Difference between revisions of "Epialtes"
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The ''incubus'' was believed to be a male demon that "lies upon" – Latin ''incubo'' – people, normally women, in their sleep for sexual gratification. The female of the species is called ''succubus'', because she normally "lies under" a male sleeper – Latin ''succubo'' "to lie under" - to steal intercourse. To the medieval mind no good could come of it and it was thought to lead to the deterioration of the victim's health and ultimately to death. Night demons with sexual intentions are a staple of most ancient mythologies. | The ''incubus'' was believed to be a male demon that "lies upon" – Latin ''incubo'' – people, normally women, in their sleep for sexual gratification. The female of the species is called ''succubus'', because she normally "lies under" a male sleeper – Latin ''succubo'' "to lie under" - to steal intercourse. To the medieval mind no good could come of it and it was thought to lead to the deterioration of the victim's health and ultimately to death. Night demons with sexual intentions are a staple of most ancient mythologies. | ||
| + | [[User:WilfGunther|WilfGunther]] 10/11/13 | ||
See also: [[Effialte]] | See also: [[Effialte]] | ||
<div style="text-align: right; direction: ltr; margin-right: 1em;">[[Epicatis | Next entry]]</div> | <div style="text-align: right; direction: ltr; margin-right: 1em;">[[Epicatis | Next entry]]</div> | ||
Revision as of 19:18, 17 October 2014
Epialtes dicunt greci nos effialtes incubus.
Apparatus:
nos ABC f | nomĩe ms. e
effialtes AC ef | efialtes B
Translation:
Epialtes is what the Greeks say, we say effialtes or incubus.
Commentary:
Cf. Greek ἐφιάλτης /ephiáltēs/, and the Aeolian form ἐπιάλτης /epiáltēs/, means "nightmare, conceived as a throttling demon" (LSJ). The word is of uncertain etymology but even in antiquity it was folk-etymologically connected with ἐφάλλομαι /ephállomai/ "to spring upon, attack".
The incubus was believed to be a male demon that "lies upon" – Latin incubo – people, normally women, in their sleep for sexual gratification. The female of the species is called succubus, because she normally "lies under" a male sleeper – Latin succubo "to lie under" - to steal intercourse. To the medieval mind no good could come of it and it was thought to lead to the deterioration of the victim's health and ultimately to death. Night demons with sexual intentions are a staple of most ancient mythologies.
WilfGunther 10/11/13
See also: Effialte
