S3 E20 Superstitions of the Lycanthrope. spooky season special
Throughout history, the legend of the werewolf has stalked the imaginations of countless civilizations. From the shadowy forests of medieval Europe to the ancient myths of Greece and Rome, the belief that a man could transform into a savage, bloodthirsty wolf has persisted for centuries. This is a tale older than many of the ghost stories and horror legends that have filled our darkest nights. The werewolf is no mere creature of campfire stories—it’s a symbol of our deepest fears, a reflection of the wildness that some believe still lurks within us all.
Long before modern horror films gave us images of moonlit transformations, the idea of men becoming wolves was deeply rooted in folklore. The ancient Greeks told stories of Lycaon, a king who was transformed into a wolf by Zeus as punishment for his crimes. The word "lycanthropy," which we still use today to describe this mythical condition, comes from this very legend. To the Greeks, the wolf-man was a punishment, a symbol of divine retribution, and a reminder that beneath the civilized surface, humanity is capable of monstrous deeds.
In ancient Rome, the historian Ovid wrote of men who could transform into wolves in his *Metamorphoses*, echoing the Greek myths and solidifying the idea that shapeshifting between man and beast was more than just a fantastical story—it was a punishment for those who defied the gods. Wolves, after all, were not just feared for their ferocity; they were symbols of wilderness, chaos, and the uncontrollable forces of nature that humans have always struggled to tame.
As these stories spread across Europe, the werewolf took on new and terrifying forms. In medieval France, the loup-garou—a man cursed to become a wolf—became a staple of local legend. The fear of these creatures wasn’t just confined to rural, isolated villages. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Europe experienced what some call “werewolf mania.” This wasn’t just folklore; it was deadly serious. During the same period as the infamous witch hunts, men and women were accused of transforming into wolves, murdering and devouring their victims. These were not seen as metaphors or fairy tales—they were real threats in the minds of the people, and the punishment for such crimes was often torture and execution.
The belief in werewolves wasn’t limited to Europe. In parts of Africa, some tribes believed in men who could change into hyenas, while in South America, legends of shape-shifting jaguars persisted. Across cultures, the theme remained the same—a fear that humanity could never fully escape its animalistic side. This fear of the beast within, of losing control to a primal instinct, has haunted humanity for millennia.
But what is it about the werewolf myth that has gripped so many cultures for so long? Perhaps it’s the idea that the transformation is uncontrollable, that it could happen to anyone—an ordinary person, cursed or possessed, suddenly consumed by a bloodlust they cannot escape. In many ways, the werewolf legend taps into the fear of the unknown, both in the world around us and within ourselves. It’s a symbol of humanity’s battle with its own nature—the thin line between civilization and savagery.
Hi everyone and welcome back to the dark history podcast where we explore the darkest parts of human history. hope everyone is well I’m Rob your host as always. Welcome to season 3 epis
ode 20
And the first episode of this year spooky season specials, The air is crisp, the nights are growing longer, and Halloween is just around the corner. Tonight, we're diving into a story pulled straight from the dark pages of history—a story not of ghosts or witches, but something even more terrifying: real-life werewolves. We all know the legend-full moons, bone-cracking transformations, fur sprouting from human skin—but what if I told you, this isn't just myth? What if centuries ago, entire villages believed these creatures roamed their streets?
That within the hearts of ordinary men lurked something monstrous, waiting to tear the innocent apart. Picture it: a quiet village, surrounded by dark forests. Livestock is being ripped to shreds, children disappearing, bodies found mutilated in ways too brutal to imagine. The villagers are terrified, convinced that a beast walks among them. Not just any beast—a werewolf, hiding in plain sight during the day, and hunting under the cover of night.
In tonight's episode, we're exploring real cases where people were accused of transforming into wolves-where fear and superstition led to trials, torture, and brutal executions. These are stories that blurred the lines between myth and reality, where the cry of 'werewolf' was enough to seal a person's fate.
