Language nerd has taken over

[scarletmorning]

I finally found the article again where I read about the word origin of "nightmare". It caught my eye because it is in a way very similar to the origin of the German word "Alptraum".

The origin of both words is folklore. People (both English and German) believed that nightmares were caused by evil spirits (incubi or succubi, an Alp/Alb) that sat on the sleeper´s chest (because you have a stifling feeling in your chest when you're having a nightmare). An incubus is a male monster and succubus the female version and both are known to evoke sexual feelings in their victims. (And they suck out their victims´ souls while seducing them. Soul for Sex.)

Now, Alp/Alb is gender neutral. And can be a more general word for evil spirits of this type. But the English equivalent uses "mare". Apart from my confusion about how you can make the mindjump from "female evil spirits who steals your soul via sex" to "mare", I'm wondering, why the female? Why did they not choose "stallion"? Where men more often haunted by nightmares? Were the people just being misogynistic again? (Probably.)

And I digressed. Because I just noticed the "mare" thing. I was mostly pleasantly surprised that both words have the same origin.

Pointless post is pointless.

Comments

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

Of all the mythological monsters of lore, vampires are by far my favorite--the inncubi/succubi in particular. (Hence one of the reasons I HAET Twilight so much. But I digress.) And I love researching the origin of words and the like. So. 8D

I think it might've been the misogyny, but also because (from what I remember reading a long time ago) they used it to explain why women sometimes gave birth to deformed children, because they believed that witchcraft of some sort was at play.

But don't take my word for it--I could be wrong.

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

Vampires can be so much fun. If they are their evil selfs. I'm so tired of all those "Oh I'm so noble and don't nom humans"- Vampires. (Twilight should go die in a burning hole, kthnxbai)

Hmhm. But isn't that an argument FOR making the mare a stallion? Or do they mean that the succubi do something to the sperm? Which wouldn't make sense because succubi kill men. But why do I look for logic in folklore XD

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

Well, from the folklore I know, the incubi impregnate human females who then bare their "demon spawn". So I guess using "mare" works, in a way? (Like, an epithet for a prostitute is a "lady of the night"--maybe it somehow works the same way?)

Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember something about the origin of the word "nightmare"--I think it had to do with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Or maybe it was something much more obscure than that. Let me get back to you on that.

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaah, now that makes sense! Well, there are always different versions of evil spirits XD Even in one country. I haven't heard about the impregnating before; I only know them as soul-sucking and instant-killing spirits.

Yay~

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

Maybe this makes more sense to you than it does me, but it seems like a valid explanation for the word.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_origin_of_the_word_nightmare

(Also, disregard the fact that it's Wiki Answers lol.)

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, it's related to Nachtmahr. Which is another word for the Alp causing nightmares. Sense, I can see it~

[rethira.livejournal.com]

I once read a story which involved an actual Nightmare; it was a physical horse that lived on this island of horrors. I think it in this book called the Blue Roan Child? I think. It was a very horsey book.

Oh, succubi/incubi are some of the most interesting demons to me. I hope they don't get Twilighted like their vampiric cousins did (I don't think incubi/succubi are the same as vampires).

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

Hmhm, depending on the story you heard about incubi/succubi they may be vampires (they're awesome nevertheless!). No mythological creature, evil spirit or any other supernatural being deserves being Twilighted.

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

Nothing deserves to be Twilighted.