In the first part of my especially spooky Halloween series, I begin a hunt for the true nature of the werewolf, looking at its roots in antiquity and mythology and the evolution of the notion through folklore and etymology. In this first installment, I explore werewolf claims in relation to real wolf attacks, trace the idea of their vulnerability to silver, and suggest that the werewolf may have first been a metaphor for savagery and cannibalism later applied to murderers who acted more as animals than men and were punished as such. Happy October! Look for part two before Halloween!

WARNING: Listeners sensitive to such content should be advised that this episode contains vivid descriptions of violence against women and children. 

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