Since ancient times, in the pagan beliefs of different peoples, there was a cult of worship of animals - the patrons of the family. Such practices existed among the Slavs, European peoples, and still exist among the Indians of North and South America and African tribes. According to their beliefs, each clan had its own progenitor from among the animals, which was the clan totem. Today, some researchers do not consider these views a fairy tale, making serious arguments.
Fairy creatures
There are legends according to which human civilization used to live in prosperity and well-being and possessed unprecedented technologies that are not available even today. People then were almost immortal, and did not know diseases. The climate was mild and comfortable without extreme cold, as it was regulated artificially. However, over time, morals began to deteriorate, and science, instead of serving people, began to be used for evil. So, with the use of high technologies by cloning, hybrids of humans and animals appeared. They had almost no intelligence, and at the same time they were very aggressive. Legends say that these creatures began to multiply rapidly and interbreed with people. This angered the gods, who sent natural disasters to people. As a result, civilization perished from a powerful earthquake and the ensuing flood. It is believed that these legends speak of Atlantis. There are references to such creatures in the mythologies of many peoples. They are especially vividly described in the mythology of Ancient Greece. There are centaurs, winged harpies, echidna, Minotaur and other strange heroes that had both human and animal characteristics.
These creatures, which combined the characteristics of humans and animals and lived next to the inhabitants of Ancient Greece, could well have been surviving hybrids from a dead state. After the onset of the cataclysm, some individuals managed to escape, and they settled on the Balkan Peninsula and in other places in the neighborhood. But gradually they were destroyed by people.
In Indian culture, you can also find references to hybrid creatures. The most striking example is the Nagas - half human, half serpent, who were attributed to the race of demigods.
The phenomenon of lycanthropy
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The image of a half-human, half-animal is also found in the legends describing werewolves. These creatures in ordinary times were people, but they could turn into an animal - most often a wolf. European and Slavic folklore is especially rich in stories about such creatures. There, most often the metamorphosis took place under the influence of the full moon. Werewolf people in the guise of an animal lost their mind and showed an extreme degree of aggression. They could kill even a loved one without realizing it.
Of particular interest is the mystery of lycanthropy - a disease during which a person supposedly turns into a wolf. Official science considers this ailment primarily mental, since physiologically the transformation of a person into an animal is impossible. However, the remains of some people who suffered from lycanthropy confirm the opposite. This disease is believed to be inherited, and is expressed in photophobia, the appearance of animal habits and a constant feeling of hunger. There is reason to believe that the disease may be a legacy of the results of the experiments of the ancient Atlanteans on crossing humans and animals.
The mystery of Prince Vseslav
There was also a type of werewolf that possessed magical powers. They could transform into a beast of their own accord at any time. This ability was also attributed to the Polotsk prince Vseslav Bryachislavich. This ruler descended from Rurik, like the princes of Kievan Rus, but he was constantly at enmity with them. The chronicles mention repeated clashes between his squads and the troops of the Yaroslavichs and even the siege of Kiev. However, at first Vseslav was friendly with Kievan Rus and even participated in joint military campaigns against the nomads.
Numerous legends circulated about the personality of Vseslav. In particular, in "The Lay of Igor's Campaign" it was said that he can turn into a wolf and, thanks to this, overcome long distances in a short time. It was he, according to the version of some historians, who served as the prototype for the epic hero Volkh Vseslavich. This character is known for his exploits, valor, as well as the ability to transform into animals and birds.
The mythology of many peoples is replete with creatures that are half human, half animal. These heroes of legends and legends lived quietly next to a person, but over time they became just a fairy tale. What caused their disappearance - the gradual extinction, or the aggressiveness of people, is unknown. This mystery requires careful research, as it can shed light on many other questions of history.