Some of you might remember the account of Thiess that
happened in the year 1692, wherein he claimed that he was a werewolf. However, not
the werewolf that caused destruction and torment; they claimed that they were
the hounds of God that wage war on the devils and witches. They are the original
Benandanti Werewolves, who remained in their human forms during the daytime.
During specific nights, they will brave the Underworld to fight against evil
creatures.
What are Benandanti
Werewolves?
Benandanti Werewolves translates to Good Walkers.
They are those who can leave their bodies and transform into a werewolf.
This type of werewolf was mainly found in Italy. They said that the war
with evil usually lasted for three nights. During this time, the Hounds of God would
protect the crops and livestock of the villages against the Malandanti (witches
of evil). The werewolves use iron bars as their weapon, while the witches
use their broomsticks.
What Are the
Characteristics of Benandanti Werewolves?
These werewolves are known
for their unique healing ability. They do good deeds and believe that they have
a sacred purpose. There's no problem when you encounter one unless you are a
witch that does the bidding of the devil. In most legends, werewolves will find
it hard to control their transformation. However, Benandanti Werewolves will
most transform on the nights that are only vital for planting and harvesting crops.
The Account of Thiess
When Thiess presented
his case, the judges were astounded by his claims. It was the first time
that the inquisitor heard of such a case. They always knew that the
werewolves were an abomination of the devil. Thiess said that the souls
of the Benandanti werewolves went to heaven after they died. He
said that they are werewolves who preserve the abundance of Earth.
Similar werewolves are also living in Russia and Germany. They were, however,
still given a light punishment for practicing paganism which is against the
teachings of the church.
Here is an excerpt
on the Night
Battle of Carlo Ginzburg:
"The present
research now establishes...the positive existence at a relatively late date
(from c. 1570) of a fertility cult whose participants, the Benandanti,
represented themselves as defenders of harvests and the fertility of
fields...This belief is tied to a larger complex of traditions (connected, in
turn, with the myth of nocturnal gatherings over which female
deities...presided)...In the span of a century, as we shall see, the Benandanti
were transformed into witches and their nocturnal gatherings, intended to
induce fertility, became the devil's sabbat, with the resulting storms and
destruction."
The End of the
Benandanti Werewolves Legend
At around 1640, there was
an interesting turn out of events as the Benandanti werewolves confessed that
they were indeed witches. According to the accounts, evidence against them was too
strong that they didn't have options but to admit to the charges. Perhaps the
member of the church and local authorities have identified them as a threat to
them since the people continue to look at them as the doers of good.
No comments:
Post a Comment