Incubus

An incubus is a male demon from folklore, primarily associated with European traditions, that is described as appearing in the dreams of female humans to seduce them. These supernatural encounters are characterized by repeated interactions leading to sexual activity, the formation of a bond, and ultimately sexual intercourse, which the incubus requires for survival. The perpetuation of such a relationship can result in the birth of a hybrid child known as a cambion, but at the expense of the woman's health, which deteriorates rapidly and can lead to her death if the incubus continues to pursue her.

Origins and Etymology

The term "incubus" derives from the Late Latin word incubus, meaning "a nightmare induced by a demon," which itself comes from incubō ("nightmare, what lies down on one whilst one sleeps") and incubāre ("to lie upon, to hatch"). Evidence of beings with similar characteristics to the incubus can be found in ancient Mesopotamia around 2400 BC, where figures like Lilu and Idlu lili were described as disturbing or seducing women in their sleep. These early demons were originally storm demons that later evolved into night demons.

Folklore and Beliefs

Historically, belief in incubi was often motivated by distressing nighttime phenomena, such as wet dreams and sleep paralysis. Scientific explanations suggest that the experience of sleep paralysis combined with hypnagogic hallucinations, which can involve auditory and visual hallucinations, a feeling of being crushed, and the imagined presence of an entity, could lead individuals to believe they were being visited by a demon. Some theories also propose that crimes of sexual assault may have been attributed to incubi to avoid punishment.

In medieval Europe, it was believed that unions between humans and incubi or succubi could result in the birth of beings that were half-demon and half-human. The legendary magician Merlin is famously said to have been fathered by an incubus. Walter Stephens, in his book Demon Lovers, notes that some traditions hold that prolonged sexual activity with an incubus or succubus can lead to a decline in health, impaired mental state, and even death.

Overcoming Incubus Attacks

In texts like the Malleus Maleficarum, exorcism is presented as one of the primary means to overcome incubus attacks. Other methods suggested include confession, performing the Sign of the Cross, reciting the Hail Mary, moving the afflicted to a different location, and excommunication. However, some accounts, such as those from Franciscan friar Ludovico Maria Sinistrari, suggest that incubi may not always obey exorcists or show fear of holy things.

Cultural Variations

Numerous folklore traditions around the world feature beings with characteristics similar to the incubus. These include the alp of Teutonic folklore, the Popo Bawa in Zanzibar, the Trauco and Tintín in South America, the lidérc in Hungary, and the boto (Amazon river dolphin) in Brazil. In Southern Africa, the Tokolosh is a similar demon, while in Swedish folklore, the mara or mare is known for causing nightmares. In Assam, India, the pori is known to seduce men in dreams, and in Turkish culture, the Karabasan is a malevolent entity that descends upon sleepers. The Ukrainian perelesnyk is associated with meteors and fire, transforming to seduce women, and in South African cultures, the impundulu can appear as handsome men to seduce women and drink their blood.