Before we start I would just like to introduce you to and amazing podcast I've been listening to called the Ireland crimes and mysteries. Join Nules , as she dives into the darkest corners of Irish history. If you’re fascinated by true crime and unsolved mysteries from the Emerald Isle, this is the perfect podcast to dive into next. but more on that later. So without further ado please turn off those light, sit back and relax next to the fire for more dark history.
In the late 1500s, the rural village of Bedburg, located in the Rhineland of what is now modern Germany, was a place of deep unease. What had once been a peaceful farming community was now overshadowed by terror. For over two decades, a series of brutal killings plagued the region. Bodies of children, women, and even livestock were discovered horribly mutilated-limbs torn apart, organs missing, and bones scattered across the fields. The sheer brutality of the attacks led the villagers to believe they were not dealing with a human murderer, but something far more sinister. Whispers of a werewolf stalking the countryside began to circulate, sending waves of panic through the hearts of Bedburg's residents.
At the center of this growing horror was Peter Stumpp, a man who, for most of his life, was known as an ordinary and somewhat prosperous farmer. Born around 1535, Stumpp had inherited land and worked the fields, living as a widower with his two children.
Outwardly, he appeared to be a regular man, respected within the local community for his wealth and standing.
He was not someone who anyone would suspect of harboring a dark secret. Yet behind this façade of normalcy, the villagers began to look at him with suspicion as the number of deaths escalated.
The violence gripping Bedburg grew more and more horrific. Children were abducted in broad daylight, their bodies later found with throats torn open, limbs dismembered, and flesh gnawed as though by a wild animal. Pregnant women were attacked, their unborn children ripped from their wombs in grisly fashion. These atrocities were too savage for the people to believe a human could be responsible. The stories of a monstrous wolf prowling the village's borders began to take root in the minds of its frightened residents. It wasn't long before people started hunting for this so-called werewolf.
In 1589, the villagers' fears appeared to be validated. A group of hunters, determined to rid the village of the beast, tracked a large wolf through the countryside. As they closed in on the animal, it reportedly transformed before their eyes, shrinking in size and shifting into the form of a man-Peter Stumpp.
This shocking event sealed Stumpp's fate. He was immediately seized, taken to a local dungeon, and accused of being the werewolf that had terrorized Bedburg for years.
Stumpp was subjected to unspeakable torture, a common practice in trials of this era, especially when witchcraft or dealings with the Devil were suspected.
He was placed on the rack, where his limbs were stretched and his bones dislocated. Under the excruciating pain of this ordeal, Stumpp confessed to a series of crimes so horrific that it only deepened the villagers' belief that he was in league with dark forces. He claimed that at the age of 12, he had made a pact with the Devil, exchanging his soul for power and the ability to transform into a wolf. According to his confession, the Devil had given him a magical belt that allowed him to shift into the form of a ravenous wolf whenever he desired.
In his confession, Stumpp detailed his transformation. He described becoming a beast with a body as strong as steel, ravenous for human flesh, and capable of running through the woods with great speed. In this form, he stalked the forests, waiting for the opportunity to ambush his victims. He admitted to killing 14 children, some of whom he devoured after tearing them apart with his teeth. He described attacking two pregnant women, consuming their unborn babies in acts of pure horror. He also confessed to killing livestock, adding that he drank their blood and feasted on their flesh during his supposed wolf transformations. In addition to his grisly murders, Stumpp confessed to incestuous relations with his daughter and claimed to have committed numerous other dark deeds under the Devil's influence.
Despite the wild nature of these confessions, there was no trace of the magical belt Stumpp claimed had given him his powers. No physical evidence supported the supernatural aspects of his testimony, but in an era dominated by superstition, fear, and religious fervor, none was needed. The people believed in the power of the Devil and in the existence of werewolves, and Stumpp's confessions, obtained through torture, were taken as the absolute truth.
