Tomb Sow Church Lamb
In Scandinavia it was an old pagan tradition to bury an animal alive under a house. The belief was that it would then haunt the house and keep it clean of other spirits.
While there has never been found any written records or animal bones under a church, people non the less thought the church had picked up the tradition, and they thought these Christian "spirit animals" was more powerful than any.
The tomb sow was a big black sow who was believed to protect the graveyard from intruders. She chased off playing children or simply people walking through it at night. If people saw her coming at them they'd better run, because if she caught up with them she would run between their legs and cut them open from the bottom up using the stiff hairs on her back.
When she was not busy scaring and killing people, she chased the spirits of evil people who didn't deserve to be buried in holy ground out of the graveyard, or showed the priest where to bury the next grave.
The church lamb on the other hand protected the church against nature spirits like trolls and elves. It also walked around the graveyard looking for a good place for a grave, then went out to collect a person to put in it. The sight of a church lamb was a sure sign of one's own death.
Tomb Sow Church Lamb
19th April 2013
Community made Fan Art:
12 years ago #8807255
Some British Isles mythology said that big black dogs would be buried in churches and to see one meant you would die or have a severe run of bad luck. They were guardians too, like the lamb. I found out recently that dogs with Rottweiler markings, you know with the brown spots above their eyes, were usually picked because the brown spots were thought to be 3rd eyes of a sorts. It helped the dogs see into the other world...
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Some British Isles mythology said that big black dogs would be buried in churches and to see one meant you would die or have a severe run of bad luck. They were guardians too, like the lamb. I found out recently that dogs with Rottweiler markings, you know with the brown spots above their eyes, were usually picked because the brown spots were thought to be 3rd eyes of a sorts. It helped the dogs see into the other world...
9 years ago #9466769
I wonder if people who wanted to die would go out searching for the church lamb since it is a sure sign of one's own death
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I wonder if people who wanted to die would go out searching for the church lamb since it is a sure sign of one's own death
11 years ago #9105433
Danish-American writer Poul Anderson uses this myth in his sci-fi/fantasy novel, "Three Hearts and Three Lions"
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Danish-American writer Poul Anderson uses this myth in his sci-fi/fantasy novel, "Three Hearts and Three Lions"
11 years ago #9041386
"The church lamb on the other hand protected the church against nature spirits like trolls and elves. It also walked around the graveyard looking for a good place for a grave, then went out to collect a person to put in it. The sight of a church lamb was a sure sign of one's own death."
No wonder it looks up-tight.
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"The church lamb on the other hand protected the church against nature spirits like trolls and elves. It also walked around the graveyard looking for a good place for a grave, then went out to collect a person to put in it. The sight of a church lamb was a sure sign of one's own death."
No wonder it looks up-tight.
11 years ago #9010813
Your comics are so educational. I'll tell my friends and family some of the cool stuff I learn reading them, and they can't get over how interesting it all is. Thanks for making me look smart XD
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Your comics are so educational. I'll tell my friends and family some of the cool stuff I learn reading them, and they can't get over how interesting it all is. Thanks for making me look smart XD
12 years ago #8799754
I think it could be fun to make a Supernatural-ish show with these less known myths and legends. Or like Grimm but actually in Europe.
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I think it could be fun to make a Supernatural-ish show with these less known myths and legends. Or like Grimm but actually in Europe.
12 years ago #8797031
Oh this is interesting. I haven't heard this myth before, and I am normally a folklore junkie, themoreyouknow.gif
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Oh this is interesting. I haven't heard this myth before, and I am normally a folklore junkie, themoreyouknow.gif
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14 F
The lamb's cute, whether or not you wanted it to be.