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Nashoba-Hostina — Wolf Amongst the Flock
Published: 2013-09-16 02:24:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 5603; Favourites: 150; Downloads: 0
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You may be surprised to learn that the earliest recorded werewolf story (that we are aware of, you never know what discoveries may be made in the future!) doesn’t originate from the foggy moors of England, the dark woods of Germany, or the countryside of France, one of the most werewolf stricken countries in history. Rather, it comes from the Middle East.The Epic of Gilgamesh was written for the kings of Uruk (Later Mesopotamia, which corresponds to the region we’d call Iraq) and chronicled the exploits of King Gilgamesh. This epic poem dates back about four thousand years, contains some rather lycanthropic material. While some may point to the beast man Enkidu, there is a far more lycanthropic subject: a shepherd who was extremely devoted to the Goddess Ishtar. He presented numerous offerings to her at her shrine, but, she eventually grew tired of the devotee, and struck him, turning him into a wolf. He was then hunted by his fellow herdsmen, his own dogs tearing at him.
In comparison, the greek god Zeus seems downright reasonable; when he turned Lycaon into a wolf, at least Lycaon had behaved in wolfish ways! All the shepherd had done was be uninteresting. So, should you ever want to become a werewolf, maybe all you really need to do bore Ishtar.
As always, here are some sources for your reading pleasure:
*The Beast Within—Adam Douglas
*Werewolves – Dr. Bob Curran
Werewolves: The Occult Truth – Konstantinos
The Werewolf Book – Brad Steiger
They Bite By Jonathan Maberry, David F. Kramer
Werewolves – Jim Pipe
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Comments: 30
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As always, enjoyed the history lesson =^^=
You make it sound so much more interesting than my history teacher in high school when he attempted to teach us history ... and he was pretty good at it ...
Let's just say that if you were teaching a class on this subject, I doubt I would ever grow bored of it!
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Awww,t hanks!
Well, I happen to pick history you enjoy. Goodness knwos that if I tried to talk about the American revolutionary war, it'd be a different story XD
Oh man, that would be so much fun, and yet, scary as hell XD
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Actually, I think I'd find that a little interesting ... Being Canadian, we learned nothing but history of Canada and omitted everyone else, so I know very little about it except for any involvement the Canadian's had ... which I think was very little ...
I wanted to hear about it from all sides of the story ... not just the one which we are spoon-fed ... and we had nothing on the World Wars except what the Canadians did ... so what the Americans did, and how every other country involved coped interests me ... the History lesson I was taught was rather too one-sided for my liking ... and hearing about American history makes me suspect that they omit things that don't directly affect them too ...
I was recently at Pearl Harbor, and not once is there mention of what America did back to Japan in Hiroshima ... and that did bother me.
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I keep meaning to get ahold of Gilgamesh. Yet I never do.
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I'm sure you will though XD
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Yes. In fact, I bet you anything it's available on wikipedia or gutenberg or something like that.
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Haha, the look on its face! "I shouldn't be here!"
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A while ago I read about anthropomorphic paintins in some caves in France, some depicting wolves with human like traits. They are considered by some as the very first representation of werewolf lore.
Anyways, that was very interesting. I feel sorry for the poor shepherd, all he did was being a devotee to Ishtar and she repayed him like that.
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*Nods* Not to mention the traits of other animals as well, like the famous 'Shaman' cave paining. Unfortunately, there is no sure way to tell of those are humans transformed into other beasts, or if they are anthropomorphic figures, meaning, they may not actually be werewolves but something more akin to cynocephali. Thus, I have to go with something more concrete, where it is certain that a human is said to have turned into a wolf.
Much agreed :C
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I really love your historic stories ehit your pictures
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I like the textures and colours in combo. Got that whole sepia tone thing going on, and it just works.
lol, I'll have to keep that in mind about Ishtar. XD
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Thanks so much hon XD Been having fun with this sort of style lately.
Theee, me too XD
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A shepherd might be the worst job for a werewolf, especially for the one who turns into an actual wolf. You work with other shepherds and dogs whose job it is to kill wolves. It's rather depressing to have the person turned into a werewolf, presumably with a broken heart thanks to Ishtar, and be attacked for it. He didn't deserve it. In this picture, he looks confused by his new form, but mostly is fearful of whoever is about to attack him.
Either that or he's realized that he's going to need werewolf friendly equipment, as the staff is hard to hold in one paw, and is thinking of how expensive that will be.
