Magical performances and illusion at the wedding of King Wenceslas and Princess Sophie of Bavaria Ziton is mentioned in medieval and early modern chronicles as an itinerant magician associated with the court of King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia, son of Emperor Charles IV, during the late 14th century. He is most prominently linked to the … Read more
Chthonic attributes and cultural syncretism in the figure of Zeernébooch, from pre-Christian worship to early ethnographic records Zeernébooch, also rendered as Chernobog or Schwarzgott (“black god” in German), appears in early modern ethnographic sources as a chthonic deity associated with death, misfortune, and the underworld. Though often linked to pre-Christian Germanic belief systems, the figure … Read more
Restless dead and vernacular beliefs in medieval and early modern Europe Zacharias appears in certain French folkloric sources as a revenant, a term used in medieval and early modern Europe to describe the dead who return—physically or spiritually—to the world of the living. The name is not widely attested in major demonological or hagiographical texts, … Read more
Wivre is a mythical creature from French medieval folklore, often depicted as a fantastical monster, half-woman and half-serpent, sometimes compared to Mélusine. The wivre possesses a carbuncle on its forehead, used as a luminous guide. According to legends, anyone seizing the carbuncle could command spirits and obtain hidden treasures, but the wivre is ferocious and … Read more
Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Roman poet (70–19 BCE), is the subject of medieval legends portraying him as a powerful magician and sorcerer. These stories, distinct from his literary works, include the construction of enchanted statues, magical defenses for Naples, and miraculous inventions. Medieval chroniclers such as Gervase of Tilbury and Vincent of Beauvais contributed to … Read more
Verveine (Verbena officinalis), or vervain, is regarded as a sacred plant in European and Mediterranean traditions. It was used in ancient Rome for cleansing altars and, in druidic practice, harvested with rituals during the dog days of summer. In folk magic, vervain is used for protection against evil spirits, for purification, and in magical ceremonies. … Read more
Verge of Moses refers to the rod used by Moses and Aaron in the Book of Exodus. According to biblical narratives and interpretations, the rod was the instrument for several miracles, including the transformation into a serpent and the summoning of plagues. Some legends attribute magical properties to the rod, associating it with the power … Read more
The Vauvert Demon is associated with the Château de Vauvert, an old manor in Paris. In medieval legend, the site was considered haunted, with reports of howling, apparitions, and a monster described as half-man, half-serpent, armed with a club. Popular belief in the area described encounters with a ‘green devil of Vauvert’ and attributed supernatural … Read more
Vaudois refers to the followers of Pierre Valdo (Peter Waldo), founders of a Christian reformist movement originating in the late 12th century in France. The Waldensians rejected Catholic doctrines such as purgatory and the efficacy of prayers for the dead. Early sources accused them of engaging in demon summoning and magic, though these claims reflect … Read more
Vampires are undead beings present in folklore across Eastern and Central Europe and beyond. The term derives from the Slavic upir or vampir, and regional variants include broucolaque (Greece), katakhanès (Cyprus), and strigoi (Romania). Vampires are described as reanimated corpses that return from the grave to attack the living, draining blood and causing death or … Read more