Here's an interesting article: in 1692 a case was tried Jurgensburg, Livonia (an area east of the Baltic sea).
It's an area steeped in werewolf lore.
A man called Thiess confessed to being a werewolf. He said he had his nose broken by a witch (who was dead at the time) called Skeistan.
He said that Skeistan and some other witches tried to prevent crops growing by carrying the seeds into hell. Being a werewolf he and some other werewolves attempted to protect the crops and chased the witches into hell where a fight broke out. Apparently this fight takes place 3 times a year on the nights of St. Lucia, Pentecost and St. John (seasonal changes).
If the werewolves delayed the chase then the witches would bar the gates of hell and the crops would suffer, this actually extended to livestock and fish too.
At one such battle Skeistan hit Thiess with a broom which was wrapped in a horses tail.
Here's the interesting part.
The judges were shocked to learn that werewolves, supposedly agents of the devil could not tolerate the devil.
He went on to say that werewolves were infact 'Hounds of G-d' and served mankind to stop the witches from carrying off the abundance of the earth and if it wasn't for him and his kind every would suffer.
Apparently all over Germany and Russia the werewolves fought witches in their own hells.
Has anyone heard anything similar, I am more interested that a werewolf would be called 'the hound of G-d'
Well, this is the first I've ever heard of this story, but, I think that's all it is, just a story.
hey this is an awesome article... i had never imagined werewolves being like the hand of justice... or something similar... but i also like that fact more than considering them mere creatures of the night serving personal interests...
but with respect -- aren't they all just stories and old wives tales.
I Belive MOST stories and wise tails are based in truth..........But I dont belive they are the hounds of G-D
I've just found a similar story concerning 'The Benandanti'
QUOTE:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Benandanti ("Good Walkers") were an agrarian fertility cult in the Friuli district of Northern Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries. Between 1575 and 1675 the Benandanti were tried as heretics under the Roman Inquisition, and their witchcraft assimilated to Satanism. The Benandanti claimed to travel while asleep to struggle against evil witches (malandanti) in order to insure good crops for the seasons to come. Under pressure by the Inquisition, these nocturnal spirit travels (which often included sleep paralysis) were assimilated to the witches' Sabbath, leading to the extinction of the Benandanti cult. According to historian Carlo Ginzburg, the Friuli probably has known the same history that in the region of Modena: "a slow and progressive transformation, under the unconscious pressure of Inquisitors, of the popular beliefs which finally cristallized themselves in the preexisting model of the diabolic Sabbath." [1]
The Benandanti, which included both male and female members, were a small group of anti-witches that ensured the protection of the crops and villagers. Unlike most other occult organizations, the Benandanti were born, not made: only children born with "the caul," or the amniotic sac partially covering their face were destined to join the ranks of the Benandanti.
On Thursdays during the Ember days, periods of fasting for the Catholic Church, the Benandanti claimed their spirits would leave their bodies at night in the form of small animals (wolves, butterflies and rats in the Friuli). The spirits of the men would go to the fields to fight evil witches (malandanti). The Benandanti men fought with fennel stalks, while the dark witches were armed with sorghum stalks (sorghum was used for witches' brooms, and the "brooms' sorghum" was one of the most current type of sorghum [2]). If the men prevailed, the harvest would be plentiful.
When the word confess is used .....it usually means torture....in which case anyone would admit to anything lol
oops forgot to say the hounds of God has been brought up in another thread.
It sounds to me like a mere folklore, but who knows, there might be some truth behind it......
but considering the two stories came from two totally different areas - fiction?? to much coincidence for me
When you put it that way then maybe
some truth lys with in it.......
yeah you know like urban legends. most of them are all made up stories that get told everywhere. Just because the stories are alike and told in two different places doesn't make it true.
I have always heard the werewolves killed people when they turned, i do not think they would be servants of god...
id have to agree all ive heared of them theve just killed.... but who knows.....
It's nice of you to post stories. People like them: many have journal sections full of them, and that, for the most part is where these belong. I see that you are trying to make this into a discussion but it's not really working aside from brief almost yes or no answers. Please re-formulate your question into something people can discuss or this will have to be closed. Thanks.
very interesting tale...................a tale at that.
Makes for an interesting read.. though to say its a true story.. would seem to be far fetched at best without more information.
I think it is old wives tales and most of tis period there was alot that would "explain" the killing or jugement on old women or women that were sick then heal when a male doctor had say they were not suppose to, it s a amle dominat period and in most cases, all was a made up stories to excuse the male's behavior. As to see them as hound of G-d, I dont think God needs one...or wants one.
This is my first listening of a very cool tale. Keep this up, you are a great legend finder.
the only facts I have surrounding this article are what is stated at the beginning of the thread.
