Ghoul
Description
Desert-dwelling shapeshifter that lures travelers and devours them
Origin & Background
The concept of Ghoul originates from pre-Islamic Arabian religion. In modern fiction, the term ghoul is used to refer to a specific type of monster.
The Legend
According to legend, ghouls are demonic beings that inhabit graveyards and desolate places, known for consuming human flesh. Male ghouls are called 'ghul', while female ghouls are referred to as 'ghulah'. Ghouls often disguise themselves as lost female relatives or harmless old men to approach men, luring them to their lairs to devour them. These stories are primarily passed down to women, with female relatives warning men of the dangers. For example, in the Syrian folktale 'The Rich Sister of the Woodcutter', a ghoul plots to eat the husband and his family.
In Popular Culture
Ghouls frequently appear in modern popular culture, particularly depicted as grave-digging monsters in Western literature. In H. P. Lovecraft's short story 'Pickman's Model', ghouls are described as a race living underground, transformed into beast-like humanoids due to their diet of human flesh.
This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Ghoul" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia
Abilities
- 유혹
- 포식