A bracket carved as a winged succubus on the outside of an English inn, suggesting that a brothel could have been found inside.

According to the Malleus Maleficarum, or "Witches' Hammer", published by the Catholic Church in 1487, Succubi would collect semen from the men they slept with, which incubi would then use to impregnate women^[3] thus explaining how demons could apparently sire children in spite of the traditional belief that demons were incapable of reproduction through generative or gestative means. Children so begotten were supposed to be those that were born deformed, or more susceptible to supernatural influences.^[4]

From the 16th century, the carving of a succubus on the outside of an inn indicated that the establishment also operated as a brothel.

Etymology

The word "succubus" comes from an alteration of the Late Latin succuba meaning "strumpet". The word itself is derived from the Latin prefix "sub-" which means "below, underneath", and the verb "cubo" which means "I lie". So a succubus is someone who lies under another person, whereas an incubus (Latin "in-" in this case stands for "on top") is someone who lies on top of another person.^[5]

Mare was also a term used to describe the sighing, suffocative panting, or an intercepted utterance, with a sense of pressure across the chest, which occurs during sleep.^[6] These symptoms were also thought to be an incubus (or succubus), an evil preternatural being, causing nightmares and/or nocturnal emissions. This phenomenon is now thought to be an experience of sleep paralysis.

Appearance

The appearance of succubi varies, but in general they are depicted as alluring women with great beauty,^[4][7] often with demonic batlike wings, and large breasts; they also have other demonic features, such as horns and cloven feet. Occasionally they appear as an attractive woman in dreams that the victim cannot seem to get off his mind. They lure males and in some cases, the male has seemed to fall "in love" with her. Even out of the dream she will not leave his mind. She will remain there slowly draining energy from him until death by exhaustion.^[7] Other sources say the demon will steal the male's soul through the act of intercourse.^[7]

Popular Culture

The word succubus has evolved a modern use as a slang misogynistic perjorative, describing a woman who changes the personality of her male sexual partner.

See also

• Al Basti
• Cecaelia
• Empusa
• Energy vampire

• Hisa-me
• Incubus
• Lamia
• Lilith
• Mara

• Melusine
• Nevan
• Naamah
• Succubus in fiction

References

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