It was a documented case and the man in question was sentenced to 10 lashes for ...quote "acts of idolatry and superstitious beliefs".
I've heard of this story. I think it's just myth, like most stories, but Hounds of God, that's interesting...Though, I doubt that if there's a God, he'd have werewolves to do his bidding.
And with that doubt, also comes the other...I also doubt Satan would have werewolves to do his bidding.
but satan at least has Cerberus, a monstrous three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades.
Maybe Cereberus sides with the lycans to gaurd against the witchs 0.0?
But was the three headed dog a wereanimal?
Why would Satan want a wereanimal that had the mind of a human being? A conscience, etc.
The dog, I understand if it was just a mind[or 3] of a vicious animal. What would be the purpose of having a werewolf, I would think that it would be more of a setback than just a normal animal would be.
maybe Cerberus would have been uncontrollable, but we digress.
I'm more interested in why a werewolf would consider himself a 'hound of G-d'
If he was insecure about what he was, believing he was evil...Maybe he wanted to justify himself by saying he was doing God's work.
The only story that I have ever heard of that would be any kind of close to the first one that you posted would be the stories of the skin walkers, but that is not really the same. I did think that that story was great folk story
i have never heard of thise lore..but remember all cultures had a myth of shape shifters so one would think that in early russo-germanic myth the werewolf might have been good
Didn't Gothic Joker post this very same story within the last couple weeks?
This was a graet article - I have never heard this story - thanks.
I have heard a similar story. But in stead of fighting Witch's, the Werewolf was sent by the Devil to hunt down and kill the Vampire. According to this story the first Werewolf was Jakel, son of Satan. I have no clue if any of this story is based on fact.
As Felix has said, Gothic joker posted this a short time ago, though I can't seem to find it now.....*need specs changing* lol
Based on fact ?...I think we need to remember that in those days there were no tv's, magazines or computers lol
People made up stories to entertain and educate.....but it's a good tale though.
some things are indeed tales, so why is this one documented?
I did check for a similar thread, but I couldn't find one
It's underneath you...lol..called Lycanthropy a study.....sure it wasn't there a minite ago lol
Documented .....well belief grows....and so is sometimes written as fact.
sounds interesting..I never heard that before, would like to know more
If you go midway down the thread "study of Lycanthropy" you'll find three (I think three) other stories wherein the werewolves were the heroes or 'hounds of god'.
Carvall, its hardly what this thread is questioning.
The base question is if anyone has heard about werewolves being called 'the hounds of hell.'
years ago where wolves was suppose to bee paid to do job like hunt down people or peotect this is what i was told by my Elder..it could have been something like that.
' Carvall,' Felix - my apologies, it is indeed the same article, but I saw no mention to the question I ask.
No worries mate...I just wanted to point those other stories out to the people that wanted further info on the idea of the "Hounds of God"
I think it is just an old wise tale that was passed on from childhood to childhood and that is why this old legerd is still around today. I was very interesting to read tho thank you for sharing this bit of folklore.
sorry but i've never heard of werewolfs being called the 'hounds of g-d', although admittedly i'm no werewolf expert lol
Maybe it was passed down simply because it was a legend that interested people.
Some stories appeal more to people, this may have gotten passed down more just because there seemed to be no better explanation.
I have heard about hounds of hell but i never knew that werewolves would be thought of as the hounds of hell...
I would say mostly folk lore, with a tad of truth...interesting though...imagine if they were...wouldnt all the people who follow God, who condemn the "darker" side of life feel a little silly :P
I think that was was a very interesting piece of folklore that I have never heard before. It just goes to show how much goes on in this world that we aren't aware of, fact or fiction. I want to learn so much more about the stories of all cultures, so that is def. something I am going to look in to.
i have never heard of this.... hand of G-D....
thank you for sharing it
While that is a very interesting story I think that that is all it is, a story.
Well their is a history if fighting between witches and werewolves. Its kind of sketchy and hidden but yeah.
Interesting story...But could you please put up a link to the story?
Thank you...
I agree with the majority, i also believe that it is just folklore, but it is interesting all the same...
It's a great little story but sounds typical of local folklore
first time I have heard it as well...and sounds more like just a story then anything else...
