Rabies and demons

This connection is definitely valid, at least I'm convinced of it. I find it disturbing that it seems that no one wrote about this connection between the deadly rabies and historical folktales of demons and other dangerous things of the lore.

Rabies is extremely deadly virus, with survival rate of almost zero. Only thanks to modern medicine we have nowadays the survival of rabies infection became possible. It is ugly way to go. Rabies specializes on attacking neurons, which causes a lot of symptoms. I believe that this inevitably lead to the tales of exorcisms and demons we now consider folk tales that were made up. I believe however that they are based on the truth of what people experienced.

While now in Europe (not all Europe, unfortunately) rabies is very rare to see, it was quite possible to meet infected animal during older times. Therefore people were not afraid of wild animals without reason. Just like with mythological werewolves and modern zombies, a single wound could be enough, if it was deep enough to transmit the virus. Rabies can infect vast variety of species, any warm blooded creature for sure. With cold-blooded I don't know but wouldn't be surprised. Being attacked by a wolf, dog, even cat, horse, or crazy human could be fatal to a person. This "demon" was very real and dangerous. I assume it is the reason for weird connection between demons and horses, who were always beloved animals of human kind. Horse crazed from Rabies is very dangerous.

As I said, Rabies attacks neurons and therefore thrives in brain turning it into a sponge, destroying it. And it is the symptoms, where we get connection with demonic lore. In my opinion they agree to noticeable degree with how demonic possession is described to look like.

Speaking in tongues - the babble that some Christian churches do today as sign of holy spirit was quite possible to hear from people with sponge brain barely able to control their tongue, while they were trying to speak. Their babble must have been confusing to common people who thought it to be language alien to them.

Strength and pain - Person affected this way could be quite strong if managing to move. I can easily imagine that pain caused by virus along with malfunctioning brain could make them not sense pain on some body parts if not entire body. They didn't feel like heathy human does.

behavior - combination of confused senses, pain, fear and more made person look like mad. Also rabies is known to cause aggression in both animals and humans. Not only against others but against themselves too. So it would really look like that "demon" within person is very hateful against humans. And the bite was very dangerous, because person would uncontrollably droll and possibly bite and scratch, "possessing"/infecting sometimes other unlucky enough to get bitten.

water - this symptom gave me the idea of this whole connection. Rabies causes hydrophobia, fear of water. It prevents infected from swallowing salvia filled with virus making them more likely to spread it. Also easy to imagine what that would cause them to do around holy water. More of holy water used on them... I can easily imagine panic attack it could cause, making person scream inhumanly... (must be weird sound caused by body with damaged brain) and trying to escape away from that water as much as possible.

Spoiler: videos, Triger warning - rabies in children

If you had the guts to see videos you get what I mean. If not, it's fine. But among imaginary terrors from the myths, this one was real and I'm convinced that it gave base for many scary legends.

On that note, the priests performing exorcisms on the poor victims of this disease must had been terrified (or amazed) of the effect their holy water had on them. Just like by their behavior. Their exorcisms were whole different story from those going on nowadays...

Especially hydrophobia definitely based the legends on how these dark beings like demons (and in modern times vampires, who definitely have some historical influence from rabies too) are banished by it and fear it.

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I hope that this small article about history is not posted wrong here...

 

[Yazata]

Good article. Makes a lot of sense, even mentioning werewolves: in Dutch rabies is called "hondsdolheid" (translates to something like madness of the dog)

 

[FireBorn]

Appreciate the write up. I think we all take for granted that most of the 'lore' (whether real or imagined) came from some where. Its nice to be able to connect the dots.

 

[Angelkesfarl]

This is an absolutely brilliant article, Morell. Your philosophical connection between the threads of viral pathology and demonic lore is profound and deserves high praise. It raises a pivotal question: could the historical claims of werewolves and vampires also be mythological manifestations of this disease's progression?

I believe that practices such as placing silver coins over the eyes of the 'demonic dead' to prevent their resurrection were products of that legendary fear of the unknown—especially in eras that lacked the concept of a virus.

In the Arabic medical school, pioneers like Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and others recognized this disease. While they lacked modern microscopes, their methodology of 'Inductive Reasoning' allowed them to describe it accurately through clinical observation. They classified it not as a 'supernatural curse,' but as a corruption of the Vital Spirit due to the toxicity reaching the brain.

