Succubus

In medieval legend, a succubus (plural succubi; from Latin succuba; "prostitute") is a female demon that seduces men (especially monks) in dreams to have sexual intercourse. They draw energy from the men to sustain themselves, often until the point of exhaustion or death of the victim. From mythology and fantasy, Lilith and the Lilin Jewish), Lilitu (Sumerian) and Rusalka (Slavic) were succubi.

According to the Malleus Maleficarum, or "Witches' Hammer", succubi would collect semen from the men they slept with, which incubi would then use to impregnate women. Children so begotten were supposed to be more susceptible to the influence of demons.

Honoré de Balzac wrote a short story The Succubus [1] concerning a 1271 trial of a she-devil succubus in the guise of a woman, who amongst other things could use her hair to entangle victims.

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

Appearance

The appearance of succubi varies just about as much as that of demons in general; there is no single definitive depiction. However, they are almost universally depicted as alluring women with unearthly beauty, often with demonic batlike wings; occasionally, they will be given other demonic features (horns, a tail with a spaded tip, snakelike eyes, hooves, etc). Occasionally they appear simply as an attractive woman in dreams that the victim cannot seem to get off their 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.

In modern times

To this day the blame of nocturnal emissions and other sexual occurrences or mysteries are, in some cultures and circles, blamed on a demon of sin such as a succubus.

Experiences of apparent supernatural visitations at night can sometimes occur as effects of hypnagogia.

The succubus is a popular figure in modern fantasy fiction.

Etymology

Mare was also a term for the sighing, suffocative panting, or an intercepted utterance, with a sense of pressure across the chest, which occurring during sleep. These symptoms were also thought to be an incubus (or succubus), a evil preternatural being causing nightmares and/or nocturnal emissions.

Popular Culture

Games

Castlevania The succubus is a popular, recurring enemy in the series, undergoing many different appearances and different attack styles. In "Symphony of the Night" and "Lament of Innocence", she is one of the boss characters.
Phantasy Star The succubus appears in a dream battle sequence early in the game.
Ragnarok Online The succubus is a powerful monster in the dungeon, Geffenia.
City of Heroes/City of Villains Succubi are one of several types of demons bound in the service of the mystical Circle of Thorns, who specialize in confusing players into attacking their teammates.
Darkstalkers The character Morrigan Aensland and her sister Lilith Aensland are Succubi.
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction The succubus [2] can be found in great quantity in Act V.
World of Warcraft The warlock class is able to obtain a succubus as a pet at level 20, which has the abilities to make herself invisible and "charm" (sleep effect) an opponent for a short amount of time.

Movies

O Brother Where Art Thou, a 2000 film starring George Clooney in which he calls his wife a succubus
White Skin A university student falls in love with a Succubus [3]
Silent Hill 4: The Room, A female ghost takes the form of a creature that drains the health of the main character and can entangle him to keep him from running away.

TV

Charmed, a popular TV series, features a succubus during the season two episode "She's a Man, Baby, a Man!"
Power Rangers: Mystic Force, the 14th season of the popular TV show had an episode called "Soul Specter" which had a Succubus named Gnatu.
South Park The boys tried to stop Chef from marrying a Succubus