Symandius is a legendary figure in hermetic and alchemical lore described in 19th-century sources such as M. Gouriel’s Charlatans célèbres. Allegedly a king of Egypt possessing the magnum opus, he commissioned a colossal gold circle monument 365 cubits in circumference. Annual offerings of gold and silver were presented at his temple, recorded at 131,200,000,000 mines. … Read more
Elder (Sureau in French) appears in folklore as a wood used in charms against curses. Some traditions hold that striking a sorcerer’s garment with an elder branch forces the sorcerer to reverse a spell. This custom suggests elder’s symbolic link to protection and reversal of harmful magic. Although references to elder’s protective uses occur in … Read more
Trickery (French supercherie) in certain anecdotes involves staging illusions for personal or financial gain. One example by Henri Estienne mentions a priest placing small candles on the backs of crayfish in a cemetery at night to deceive villagers, suggesting these lights were souls. While such stories circulated in Reformation-era literature to discredit opponents, the phenomenon … Read more
Superstitions are actions or beliefs deemed irrational by established authorities, often attributing causal power to unrelated factors. Medieval Europe saw an array of customs: throwing a shoe in the air to bring fair weather, ceasing needlework on certain days to avoid ill fortune, or making protective charms from iron to ward off evil. Anthropologists note … Read more
Summanus was an ancient Roman deity regarded as the god presiding over nocturnal thunder or as a sovereign of the manes. Roman religious practice sometimes distinguished him from Jupiter, who ruled daytime lightning. Summanus’s worship likely included small cult offerings, though extensive details have not survived. References to Summanus appear in classical Latin texts discussing … Read more
Sunnyass, sometimes spelled Sannyasi, refers to ascetic devotees in parts of India who renounce worldly attachments. Some accounts describe extreme penances or public displays of self-mortification, including suspension by hooks. Though these references often mingle with sensationalized travelogues, the real Sannyasis in Hindu tradition follow a path of spiritual detachment and are not uniformly engaged … Read more
Suceurs (Demons) are described in some demonological interpretations as entities that feed on vital energy or blood. An example is the vampire-like accounts in which beings would draw sustenance from living humans. The concept parallels ancient Greek references where the dead were said to crave blood, as portrayed in Homer’s depiction of spirits in the … Read more
Sweat was linked to various misconceptions, including the belief that bread placed under a person’s armpit and later fed to animals became poisonous. Older folklore claimed such bread would kill or sicken dogs. Modern examination finds no evidence supporting these notions, illustrating how bodily excretions were historically tied to superstitious practices. Related Posts:Mythological Anatomy: The … Read more
Styx is a prominent river in the ancient Greek underworld, presided over by the deity Hades. In Greek mythology, gods swore unbreakable oaths upon its waters. Homeric and Hesiodic poems describe it as one of the infernal rivers granting invulnerability to the hero Achilles when his mother, Thetis, immersed him in it. Later literary sources … Read more
Strasite is a fabled stone believed to aid digestion. Medieval writings mention it as a rare and powerful mineral with healing attributes. However, no verified specimens or modern confirmations exist, making it a strictly legendary or symbolic object in esoteric lore. Some texts connect strasite to broader traditions around magical stones in pre-modern natural philosophy. … Read more