In 1575 inquisitors in northern Italy discovered the benandanti, a band of self-professed spiritual warriors who claimed to send their spirits forth in their sleep to engage in ritual night battles to defend the season's harvest from witches. In this episode, I bring you the stories of two men prosecuted by the Inquisition for their witch-fighting ways. When records obscure reality, who can find the truth?

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben, with original music by Purple Planet.

Episode sources

For more on the Malleus Maleficarum and witch hunting on the European continent, check out The Hammer.

Give to the Italian Red Cross to help victims of the Emilia-Romagna floods:
English: https://dona.cri.it/sostienici/~my-donation
Italiano: https://dona.cri.it/alluvione-emiliaromagna/~mia-donazione 

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