In ancient Greek mythology, Lamia (Greek: Λάμια) was a beautiful queen of Libya who became a child-eating daemon. While the word lamia literally means large shark in Greek, [1] Aristophanes claimed her name derived from the Greek word for gullet (laimos), referring to her habit of devouring children.[2]
Some accounts say she has a serpent's tail below the waist. This popular description of her is largely due to Lamia, a poem by John Keats published in 1819.[3] However, Diodorus Siculus describes her as having nothing more than a distorted face.[4]
Later traditions referred to many lamiae, folkloric monsters similar to vampires and succubi that seduced young men and then fed on their blood.[5]
This is a Beautiful song indeed.
In ancient Greek mythology, Lamia (Greek: Λάμια) was a beautiful queen of Libya who became a child-eating daemon. While the word lamia literally means large shark in Greek, [1] Aristophanes claimed her name derived from the Greek word for gullet (laimos), referring to her habit of devouring children.[2]
Some accounts say she has a serpent's tail below the waist. This popular description of her is largely due to Lamia, a poem by John Keats published in 1819.[3] However, Diodorus Siculus describes her as having nothing more than a distorted face.[4]
Later traditions referred to many lamiae, folkloric monsters similar to vampires and succubi that seduced young men and then fed on their blood.[5]