Fear of the Dead: Moon Changing Howls-History of the Werewolf

Cemetery Tales Podcast

Like all myths, werewolf origin stories vary in their explanations. As depicted in the classic The Wolf Man, werewolves are created when an existing werewolf bites a human, ostensibly transferring werewolfism as an infectious disease. On the other hand, some depictions (see: Teen Wolf) make the disease an inherited one, perhaps with delayed onset in puberty. Regardless, werewolves can change back and forth from monster to human form, undergoing metamorphosis into hairy, aggressive, ruthless beasts only when exposed to moonlight or under a full moon.

As with vampires, werewolves are likely inspired by some combination of rabies and the porphyrias. As previously mentioned, rabies is transferred by the bite of wild animals, which certainly sounds just like the story of how werewolves are made. Since rabies directly affects the central nervous system, it can cause brain disease with confusion, hallucinations, hypersalivation, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Porphyrias, which limit people from the sun, can cause some excess hair growth as well as disfigured skin and teeth.

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