ESURIEM + RABIEM + SENECTUTEM + EXPERIENTIAM + INSANIEM + DIABOLUM + DEUM
“The first happens through HUNGER - ESURIEM - when wolves find nothing to eat in the woods, they must come to people and eat meant when hunger drives them to it.
Under the second - SAVAGENESS - RABIEM - when wolves eat children and meant through their innate savageness.
Under the third head - OLD AGE - SENECTUTEM - when wolves do injury on account of their age. When it is weak, it rends a man, who it can catch easier than wild prey.
Under the fourth - EXPERIENCE - EXPERIENTIAM - the injury werewolves do arises from experience; it is said that human flesh is far sweeter than other flesh, and the wolf desires to taste it again.
Under the fifth head - MADNESS - INSANIEM - a dog when it is mad is also inconsiderate, and it bites any man; it does not recognize its own lord: and what is a wolf but a wild dog?
Under the sixth head injury comes of THE DEVIL - DIABOLUM - who transforms himself and takes on the shape of a wolf, to kill and devour and do great mischief.
Under the seventh, and final head - the injury comes FROM GOD - DEUM - for sometimes god punishes certain lands and villages with wolves. Therefor must we turn to god when He brings Wildes beasts to do harm.”
From “A Sermon on Werewolves”, a discourse by Dr. Johann Geiler published in 1517, and preached on the third Sunday in Lent.
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The myth of shape-shifting is one that has haunted our collective unconscious across cultures since antiquity, and loomed over my own existence since childhood.
In this 12”x12” shadow box, we have a 5x7 wood burned engraving of a werewolf ravaging a woman. Situated at the sides are two coyote jaw bones. The words VERSIPELLIS - latin for “shape shifter” “λυκάνθρωπος” - Greek for Lukanthropos, burned into the bone. Above, a full silvery moon engraved on a wooden coin, with coyote teeth representing moon phases across the top. All of this sits on top of blood-drip background, and the “Seven Heads of Werewolves” in latin painted in silver ink along the border of the frame.
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See this piece in person in just a few weeks at the @OdditiesandCuriositiesExpo in Pittsburgh, PA August 24-25, Saturday AND Sunday. It’s my first time in Pittsburgh and would love to meet all you wonderful freaks, weirdos and fiends.
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