The trial of Peter Stumpp came to a swift and violent conclusion. On October 31, 1589, he was sentenced to death in one of the most brutal executions of the period. His punishment was a reflection of the heinousness of the crimes he had confessed to. Stumpp was tied to a large wooden breaking wheel in a public square, where his executioners used red-hot pincers to tear the flesh from his body. In a final act of cruelty, his limbs were shattered with the blunt side of an axe to prevent his soul from returning to the earth. Only after this torment was he finally beheaded. His body was then burned to ashes, a common practice to prevent the resurrection of suspected witches, werewolves, or any who had consorted with the Devil.
But the punishment did not end with Peter Stumpp. His daughter, who had been implicated in the crimes, was also sentenced to death alongside his mistress. Both women were flayed alive, their bodies strangled, and their remains cast into the same fire that consumed Stumpp. The authorities left behind a grim reminder of Stumpp's supposed crimes—a wooden stake with a wheel and his severed head mounted on top, a warning to any who might contemplate making deals with dark forces.
We’re going to take a short break, but don’t worry—I’ve got something exciting for you. Let me introduce you to Ireland Crimes and Mysteries
Welcome back, ready for more tales of werewolves.
One of the most chilling and lesser-known tales of a person accused of being a werewolf is the story of Gilles Garnier, also known as "The Werewolf of Dole." His tale takes place in the early 1570s, during a time of intense fear and superstition in France. Garnier's story is not just a glimpse into the mind of a man driven by desperation, but also a reflection of the deep-rooted terror of werewolves that haunted Europe at the time.
Garnier lived as a hermit, a lonely figure who resided in the woods near the town of Dole in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France. He was a reclusive, ragged man, living in poverty with his wife in a dilapidated shack far from the town's walls. In those days, being a hermit was not just a lifestyle— it was a form of isolation that drew suspicion. To live outside the norms of society was to be viewed with mistrust, and for Garnier, this isolation would eventually lead to a monstrous accusation.
In 1572, a series of brutal murders began to unfold around Dole. Children, no older than 10 or 12, started to go missing, only for their bodies to be found later, horribly mutilated. Limbs were torn from their small bodies, flesh savagely bitten and consumed. The people of Dole, already plagued by superstition and fear, were certain that no human being could commit such atrocities. The only explanation, they thought, was that a werewolf-a man who had transformed into a beast-was stalking the countryside.
The authorities issued a proclamation, urging the townspeople to be vigilant and offering a reward for anyone who could capture or kill the creature responsible. Armed groups of men began patrolling the woods, searching for the beast, terrified that it could strike at any moment. The tear of the werewolf grew with every passing day, and soon, suspicion fell on Gilles Garnier, the strange hermit who lived alone in the forest. His solitary nature, his gaunt appearance, and his distance from society made him an easy target.
One fateful evening, a group of hunters claimed to have seen a monstrous creature attacking a young boy in the woods. As they approached, they watched in horror as the creature fled into the shadows. But in the place where the wolf should have been, they found none other than Gilles Garnier.
The hunters were convinced they had witnessed him in mid-transformation— from wolf to man-and captured him immediately.
Garnier was taken to trial, where the accusations of lycanthropy-that he could transform into a wolf—were laid against him. Under torture, Garnier confessed to being a werewolf. He claimed that while struggling with starvation, a specter had appeared to him in the woods, offering him a magical ointment that would allow him to turn into a wolf so that he could hunt more easily. Garnier admitted to using this unholy gift to kill and eat several children. He provided gruesome details of his attacks, explaining how he would tear apart their bodies and feast on their flesh.
Whether this confession was the result of torture or a reflection of Garnier's own disturbed mind, it sealed his fate.
The court found him guilty of
witchcraft, murder, and lycanthropy. On January 18, 1573, Gilles Garnier was burned at the stake. His execution was public, meant to serve as a warning to others of the dangers of straying into the dark arts and becoming a servant of the Devil. The people of Dole, once terrorized by fear of the werewolf, found temporary relief in the belief that the beast had been vanquished.