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Oh, much agreed! Poor Shepherd guy certainly got the short end of the stick.
*Laughs* Maybe!
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nice piece, I honestly thought the first werewolf story was from the acient greek mythology king lycos. this is quite a suprise
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I thought that for the longest time myself, so I feel ya XD
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Ishtar's lovers had a tendency towards bad ends. As a genre-savvy Gilgamesh notes when he turns her down,
Where are your bridegrooms that you keep forever?
Where is your 'Little Shepherd' bird that went up over you!
See here now, I will recite the list of your lovers.
Of the shoulder (?) ... his hand,
Tammuz, the lover of your earliest youth,
for him you have ordained lamentations year upon year!
You loved the colorful 'Little Shepherd' bird
and then hit him, breaking his wing, so
now he stands in the forest crying 'My Wing'!
You loved the supremely mighty lion,
yet you dug for him seven and again seven pits.
You loved the stallion, famed in battle,
yet you ordained for him the whip, the goad, and the lash,
ordained for him to gallop for seven and seven hours,
ordained for him drinking from muddled waters,'
you ordained for his mother Silili to wail continually.
You loved the Shepherd, the Master Herder,
who continually presented you with bread baked in embers,
and who daily slaughtered for you a kid.
Yet you struck him, and turned him into a wolf,
so his own shepherds now chase him
and his own dogs snap at his shins.
You loved Ishullanu, your father's date gardener,
who continually brought you baskets of dates,
and brightened your table daily.
You raised your eyes to him, and you went to him:
'Oh my Ishullanu, let us taste of your strength,
stretch out your hand to me, and touch our vulva.
Ishullanu said to you: 'Me! What is it you want from me!
Has my mother not baked, and have I not eaten
that I should now eat food under contempt and curses
and that alfalfa grass should be my only cover against the cold?
As you listened to these his words
you struck him, turning him into a dwarf(?),
and made him live in the middle of his (garden of) labors,
where the mihhu do not go up, nor the bucket of dates (?) down.
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How can he hold the staff wothout thumbs?! What cruel torture is this!Seriously though, love the expression and the leg/feet bits where the robes just hanging off. Amazing as always
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The staff is actually stabbed into his dewclaw ;3
Thank you so much!
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It kinda shows how mean people were towards predators in the Middle East... in fact, I think Enkidu was teached to hunt them down, despite having lived with wild animals at first. I really have no idea if it hints something, but man, I just recognize the similarities between Lycaon, Ishtar and the wawkalak. Supernatural beings seem to enjoy transforming humans into an animal, which is not really liked by the mayorite of people... man, gods and devils are pricks.
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Well, back then, they had to worry more about predators and such more, since they didn't have modern animal rearing techniques. And yeah, I afree that there is indeed something of a common theme between them :3
Also, much agreed; gods and devils are jerks XD
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So the guy just bored Ishtar and woke up as a wolf? Seems kinda harsh. But then, gods...
Must say I like your historic posts 
Never really thought of looking further in the past, nor elsewhere. All this to say: thanks for opening my eyes a little more and making me think
(And sorry for the bad english 
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Eh, life is harsh that way XD
Thank you very much! And horray for Québec werewolf stories! Those loup garou came across on the boats, same as people XD
There is always doubt in myths.. which, in my opinion, always makes for more fun; becaue you get to choose whether or not you wish to see the logical side of it, or the fantastical side.
It's my pleasure! I hope you have fun researching wereewolf myths elsewhere!
No worries about your English! I'm sure than you speak English far better than I speak your language, and I appreciate you taking the time to write it all out.
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Maybe they were werewolves among the natives here too. The way amerindians (if that's out it's spelled) have legends about spirit animals, I wouldn't be surprised
Makes for fun and personal interpretation, 100% agreed. I love legends but see it both ways: logical and fantastical. Living daily life according to logic and always daydreaming at some degree. Some say I'm lunatic, it's 110% true. As I say: dreaming is living.
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Nice piece of art!
I really wonder why Ishtar doesn't show up in more supernatural work. She's like a ludicrously powerful spoiled teenager - petty, easily bored, violent, utterly selfish, and constantly horny. Perfect material for a villain.
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Thank you!
Oh, I imagine she shows up here and there.. I don't really know, honestly. But I certainly agree!
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I imagine she does too, but almost never in connection with werewolves.
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