Search

In this discussion we will address of the image of the wolf in the mythical-religious consciousness of the Greeks, starting from the reading of some sources. Our discussion begins with the narration of the myth of Lykaon, taken from the Description of Greece by Pausania, Greek writer and geographer, who lived in the second century B.C.. We have extended our thoughts focusing on sources and ancient authors who have dealt directly and indirectly with the characteristics of the wolf, seizing common and recurring features. This work has enabled us to build a clear picture of the representation of the wolf, elaborated by the Greek people and by pastoral peoples in general. Our curiosity, also resulted from the mystery and charm of the theme, has allowed us to develop some reflections on lycanthropy in ancient and medieval times. We considered how the mythical legend of Lykaon, built by Greek consciousness, so far away from us, has continued through the ages to exercise such a fascination that the popularity of the phenomenon of werewolves in movies and in literature is still present. In fact, the wolf is the character that arouses fear par excellence, so much that it is considered a sort of bogeyman in this fairy-tale literature, which depicts him as a negative presence to avoid and possibly kill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]