Undoubtedly, to the modern mind, thunder is nothing more than a natural phenomenon caused by the movement of air, and the so-called "scattered scales" are merely the springtime hail often seen during that season.
In both modern Greek and Lithuanian mythology, dragons are often depicted as enormous beasts of legend. However, as described in Hahn’s writings, the dragons of Lithuanian folklore have lost many of the characteristics traditionally associated with mythical dragons. They differ little from ordinary humans, aside from possessing greater strength or a mastery of unusual magical abilities. In many Lithuanian tales, dragons are portrayed as upright, social creatures that converse casually with people, flirt with young women, and even marry them.
Similar legends surround swans and werewolves.
In ancient Indian mythology, the Asuras often serve as central figures in many tales. These celestial beings, born from the union of heaven and earth, are said to dwell between the earth and the sun. In Sanskrit, "Asura" can mean "formless" or "one who submerges into water." These beings are believed to shapeshift into various forms—sometimes wolves, roaming through forests, or at other times, swans, gliding gracefully across azure pools. One famous tale involves Wapas, an Asura maiden who fell in love with Prithas and became his wife. On their wedding day, Prithas made her promise never to see him in his naked form under any circumstances. Wapas agreed, and for years they lived happily together.
One night, however, the celestial gods, intent on bringing Wapas back to the heavens, devised a plan. They lured Prithas to a window with flashes of lightning, ensuring Wapas would catch a glimpse of him unclothed. Bound by her promise, Wapas was forced to leave her husband. Despite Prithas's desperate attempts to keep her by his side, she retreated to a sacred pool, shed her mortal guise, and transformed into a swan, disappearing forever into the water.
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Such tales of transformation are not unique to Indian lore. Similar myths have been found among the ancient Aryans before they diverged into the distinct cultures of the Russians, Indians, Scandinavians, and Persians. Comparable stories even exist among North American Indigenous tribes.
In ancient Indian mythology, the story of Vritra is one of the most renowned. Initially a rain god, Vritra was later demonized and depicted as a sinister entity capable of consuming all that crossed its path. Similarly, the Rakshasas, another class of malevolent beings in Indian myth, were described as grotesque giants with blood-red hair, tusks protruding over their lower lips, and coarse, bristling hair covering their bodies. Their cavernous mouths and piercing eyes were said to glow like embers, and at night their power multiplied. Like werewolves in European folklore, Rakshasas were feared as creatures of the forest, preying on humans and animals alike.
One tale recounts a Rakshasa encountering a Brahmin priest with an injured arm. Intrigued, the Rakshasa asked to accompany the priest. Along the way, the priest noticed the Rakshasa's legs were as slender as lotus stalks and asked why. "I vowed never to let my feet touch the ground," the Rakshasa replied. When they reached a pond, the Rakshasa excused himself to bathe and pray. Realizing this was his chance to escape, the Brahmin fled while the Rakshasa, bound by his vow, could only watch him disappear into the distance.
This chapter has explored how myths born of natural phenomena evolved over time, becoming increasingly fantastical and, in some cases, dismissed as superstition. With these myths as a foundation, the next chapters will shift focus to historical accounts—true stories that bear striking similarities to the werewolf legends we’ve examined so far.