To build on your excellent methodology: What you described as 'Hydrophobia' leading to a panic attack at the sight of Holy Water was understood in our tradition as a 'Spasmodic Response' of the throat. The 'demon' wasn't screaming because the water was holy; the body was screaming because the brain associated water with the agony of suffocation.

You’ve stripped the mask off the 'imaginary terror' to reveal the biological reality.

 

[Morell]

This is an absolutely brilliant article, Morell. Your philosophical connection between the threads of viral pathology and demonic lore is profound and deserves high praise. It raises a pivotal question: could the historical claims of werewolves and vampires also be mythological manifestations of this disease's progression?

I believe that practices such as placing silver coins over the eyes of the 'demonic dead' to prevent their resurrection were products of that legendary fear of the unknown—especially in eras that lacked the concept of a virus.

In the Arabic medical school, pioneers like Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and others recognized this disease. While they lacked modern microscopes, their methodology of 'Inductive Reasoning' allowed them to describe it accurately through clinical observation. They classified it not as a 'supernatural curse,' but as a corruption of the Vital Spirit due to the toxicity reaching the brain.

To build on your excellent methodology: What you described as 'Hydrophobia' leading to a panic attack at the sight of Holy Water was understood in our tradition as a 'Spasmodic Response' of the throat. The 'demon' wasn't screaming because the water was holy; the body was screaming because the brain associated water with the agony of suffocation.

You’ve stripped the mask off the 'imaginary terror' to reveal the biological reality.

To answer your question, there is partial influence. More for werewolves, less for vampires that were always about the dead and undead. The ancestors were always present with people and their admiration was always there too. Demonisation of this practice took centuries. Catholic and Orthodox churches and the one before them accepted this into themselves, as worship of saints. I assume, that a some of the fear of dead came from people not being exactly on good terms while being alive...

Arabic school is relatively late thing in this matter. Rabies was here not only before Mohammed, but also even before Roman Empire. There are records of describing Rabies during Roman Empire period and we can guess that some of the demons from more ancient times reflect presence of this virus too. Though I don't know what Romans did write about it. I wonder if there was uncovered some text noting rabies in ancient Egypt. I could almost bet that there had to be some.

And about striping mask of imaginary terror to reveal biology, I wouldn't say it that way. Striping mask from imaginary terror to reveal real terror, that's what I did.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 8:30 AM

Forgot to add, not surprising that Arabs have records of Rabies. (of course in different terms when it comes to historic records) because it was present there for sure. Would like to see some. I know about Catholic teachings that show similarities as I wrote above, but would like to hear what Muslims have.

 

[Angelkesfarl]

what Muslims have

My friend Morell, I am pleased with this deep dialogue. When I speak of the 'Arabic School,' I am not referring to a narrow timeframe. You surely know that the torch of science was passed to the Arabs; everyone drew from them and learned from their books. It was the Arabs who rescued the wisdom of the Greeks and Egyptians from being lost while Europe was sinking into the Dark Ages, content with burning the 'possessed.'

Regarding your request for our records: excellent. There are two magnificent books. First, 'The Canon of Medicine' by Ibn Sina (Avicenna), which I believe has been translated for years. The other is 'Al-Hawi' (The Virtuous Life) by Al-Razi (Rhazes), who predated Ibn Sina by a century. In the manuscript of 'Al-Hawi,' Al-Razi—a physician, interpreter, and astronomer—wrote clinical details about the transmission of the virus through saliva 900 years before the microscope was discovered!

Furthermore, in his journey through jurisprudence, interpretation, and Sharia science, he studied Magick itself and defined eight aspects of it:

The Magick of the Chaldeans and Kashdanians: Who worshipped the seven wandering planets, believing them to be the managers of the world.

The Magick of People of Illusion and Strong Souls: He proved that 'illusion' has an effect, citing how a person can walk on a bridge on the ground but cannot if it is suspended over a river, because souls are created to obey illusions.

Seeking help from Earthly Spirits (Jinn): Distinguishing between believers and disbelievers (demons). He noted that connecting with these spirits is achieved through simple works like incantations (Ruqya) and 'Taskhir' (subjugation).

Imaginings and Sleight of Hand (Prestidigitation): Based on the idea that sight can err when distracted by a specific thing.

Seeking help from the specific properties of medicines: In foods and ointments (The properties of the Magnet are a visible example).

