Phantom Armies of the Night: The Wild Hunt and the Ghostly Processions of the Undead
by Claude Lecouteux
On This Page
Description
An exploration of the many forms of the ancient myth of the Wild Hunt and its influence in pagan and early Christian Europe * Recounts the myriad variations of this legend, from the Cursed Huntsman and King Herla to phantom armies and vast processions of sinners and demons * Explains how this belief was an integral part of the pagan worldview and was thus employed by the church to spread Christian doctrine * Reveals how the secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly show more processions for soul travel and prophecies of impending death Once upon a time a phenomenon existed in medieval Europe that continuously fueled local lore: during the long winter nights a strange and unknown troop could be heard passing outside over the land or through the air. Anyone caught by surprise in the open fields or depths of the woods would see a bizarre procession of demons, giants, hounds, ladies of the night, soldiers, and knights, some covered in blood and others carrying their heads beneath their arms. This was the Wild or Infernal Hunt, the host of the damned, the phantom army of the night--a theme that still inspires poets, writers, and painters to this day. Millennia older than Christianity, this pagan belief was employed by the church to spread their doctrine, with the shapeshifters' and giants of the pagan nightly processions becoming sinners led by demons seeking out unwary souls to add to their retinues. Myth or legend, it represents a belief that has deep roots in Europe, particularly Celtic and Scandinavian countries. The first scholar to fully examine this myth in each of its myriad forms, Claude Lecouteux strips away the Christian gloss and shows how the Wild Hunt was an integral part of the pagan worldview and the structure of their societies. Additionally, he looks at how secret societies of medieval Europe reenacted these ghostly processions through cult rituals culminating in masquerades and carnival-like cavalcades often associated with astral doubles, visions of the afterlife, belief in multiple souls, and prophecies of impending death. He reveals how the nearly infinite variations of this myth are a still living, evolving tradition that offers us a window into the world in which our ancestors lived. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
anonymous user Not a perfect match, One book is Juvenile fiction, the other a collection of folk tales.
Member Reviews
An exhaustive (and that's an understatement) study of the Wild Hunt in the folklore of Europe, in all of it's forms and guises. It uncovers the pagan roots of a lot of the Christian legendarium, but does not draw hard and fast conclusions on the meaning or origin of the whole. Lot's of fascinating stuff in here, but it's a slog to get through. Read it, but be warned.
Interesting and scholarly look at the phenomenon of phantom armies of the night during medieval europe.
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
45+ Works 1,478 Members
Claude Lecouteux is a former professor of medieval literature and civilization at the Sorbonne. He is the author of numerous books on medieval and pagan beliefs and magic, including The Book of Grimoires, The Tradition of Household Spirits, A Lapidary of Sacred Stones, and The Secret History of Poltergeists and Haunted Houses. He lives in Paris.
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Chasses fantastiques et cohortes de la nuit au moyen age
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, History
- DDC/MDS
- 398.22 — Society, government, & culture Customs, etiquette & folklore Folklore & Folktales Folk literature Legends
- LCC
- GR75 .W55 .L4313 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Folklore Folklore Folk literature (General)
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 109
- Popularity
- 298,510
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.50)
- Languages
- English, French
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 1
