Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What were demons and why did they terrify the people of medieval Europe?
Demons were insidious mythical beasts. Medieval people believed that these shapeshifting spirts could take any form and enter a human body to control its host. Experts investigate the disturbing ways that our ancestors tried to combat demons, from exorcism to charms and even gruesome brain surgery. In Europe, people thought that demons were fallen angels who were intent on corrupting humanity; hundreds of women were accused of conspiring with these demons and brutally executed as witches. And what is the truth behind the stories of fairies and changelings? These malevolent creatures were far from the friendly beings of modern folklore.
For thousands of years, civilisations believed in mythical beasts – Dragons, Cyclops, Giants, Vampires and Sea Monsters. They still fascinate us today, but where did the stories of these fabled creatures come from? How much truth lies behind the legends, and what can these myths tell us about the medieval and ancient people that created in them? This series combines action-packed location filming and computer-generated animation, with experts in archaeology and palaeontology, to unearth the secrets behind some of the most famous and terrifying mythical beasts.
Subscribe to Element 18 – bit.ly/337R2uO
What were demons and why did they terrify the people of medieval Europe?
Demons were insidious mythical beasts. Medieval people believed that these shapeshifting spirts could take any form and enter a human body to control its host. Experts investigate the disturbing ways that our ancestors tried to combat demons, from exorcism to charms and even gruesome brain surgery. In Europe, people thought that demons were fallen angels who were intent on corrupting humanity; hundreds of women were accused of conspiring with these demons and brutally executed as witches. And what is the truth behind the stories of fairies and changelings? These malevolent creatures were far from the friendly beings of modern folklore.
For thousands of years, civilisations believed in mythical beasts – Dragons, Cyclops, Giants, Vampires and Sea Monsters. They still fascinate us today, but where did the stories of these fabled creatures come from? How much truth lies behind the legends, and what can these myths tell us about the medieval and ancient people that created in them? This series combines action-packed location filming and computer-generated animation, with experts in archaeology and palaeontology, to unearth the secrets behind some of the most famous and terrifying mythical beasts.
Subscribe to Element 18 – bit.ly/337R2uO
