Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 54 minutes ago
The story of Lycaon (also spelled Lykaion, Lykaon) has been told by many dating back to folklore in Ancient Greece, where it was attested in works like Pausanias' Description of Greece, Apollodorus' Library, and Hyginus' Astronomica, and across centuries and civilizations through mythology, folktales, and works like Ovid's masterpiece Metamorphoses. Lycaon's attempt to deceive the gods leads to a terrifying transformation, which many have described as the oldest depiction of a werewolf, wolf-man, or lycanthrope.
The story of Lycaon, his test of the god Zeus, and his transformation as punishment is not just a great scary story; it provides insight into Ancient Greek customs of morality such hubris and as hospitality (Xenia.) Like the best of gothic and modern horror, the story of Lycaon explores the fine line between man and monster.
All revenue for the month following the release of this video will be donated to SAFE Project US, supporting recovery for those struggling with addiction.
Transcript: https://ancientworld.website/b/mythosandlogos/view_post.php?id=5
Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.”
Support the channel by subscribing, liking, and commenting to join the conversation!
Support the channel financially through your generous Patreon donation: patreon.com/mythosandlogos
Cline, Austin. "Method of Sacrifice in Ancient Greece." Learn Religions. learnreligions.com/method-of-sacrifice-in-ancient-greece-4079925
Paphitis, Nicholas. "Ancient Teenage Skeleton Unearthed on Mountain Top Could Confirm Darkest Greek Legend." Ekathimerini. ekathimerini.com/culture/211168/ancient-teenage-skeleton-unearthed-on-mountain-top-could-confirm-darkest-greek-legend
SAFE Project US: safeproject.us
Mount Lykaion Excavation & Survey Project: lykaionexcavation.org
The purpose of this channel is to share the important stories at the foundation of human cultures throughout history. These include mythology, legends, folktales, religious stories, and parables from the dawn of history to the modern day. This channel provides interpretations and insight into these stories, to find and apply their meaning to contemporary life. All stories covered are treated academically. This channel makes no claims regarding the historical, scientific, or religious truth of these tales. Rather, its goal is to find the meanings understood by their authors and apply them to the modern world.
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Screenshot from the trailer for the film Night of the Living Dead (1968)
00:37 Cover scan of Classic Comics Issue 13, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, image upscaled via use of artificial intelligence
00:43 Title page from 1669 edition of Malleus Maleficarum
01:05 Lycaon Transformed Into A Wolf by Hendrik Goltzius
01:39 Fallen Humanity
01:48 Manuscript of Pausanias' Description of Greece
02:10 Pausanias, Description of Greece
02:47 Jupiter, on His Eagle, Enthroned in the Clouds by Stradanus
02:53 The Golden Age by Lucas Cranach the Elder
02:59 The Silver Age by Lucas Cranach the Elder
03:36 The Milky Way by Ernest Michel, interior of the Montpelier Opera, photographed by G. Mannaerts, licensed under Creative Commons
03:59 Nymphs and Satyr by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
04:25 Council of the Gods by Giovanni Lanfranco
05:23 Sacrifice of a Boar by the Epidromos Painter
06:54 Jupiter by Dominik Auliczek, from Nymphenburg Palace, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, photographed by Rufus46, licensed under Creative Commons
07:37 A Savage Beast
08:00 Lycaon Transformed Into A Wolf by Hendrik Goltzius
08:07 Ovid, Metamorphoses
09:48 Conclusion: Bones of the Past
11:35 Thank You & SAFE Project Message
13:28 Mount Lykaion Excavation Findings
All works of art are in the public domain unless stated otherwise.
Thumbnail image generated via use of artificial intelligence.
Stock video clips licensed through Storyblocks.
Ambiment - The Ambient by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
The story of Lycaon (also spelled Lykaion, Lykaon) has been told by many dating back to folklore in Ancient Greece, where it was attested in works like Pausanias' Description of Greece, Apollodorus' Library, and Hyginus' Astronomica, and across centuries and civilizations through mythology, folktales, and works like Ovid's masterpiece Metamorphoses. Lycaon's attempt to deceive the gods leads to a terrifying transformation, which many have described as the oldest depiction of a werewolf, wolf-man, or lycanthrope.
The story of Lycaon, his test of the god Zeus, and his transformation as punishment is not just a great scary story; it provides insight into Ancient Greek customs of morality such hubris and as hospitality (Xenia.) Like the best of gothic and modern horror, the story of Lycaon explores the fine line between man and monster.
All revenue for the month following the release of this video will be donated to SAFE Project US, supporting recovery for those struggling with addiction.
Transcript: https://ancientworld.website/b/mythosandlogos/view_post.php?id=5
Mythos & Logos are two ancient words that can be roughly translated as “Story & Meaning.”
Support the channel by subscribing, liking, and commenting to join the conversation!
Support the channel financially through your generous Patreon donation: patreon.com/mythosandlogos
Cline, Austin. "Method of Sacrifice in Ancient Greece." Learn Religions. learnreligions.com/method-of-sacrifice-in-ancient-greece-4079925
Paphitis, Nicholas. "Ancient Teenage Skeleton Unearthed on Mountain Top Could Confirm Darkest Greek Legend." Ekathimerini. ekathimerini.com/culture/211168/ancient-teenage-skeleton-unearthed-on-mountain-top-could-confirm-darkest-greek-legend
SAFE Project US: safeproject.us
Mount Lykaion Excavation & Survey Project: lykaionexcavation.org
The purpose of this channel is to share the important stories at the foundation of human cultures throughout history. These include mythology, legends, folktales, religious stories, and parables from the dawn of history to the modern day. This channel provides interpretations and insight into these stories, to find and apply their meaning to contemporary life. All stories covered are treated academically. This channel makes no claims regarding the historical, scientific, or religious truth of these tales. Rather, its goal is to find the meanings understood by their authors and apply them to the modern world.
00:00 Introduction
00:25 Screenshot from the trailer for the film Night of the Living Dead (1968)
00:37 Cover scan of Classic Comics Issue 13, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, image upscaled via use of artificial intelligence
00:43 Title page from 1669 edition of Malleus Maleficarum
01:05 Lycaon Transformed Into A Wolf by Hendrik Goltzius
01:39 Fallen Humanity
01:48 Manuscript of Pausanias' Description of Greece
02:10 Pausanias, Description of Greece
02:47 Jupiter, on His Eagle, Enthroned in the Clouds by Stradanus
02:53 The Golden Age by Lucas Cranach the Elder
02:59 The Silver Age by Lucas Cranach the Elder
03:36 The Milky Way by Ernest Michel, interior of the Montpelier Opera, photographed by G. Mannaerts, licensed under Creative Commons
03:59 Nymphs and Satyr by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
04:25 Council of the Gods by Giovanni Lanfranco
05:23 Sacrifice of a Boar by the Epidromos Painter
06:54 Jupiter by Dominik Auliczek, from Nymphenburg Palace, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, photographed by Rufus46, licensed under Creative Commons
07:37 A Savage Beast
08:00 Lycaon Transformed Into A Wolf by Hendrik Goltzius
08:07 Ovid, Metamorphoses
09:48 Conclusion: Bones of the Past
11:35 Thank You & SAFE Project Message
13:28 Mount Lykaion Excavation Findings
All works of art are in the public domain unless stated otherwise.
Thumbnail image generated via use of artificial intelligence.
Stock video clips licensed through Storyblocks.
Ambiment - The Ambient by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
