Chapter 1
The biological roots of the vampire
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Chapter 2
The history and science of werewolves
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Chapter 3
The colonial origins of the zombie
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Chapter 4
The deep-sea roots of ocean monsters
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The origins of monster legends
Ch 2 · The history and science of werewolves
renaissanceman Livonian Werewolf Trials
We are the hounds of God, fighting in the dark to bring the harvest home.

renaissanceman A highly poisonous plant linked wolves to supernatural transformations in folklore.
Fun Fact
Wolfsbane poison: Wolfsbane is so toxic that ancient warriors used its sap to poison their arrowheads.

renaissanceman A rare psychological condition causes people to believe they are wolves.
Glossary
lycanthropy (noun)
The mythological transformation of a person into a wolf, or a mental illness in which a patient believes they are a wolf. In 1589, German farmer Peter Stumpp was executed after confessing to being a shape-shifting wolf.
The mythological transformation of a person into a wolf, or a mental illness in which a patient believes they are a wolf. In 1589, German farmer Peter Stumpp was executed after confessing to being a shape-shifting wolf.
Quiz
Who was executed in Bedburg, Germany, in 1589 during a famous werewolf trial?

BETA
renaissanceman Match medical symptoms to historical sightings to learn how real diseases inspired the werewolf legend.
Quiz
What chemical compound in wolfsbane makes it highly lethal to humans and animals?
Quiz
Which ancient Greek physician wrote about the delusion of turning into an animal?
Quiz
During which major historical European trials did werewolf accusations peak?
Quiz
What is the medical term for the psychological delusion that one is turning into a wolf?
Quiz
In which country did the terror of the Beast of Gévaudan occur in the 1760s?
Quiz
Which toxic plant was historically used to poison wolves and features heavily in werewolf folklore?