Where did you find this...I would really like to read it.
well I discovered this one in 'The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft' by Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
You may recognize her name as she is a leading figure in the Paranormal world
i have never heard anything about it but the information was nice to read
A notable exception to the association of Lycanthropy and the Devil, comes from a rare and lesser known account of a man named Thiess. In 1692, in Jurgenburg, Livonia, Thiess testified under oath that he and other Werewolves were the Hounds of God.[16] He claimed they were warriors who went down into hell to do battle with witches and demons. Their efforts ensured that the Devil and his minions did not carry off the abundance of the earth down to hell. Thiess was steadfast in his assertions, claiming that Werewolves in Germany and Russia also did battle with the devil's minions in their own versions of hell, and insisted that when werewolves died, their souls were welcomed into heaven as reward for their service. Thiess was ultimately sentenced to ten lashes for Idolacy and superstitious belief.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf
thi swas listed as selected reading a quotation for the above sorry forgot to include it
^ Gershenson, Daniel. Apollo the Wolf-God. (Journal of Indo- European Studies, Monograph, 8.) McLean, Virginia: Institute for the Study of Man, 1991, ISBN 0941694380 pp.136-7
that is a cool story you should more about it and see if you make a book about it
the first article seems like the script plot to a really bad movie, which would seem to try to rival underworld lol
were wolfs and witches fighting in hell. might work in a movie.
I myself hasn't heard of this story, however were wolf myths are not my strong point. since majority I know deal with native american legends using shamans as the focus.
the second one doesnt seem too off the wall.
in either case, its possible not very likely something true but still i try to stay open minded on such things
as for were wolfs being servants of god
that is kinda hard to chew, since wolfs are depicted as cursed individuals who usually pissed off a gypsy or born into the blood line.
I mean just like humans are neither god nor bad in nature they are both.
as I would assume were wolfs vampires, witches. or any other metaphysical being would be.
Im sure we have those which are righteous and those that are evil all on each owns free will
Thanks MysticMoon - I tried everywhere for a similar link.
RazaelRiezen -- you raise an interesting point, Yes there is good and bad in all walks of life.........or death, as in this case!
ty
hoenstly vampires witches were wolfs im sure that some follow gods way best they can some follow a darker path which they believe their own path in any case.
as I said the first article would make for an interesting maybe bad but interesting movie
This was a very interesting read thank you for posting it, but like most that have posted i believe that it is just folklore.
I agree with most everyone else. I have never heard of Werewolf's being a protector of anything. They are killers when they turn. Where did you find this story?
ive tried to find someother links to this story bloodlife but couldnt sorry
remeber there are alot of folklore out there. but alot of them was started by something
I've heard this a couple of times. My great great grandmother use to tell me about it. She lived in Germany and believed the stories.
this is an interesting article and this has been mentioned here on the rave a few times butr I think it is a good wise tale problay worthy of someone making it in to a movie someday nothing more than that tho.
As is known, werewolves and vampires are ancient enemies. If you take into account the "evil" nature of vampires to drink blood the protective nature you mentioned of lycans, and you are left with a light and dark aspect. That might be where the term "hounds of G-d" came from.
This particular story is news to me, very interesting concept. It is as I stated in another thread people fear what they do not understand.
i have never heard about this but it is very interesting
Very intriguing topic, one i want to research. I do believe that all Stories and Wise tails are rooted in fact, but had to be changed for various reasons. The Hounds of G-d is an intresting topic.
Like I said earlier, throughout history, vampires have been considered the plague to humans. It only makes sense that because Werewolves would try to kill vampires on sight, that werewolves were considered by many to be the lesser of the two evils, thus they were the light to the vampires' dark.
But in some cases Vampires and Werewolves become friends..Get along together..I know you are probably thinking Underworld but i read it on some site..i will try and find it again..
This is all new to me. I've never heard any of that, but it's interesting. They might just be stories or they could be based in truth. Some of these kinda of things are based in truth, some are just stories. Thanks for sharing though. I'd never heard it before, and real or not I love reading this kind of stuff.
well i dont beleave in warewolfs but i do think the article is interesting and i would say make a book about the topic of what you see as a big story that would be fun
In regards to the original post, I have not heard of werewolves being called "hounds of god." I have heard of them being the guardians of the natural world, for which one can see they woudl be very well suited.
I have heard of "witch hunters" (who also woudl hunt vampires, werewolves, fae, ghosts, demons, or anything else they considered to be supernatural) who call themselves "Hound of God." In fact, among more traditional magi (witches, mages, etc.) the term "Hound" means someone who has a natural "detect magic" sort of ability, like a hound they can detect the whiff of the supernatural on someone. I only share this because of the use of the phrase in the original post.
thats just a story if werewolves served humans...they wouldnt attack them to feed
ImDaDisturbedOne -- there is no mention that werewolves serve 'man', but they may serve a higher cause.
If that is the case...Vampires serve Humans also..For food and whatever..I mean Geez..Satanists serve theirself
i believe Hitler had allegedly had an army of werewolves.
I haven't heard anything like that I think or at least nothing comes to mind at the moment