Werewolves and the Middle Ages

Shape shifters or were-creatures transcend everymade of human flesh, given to him by the devil,
major culture from the Aztecs, to the Greeks to theallowing him to change into a wolf and feed on
Scandinavians. The ability of turning from human intohumans. Charged with killing men, women and children
animal plays a part in much literature and writings ofover a twenty-five year span, he willfully confessed his
the past. However, the most infamous of them all isentire life to the court. He spoke of murdering his own
the werewolf.son and eating his brains. His tales of feasting on girls in
Werewolf legends appeared to have originated in thethe fields while they milked cows caused panic and
German countryside around Cologne and Bedburg indread in the village.
the year 1591. A much different life played out in thatAfter confessing to the heinous crimes, he was
era and the wolf stood as a representation of fearsentenced to death. Put on the wheel, a torture device,
and loathing. Many claimed to have found torn limbs onthey pulled the flesh from his body with red, hot
their properties and scores feared to travel in theirpincers. Then, his legs and arms were broken and he
surrounding wooded areas, despite little proof thatwas eventually beheaded and burned to a heap of
wolves attacked people unless they were rabid orashes. The investigation also implicated his mistress
starving.and his daughter as accomplices. They were burned
One infamous case of arrest and trial of a werewolfalive that day with Peter on October 31, 1589.
was Peter Stubbe. He allegedly held a special strap