"The will appears to be strong, strong enough to draw
the hugr [animate will] back to one's body. These reanimated
individuals were known as draugar. However, though the dead might live
again, they could also die again. Draugar die a "second
death" as Chester Gould calls it, when their bodies decay, are burned,
dismembered or otherwise destroyed. -Remley, Gregg A. Smith ; with a
foreword by Paul G. (2007). The function of the living dead in medieval
Norse and Celtic literature
The
draugr, which translates to 'walking again,' is an undead creature that is part
of Norse and Germanic Mythology. They are similar to the zombies that
possess a human body without a soul, apparently to guide a treasure. There are
two types of draugr, sea draugr and land draugr.
Characteristic Of
Draugr
Like the
zombies, the draugr has a noticeable sign of decomposition, but they are strong
and can increase the size of their bodies. Unlike the zombies that have
lost their sense of thinking, draugr is known to be clever. They are said
to return from the living world to torment those who did them wrong or guard a
valuable thing, particularly a treasure. Upon increasing the height
of their body, their weight follows, making him impossible to move without the
help of a machine. He can also change into a mist that allows him to
escape any threatening situation.
How the Draugr Attacks
its Victim
The
draugr does not only victimize those they hold a grudge against.
Sometimes they also attack the cattle and also the shepherd:
"[T]he oxen which had been used to haul Thorolf's body were
ridden to death by demons, and every single beast that came near his grave went
raving mad and howled itself to death. The shepherd at Hvamm often came racing
home with Thorolf after him. One day that Fall neither sheep nor shepherd came
back to the farm."
Aside
from being an undead creature, the Draugr is also known to possess knowledge of
the evil craft, which resembles the power of the witches. They can also
enter the dream of anyone but not to give them nightmares; they do this to
leave a present to the person they visited in their dreams. They can also
spread diseases and curse their target.
Draugr Weakness
The Draugr are said to be weak against silver things. They
have high resistance against different elements. To prevent someone from
transforming into this creature, a pair of scissors placed on the corpse's
chest is effective. It is also advised to hide twigs and straws inside their
clothes. Place needles on the sole of the suspected draugr and tie their feet
to prevent them from walking on the land of the living.
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