meal at the tomb of the deceased shortly after burial. Over time, some communities left food at the grave, believing that the dead would partake of it. Certain anthropological parallels can be noted in … Read more
The term Pythons (from Pythōn) was used by ancient Greeks to describe certain prophetic spirits connected to Apollo Pythius and individuals believed to be possessed by them. In classical usage, the Vulgate sometimes applied the word to magicians or diviners. According to Greek mythology, Python was a serpent born from the earth’s residue after a … Read more
Pythagoras (in Greek: Πυθαγόρας), born in Samos, was the son of a sculptor. Various accounts indicate that he traveled to Egypt and possibly Chaldea (Kaldu) to study religious and mathematical knowledge under priests and magi. Tradition credits him with introducing teachings related to mathematics, music, and geometry in Croton, where he founded a school in … Read more
Prodigies (French: Prodiges) are events or phenomena considered extraordinary or unexplainable in a natural context, leading observers to label them as supernatural signs or portents. Ancient and medieval sources, including Valerius Maximus and Pliny the Elder, report incidents such as raining stones, animals speaking, or objects falling from the sky. Delancre, Schenck, and others wrote … Read more