The Ghost of the black dog

One of the most famous varieties of Ghost in English folklore - black dogs. This Ghost is often called the Black shack (sometimes the Old shack, or just Shaq). The etymology of his name is uncertain: it may derive from the old English "scucca" meaning "demon," or from the word "shucky" from the local dialect meaning "shaggy" or "hairy". Stories about him circulated in East Anglia and in Devon.

Although the actual existence of the ghostly dogs has not been proven, for centuries in the UK has gathered a lot of stories about sightings of similar creatures.

The most famous story about the ghostly dog is considered to be evidence of 4 August 1577, when his appearance in the churches in Bangui and Blithbury was recorded in the local Chronicles as a real historical event, and the image a huge black shaggy dogs have since become part of the local iconography. In the record it appeared, that during the service, suddenly the thunder struck, the doors opened, and the Church ran a huge black dog that ran up to the nave by a large number of people, killed a man and a boy and demolished the Church spire (the number of deaths and some details of the legend in different retellings differ), and then disappeared, leaving before it's burn marks near the door, preserved in the Church still called "marks of the devil."

In the late nineteenth century sailors picked up off the coast of a boy who swam in the sea, fleeing from this monster.

In the 1920-ies and 30-ies of the fishermen regularly heard terrible barking coming from the desert shore.

In 1970, Newspapers were reporting on an unnaturally large dog, seen on the coast near great Yarmouth.

And these are only a few examples, listed in the official sources. Personal testimonies can have several hundred.

But if in the UK found this ghostly creature? Of course not. Little stories about Ghost dog, for example, are quite common on the territory of Russia:

I traveled from my sister's home after midnight. Walked across the bridge, when suddenly the corner of my eye I noticed something huge on the side. Turned see before me is a hefty dog. I'm usually not afraid of dogs, but then she was the size of a calf. She first stopped a little, and then just ran past. Don't know why, but I did look back. And behind was empty. That's where she could bridge to go?

So how do you look Black Shaq? All eyewitness accounts are similar. It is described as a black dog the size of a calf. He has huge glowing eyes, casting a yellow, red or green, long black hair and huge teeth. The witness can see it immediately. First middle of the night, unexpectedly next is heard the tread of huge paws. Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge black dog staring at the person and then runs away or dissolves in the air (fog), not leaving a trace. However, he never attacks, but, according to legend, everyone who met him, be sure to die within a year.

It is impossible to identify a specific dwelling place of the Black Shaka. Based on eyewitness accounts and legends, it appears in cemeteries, deserted country roads, misty marshes and in the hills surrounding the village.

So who is this ghostly dog that appears from time to time in the UK?

The most famous version of the origin of the dog-phantoms represent a demonic supernatural entity, similar to dogs (wolves) Gary and Freki that accompanied Odin, or the Garm, a huge four-eyed dog that guarded HELHEIM (the world of the dead). Though it is not exactly established, it is believed that the legend of them entered British mythology, from Norway, and if to speak more precisely, the legend of the black dog, the companion of Odin, brought the first Viking conquerors who reached British shores.

In addition to the version about the demonic origin of dogs and ghosts, there are several options.

For example, local consider them linked with the witches taking the shape of a black dog.

Archaeologists have a different version. They believe that a Ghost dog guarding a treasure from robbers. Widely known, for example, this finding:

A large hoard of 5,000 gold and silver coins almost 2000 years ago was buried by the inhabitants of the village of Hallaton (England, Leicestershire). The place was surrounded by a moat, and near the entrance, as it turned out, burying dogs. Scientists have found three skeletons, placed one above the other. Dogs by size was similar to a Labrador or German shepherd.

This can be explained in such a way that people believed, as if a Ghost dog guarding a treasure. The animal was buried with his head toward the values to "see" them. As found several skeletons of different periods, it turns out that people supported the preservation of the treasure long enough. The power of the spirit of the dog, how could count the villagers, weakened, and in place of the treasure was sent a new watcher.

This legend has existed for centuries, but is relevant to this day. Its echoes can be found not only eyewitnesses, but also in games, movies, and stories. For example, the well-known reflection of this legend - the image of the hound of the Baskervilles, described by Arthur Conan Doyle in the famous cycle of stories about Sherlock Holmes.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»