Dave's Mythical Creatures and Places

During the Middle Ages, tens of thousands of people in Europe were executed because they were suspected werewolves.  Belief in werewolves persisted into the 1700's.  One of the common theories was that, when in human form, the werewolf's hair grew inward, and he would turn himself inside out when he wanted to change into wolf form.

Herodotus (and Pomponius Mela) tells of a Scythian tribe called the Neurians who change into wolves-  "It seems that these people are conjurers: for both the Scythians and the Greeks who dwell in Scythia say that every Neurian once a year becomes a wolf for a few days, at the end of which time he is restored to his proper shape. Not that I believe this, but they constantly affirm it to be true, and are even ready to back their assertion with an oath."

But Pliny does not believe- "We are bound to pronounce with confidence that the story of men being turned into wolves and restored to themselves again is false."

Later, Isidore of Seville states "For the shapes of the wicked change for their many villainies, and they turn bodily into beasts, whether by magic charms or by the use of herbs."

According to the Speculum Regale (also called the King's Mirror, written in Norway around 1250):"It is told that when the holy Patricius preached Christianity in that country, there was one clan which opposed him more stubbornly than any other people in the land; and these people strove to do insult in many ways both to God and to the holy man. And when he was preaching the faith to them as to others and came to confer with them where they held their assemblies; they adopted the plan of howling at him like wolves. When he saw that he could do very little to promote his mission among these people, he grew very wroth and prayed God to send some form of affliction upon them to be shared by their posterity as a constant reminder of their disobedience. Later these clansmen did suffer a fitting and severe though very marvelous punishment, for it is told that all the members of that clan are changed into wolves for a period and roam through the woods feeding upon the same food as wolves; but they are worse than wolves, for in all their wiles they have the wit of men, though they are as eager to devour men as to destroy other creatures. It is reported that to some this affliction comes every seventh winter, while in the intervening years they are men; others suffer it continuously for seven winters all told and are never stricken again."

The Case of the Auvergne Werewolf: "A gentleman while hunting was suddenly attacked by a savage wolf of monstrous size.  Impenetrable by his shot, the beast made a spring upon the helpless huntsman, who in the struggle luckily contrived to cut off one of its forepaws.  This trophy he placed in his pocket, and made the best of his way homewards in safety.  On the road he met a friend, to whom he exhibited a bleeding paw, or rather (as it now appeared) a woman's hand, upon which was a wedding ring.  His wife's ring was at one recognized by the other.  His suspicions aroused, he immediately went in search of his wife, who was sitting by the fire in the kitchen, her arm hidden beneath her apron, when the husband, seizing her by the arm, found his terrible suspicions verified.  The bleeding stump was there, evidently just fresh from the wound.  She was given into custody, and in the event she was burned at Riom, in presence of thousands of spectators."  (Fiske, 1900)