Page 92 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

72 Mysterious Creatures

some kind of vampire, extraterrestrial alien, or bances of wild animals seeking carrion. Later,
a creation of some secret branch of the U.S. as funeral customs became more elaborate and
government, frightened and angry people men and women were buried with their jewel-
complain that whatever Chupacabra is, it ry and other personal treasures, the lure of easy
continues to suck the blood from their live- wealth superseded any superstitious or ecclesi-
stock. astical admonitions that might have otherwise
kept grave robbers away from cemeteries and
M Delving Deeper
from desecrating a corpse’s final rest.
Astuya, Juan Carlos. “Chile Homeowner Terrified by
Then, in the late 1820s, surgeons and doc-
Chupacabras.” Trans. by Scott Corrales. La Estrel-
tors began to discover the value of dissection.
la de Valparaiso, October 14, 2001. [Online]
The infant science of surgery was progressing
http:// www.rense.com/general15/chu.htm.
rapidly, but advancement required cadavers—
Corrales, Scott. Chupacabras and Other Mysteries.
and the more cadavers that were supplied, the
Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Greenleaf Publications,
more the doctors realized how little they actu-
1997.
ally knew about the anatomy and interior
———. “How Many Goats Can a Goatsucker Suck?”
workings of the human body, and thus the
Fortean Times 89 (September 1996): 34–37.
more cadavers they needed. As a result, soci-
Del Valle, Fernando. “The ‘Goat Sucker’ Legend
eties of grave robbers were formed called the
Claws Its Way into Texas.” USA Today, May 15,
“resurrectionists.” These men made certain
1996.
that the corpses finding their way to the dis-
Ocejo-Sanchez, Virgilio. “Eyewitness Describes Flying
secting tables were as fresh as possible. And, of
Chupacabras.” Trans. by Mario Andrade. Septem-
course, digging was easier in unsettled dirt.
ber 21, 2001. [Online] http://ufomiami.dventures.
The great irony was that advancement in
com/.
medical science helped to perpetuate the leg-
end of the ghoul.
Ghoul
M Delving Deeper
The ghoul is linked with both the vampire
Fodor, Nandor. Between Two Worlds. New York:
and the werewolf in traditional folklore, but
Paperback Library, 1967.
there are a number of obvious reasons why the
———. The Haunted Mind: A Psychoanalyst Looks at
entity has never attained the popularity
the Supernatural. New York: New American
achieved by the Frankenstein monsters, Drac-
Library, 1968.
ulas, and Wolfmen of the horror films. The
Hurwood, Bernardt J. Vampires, Werewolves, and
category of ghoul encompasses a number of
Ghouls. New York: Ace Books, 1968.
different entities. One type of ghoul, like the
vampire, is a member of the family of the Mack, Carol K., and Dinah Mack. A Field Guide to
undead, continually on the nocturnal prowl Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels, and Other Subver-
for new victims. Unlike the vampire, however, sive Spirits. New York: Henry Holt, 1998.
this ghoul feasts upon the flesh of the Masters, R. E. L., and Eduard Lea. Perverse Crimes in
deceased, taking the corpses from cemeteries History. New York: Julian Press, 1963.
and morgues. The ghoul more common to the
waking world is that of the mentally unbal- Golem
anced individual who engages in eating or The Golem is the Frankenstein monster of Jew-
otherwise desecrating the flesh of deceased ish tradition, but it is created from virgin soil
humans. Yet a third type of ghoul would be and pure spring water, rather than the body
those native of Arabic folklore, the ghul parts of cadavers. It is also fashioned by those
(male) and ghulah (female), demonic jinns who purify themselves spiritually and physical-
that haunt burial grounds and sustain them- ly, rather than heretical scientists in foreboding
selves on human flesh stolen from graves. castle laboratories who bring down electricity
It is easy to envision how the legend of the from the sky to animate their patchwork
ghoul began in ancient times when graves human. Once the Golem has been formed, it is
were shallow and often subject to the distur- given life by the Kabbalist placing under its

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