Gilles Garnier's story is haunting not just because of the crimes he confessed to, but because it reveals how easily superstition, fear, and isolation could turn an outcast into a monster in the eyes of society. In the 16th century, the line between man and beast was thin-driven by desperation, madness, and a world filled with superstition, a man could become the very thing he feared. Garnier's tale reminds us that in the darkest corners of history, the real terror was often the hysteria that consumed entire communities, leading them to believe that anyone-especially the lonely and the different-could be a creature of the night.
Another intriguing case from history involves a man named Michel Verdun, known as “The Werewolf of Auvergne.” Verdun’s tale unfolds in the late 16th century, a period when fears of witchcraft and lycanthropy were widespread in France.
Michel Verdun was a peasant living in the region of Auvergne, a rugged and isolated part of central France. Like many others of his time, Verdun struggled with poverty and hardship, but his life took a dark turn in the 1590s. During this period, reports of mysterious attacks on livestock and occasional disappearances of villagers began to emerge, stirring fear and suspicion in the community.
The fear of a werewolf soon gripped the region, and Verdun, known for his isolated lifestyle and disheveled appearance, became a prime suspect. People in the village whispered that he was capable of terrible things, and their fears were only exacerbated by a series of grisly events that seemed to align with the mythical creature’s traits. Livestock were found mutilated, their carcasses showing signs of a predator’s gnashing teeth and claw marks.
As the attacks continued, a group of local hunters set out to find the beast. Their search was fueled by growing hysteria and the desire to end the terror that had plagued their community. It wasn’t long before their suspicions fell upon Verdun, who was eventually captured under dubious circumstances. Accusations of lycanthropy were quickly leveled against him, with villagers insisting that Verdun must be the man-wolf responsible for the horrors that had struck their home.
Under intense interrogation and likely torture, Michel Verdun confessed to being a werewolf. His confession was dramatic and detailed: he claimed that he had made a pact with the Devil, who had granted him the power to transform into a wolf. Verdun described how, in this beastly form, he had preyed upon the village’s animals, and even confessed to having attacked several people, although his claims of murder were met with skepticism.
Whether Verdun’s confession was the result of fear, delirium, or actual guilt remains unclear. The evidence against him was flimsy, based primarily on his own tortured admissions and the superstitions of the time. Nonetheless, the courts and the villagers were convinced that Verdun was a genuine werewolf, a symbol of the malevolent forces they believed existed in their world.
On May 11, 1598, Michel Verdun was executed in a public square, his death meant to serve as a grim reminder of the dangers of making deals with dark forces. He was hanged and then burned, his remains reduced to ashes to ensure that no trace of his supposed evil could linger.
Thank you for taking the time out of your day to listen to this dark episode. Much like the episode on vampires from last season, the legend of the werewolf can be seen as a historical way for people to cope with their fear of the unknown. In the case of Peter Stumpp, the evidence suggests he may have been more of a serial killer with a disturbing predilection for children rather than a supernatural beast. If that was indeed the case, his gruesome fate was, unfortunately, a consequence of his actions.
Garnier and verdun, probably was that wired old man every town has, you know what I mean the weather, sometimes a little smelly, old man who shuffles the street waffling nonsense to himself scaring the shit out of the kids. The only differences is the adults were sacred and torture was legal and your going to agree to anything if you think the pain will stop.
What you will also gather from these stories are the similarities, man who is alone or and outcast, given something by the devil, caught in the act and then executed, I surmise that these are more then likely infills or generalisations to maybe give justification to the deaths of probably innocent men.
Over the next few weeks, we’ve got an exciting lineup of episodes. Next week’s episode might take a bit of a detour from the spooky theme, but it’s sure to be fascinating. My friend Jon Molik and I have been collaborating for months on a special episode about the Battle of Saratoga, and we’re aiming to release it next week.
Following that, we’ll be welcoming back author and friend of the show, Leon Mcanally, for a deep dive into the fascinating and morbid world of funerary rites throughout history, along with ghost stories from London’s Magnificent Seven cemeteries.
And just before our highly anticipated Halloween special, I’m working on something extra special that you definitely won’t want to miss!
This version maintains the original ideas while improving flow and clarity.
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