Binding the Heart: Where the sorcerer claims to know the 'Greatest Name' to terrorize the weak-minded; when fear occurs, the sensory powers weaken, allowing the sorcerer to do as he wishes.

Slander and Agitation (Namima): Stirring discord through subtle, hidden ways.

Am I merely 'padding' my response? No, my friend. I wanted to show you the vast gaps in the methodology of Inductive Reasoning. There is a difference between 'Holy Water' terrifying anyone infected with Rabies—regardless of their religion—due to the disease, and 'Holy Water' tearing apart the body of the truly possessed, while demons might drink regular water and thank you for it! They distinguished between these cases with extreme precision.

As for the Arabs before Islam:

Terminology: They used terms like 'Kuliba al-rajul' (the man was bitten by a rabid dog) and 'Al-Kalab' to describe the disease itself, as recorded in linguistics and literature.

Folk Beliefs: They believed that 'the blood of kings is a cure for Rabies,' a belief prevalent in pre-Islamic proverbs.

In Ancient Egypt, texts mention the use of 'talismans' alongside physical treatments, and 'honey' was used topically on wounds to prevent inflammation.

I hope I have contributed a glimmer of light to your interesting and useful educational lesson. Thank you all.

 

[Morell]

You are correct about passing of the torch of knowledge. It To Europe it came from Arabs, the got it from Greeks or greek-romans, they got it from Egypt and India. Though I fear to ask, where it burns now...

Ibn Sina was very educated man, didn't know that he wrote about Rabies too. Impressive to know as well as about other scholars from that time. Thanks for that.

I'm well aware that there wasn't only rabies, that there were mental illnesses, sicknesses, fakes, and genuine cases of supernatural. That wasn't my point in the original article. But it might be better to point it out clearly.

 

[Angelkesfarl]

You are correct about passing of the torch of knowledge. It To Europe it came from Arabs, the got it from Greeks or greek-romans, they got it from Egypt and India. Though I fear to ask, where it burns now...

Ibn Sina was very educated man, didn't know that he wrote about Rabies too. Impressive to know as well as about other scholars from that time. Thanks for that.

I'm well aware that there wasn't only rabies, that there were mental illnesses, sicknesses, fakes, and genuine cases of supernatural. That wasn't my point in the original article. But it might be better to point it out clearly.

"Where is it now? It is in America now, although I personally feel it leaking into China. My intention—since you raised the idea of defining Rabies and its relationship to sorcery—was also to demonstrate scientific and concise perspectives on the definition of sorcery from Arab thinkers, as well as the definition of Rabies itself.

This was to further enrich your topic when you requested to learn about Eastern thought, whether in laboratory medicine or regarding the background of sorcery held by these physicians. My friend, I see knowledge—much like history—always repeating itself.

 

[Morell]

I see knowledge—much like history—always repeating itself.

World goes in cycles in countless aspects.

 

[BBBB]

In fact... It's in South Korea, if we speak about technologies

I'm going to present you a take on rabies and you be the judge where the torch of knowledge is.

RABIES – "an infectious disease affecting the central nervous system, accompanied by convulsions and spasms of the pharyngeal and upper respiratory muscles. The cause of the disease is unknown." (Medical Encyclopedia).

♦ Arabic name: الكلب داء da' al-kalb "dog disease". Rabies is also called hydrophobia (fear of water). The initial sign of the disease is the Arabic word يابس yābis "dry," "dryness," which, when read in Russian, sounds like: "I am a demon."

Related to gypsum, from Arabic جبس gibs. In the opposite direction, SBG=SBK, due to the similarity in sound to "собака" (dog) (or in Russian: "I am a dog"), which explains the occurrence of the disease in dry weather in canids. Bites on the fingers are most dangerous due to the similarity in sound to the Arabic word for fingers صباع ṣubāʿ "finger".

It is also transmitted through kissing: يبوس yabūs "he kisses". Ingesting water causes spasms and convulsions of the pharyngeal and respiratory muscles, mimicking the rapid drying of plaster, which leads to death. Refusal to drink water leads to death from dehydration. (note For manifestations of rabies in society, see Hounds of God.)
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This is an example how reality operates on a pair of languages. The idea here is that language has not only communicative meaning, but also works cybernetically, which is perfectly in line with Hermetic principles. But however proud they are of keeping one half of God's language, Arabs usually can't access the other half...