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Library Guide on Angel Research

From the ste:

Found across many religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions, most especially in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, angels are supernatural entities. Usually said to be messengers or agents of the divine, they are given particular tasks, from conveying revelations to safeguarding people and supervising cosmic order. Rooted in ancient religious writings and customs, the idea of angels has been around for ages; their portrayals have changed with time, influenced by theological arguments, artistic expression, and popular beliefs.

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19th Century Vampire Art

The 19th century marked a significant shift in the representation of vampires in art, literature, and society, as they transitioned from a folklore figure to a symbol of complex, sometimes idealized ideas. Reflecting the cultural worries and fascinations of the time, vampire art became a potent vehicle for investigating existential problems, desires, and fears. Gothic literature's growth and developments in visual art worked together to produce rich soil for the creative representation of these mysterious beings. Often inspired by European legend, where vampires were once viewed as horrible, corpse-like beings preying on the living, 19th-century vampire art But as the century went on, writers and painters started to change the vampire into a more alluring and sophisticated character. The Romantic movement, which stressed passion, creativity, and the investigation of the darker aspects of human nature, greatly shaped this change. Vampires let writers explore controversial and sometimes taboo topics by becoming metaphors for forbidden desires, death, and the fear of the unknown. During this time, vampire art was greatly influenced by literature. Artists have enough visual and thematic material to investigate in works like John Polidori's The Vampyre (1819) and Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla (1872). For example, Polidori's Lord Ruthven combined appeal and risk in a way that enthralled people, hence creating the archetype of the aristocratic vampire. Likewise, Le Fanu's Carmilla included elements of female vampirism and homoerotic overtones that motivated many graphic representations defying traditional Victorian notions of gender and sexuality.

(Carmilla, 1872, book illustration.) Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), which confirmed the vampire as a key character in Western imagination, was the final cultural milestone of 19th-century vampire art. From haunting pictures of Count Dracula's gloomy castle to portrayals of his predacious interactions with his victims, Stoker's book sparked innumerable artistic adaptations. Often stressing the Gothic style, these paintings displayed dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, crumbling buildings, and the interaction of beauty and horror. Pale and eerily lovely, Dracula's brides' iconography became famous depictions of the vampire's seductive yet lethal appeal.

(Vlad Ţepeş, the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia, 16th century, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria.)

Often inspired by Gothic and Romantic sensibilities, the visual arts of the 19th century also welcomed vampire themes in painting and illustration. Artists like Philip Burne-Jones produced pieces like The Vampire (1897), which showed a predatory female vampire hovering over her male victim, stressing issues of power, seduction, and death. Likewise, Edvard Munch's Love and Pain (1895), sometimes known as The Vampire, depicted a close yet disturbing embrace straddling the edge between passion and annihilation. These pieces reflected Victorian interest in the macabre and the supernatural as well as concerns about changing social standards and women's roles evolving.

(Edvard Munch, Love and pain, 1895, The Munch Museum, Oslo, Norway. ) Vampire motifs also affected early visual media and theater outside of books and paintings. With detailed set designs and costumes bringing the vampires to life for live audiences, stage productions of Dracula and other vampire myths were well-liked. Often including sharp pictures of vampires, theatrical posters and marketing materials stressed their captivating stare, flowing capes, and threatening fangs. These images served to create the lasting iconography of the vampire still in use today. More than simple amusement, 19th-century vampire art reflected the anxieties and wants of a society undergoing fast transformation. From the fear of death and disease to the attraction of forbidden pleasures and the worry about social and sexual indiscretions, the vampire became a flexible emblem. This time, he combined mythology with creative invention to produce a character who still fascinates and motivates, hence laying the groundwork for the contemporary vampire mythos.

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Battle Abbey: England’s Most Haunted Historical Site

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 apparently left a few ghosts behind. Since then, more have joined them and Battle Abbey is very haunted.

From the description:

Battle Abbey, located at the historic site of the Battle of Hastings, is known for its rich history and reported paranormal activity. Visitors report ghostly encounters, especially of spectral monks and battlefield phenomena. The site’s haunting tales highlight the intersection of history, memory, and the living, preserving its cultural significance.

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Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

First published in 1886, Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson wrote the novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Through the lives of Dr. Henry Jekyll, a renowned scientist, and his malevolent alter ego, Mr. Edward Hyde, the narrative investigates the duality of human nature. Jekyll, striving to divide the good and evil inside himself, invents a potion that turns him into Hyde, a reflection of his more sinister desires. But as Hyde's behavior becomes more aggressive, the line between the two identities blurs and terrible results follow. Becoming a cornerstone of Gothic literature and a deep critique of Victorian society's strict moral norms, the novella explores topics of morality, identity, and the conflict between good and evil. Its timeless appeal has made it a classic, motivating innumerable adaptations, interpretations, and debates on the intricacies of human nature.

Jekyll and Hyde sketch from Penny Illustrated.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Victorian era public domain.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920).

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Pont du Gard: Engineering Marvel or Haunted Phenomenon?

The Romans where everywhere and they had a long historical presence. It is not shocking they left ghosts all over the place. a video version is at Haunted Roman Pont Du Gard Aqueduct.

From the description:

The Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct in France, exemplifies engineering brilliance while being a site rich in paranormal lore. Reports of ghostly sightings and unexplained sounds intertwine with its history, prompting investigations into the source of these phenomena. Local folklore, geology, and psychological factors contribute to the phenomenon, fueling intrigue.

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Spirit Photography

Emerging in the mid-19th century, spirit photography was a captivating but contentious phenomenon that blended the developing art of photography with the era's strong fascination with spiritualism. Often superimposing ethereal, translucent bodies over conventional portraiture, practitioners said they caught pictures of ghosts or spirits alongside living people. Many were mourning losses from the American Civil War and the Victorian obsession with the afterlife was at its height; therefore, this trend became more common during a time of mourning. Often welcomed by believers as evidence of life after death and rejected by skeptics as smart frauds, early ghost photographers like William H. Mumler created these spectral photographs using methods including double exposure and composite printing. Spirit photography became a cultural icon despite the debate since it combined technology, art, and spiritual yearning in a way that resonated with an epoch.

(Frederick Hudson, Album of Spirit Photographs, 1872, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, USA)

(Frederick Hudson, Alfred Russel Wallace with the spirit of his mother, 1874.)

(Frederick Hudson, Georgiana Houghton with Tommy Guppy and spirit, 1872.)

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Lamashtu: The Dreaded Demon of Mesopotamia

Lilith is better known but Lamashtu was also believed to be a demon who attacked children as well. Pregnancy and childhood were dangerous in ancient times and demons help explain death.

From the description:

Lamashtu, a fearsome demon in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, threatened pregnant women and infants, embodying societal anxieties about childbirth and infant mortality. Her terrifying hybrid appearance and autonomous malevolence inspired extensive protective rituals and artifacts. Lamashtu’s enduring legacy reveals deep-rooted fears across cultures regarding vulnerability and loss associated with motherhood.

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Ammit: Divine Justice and Moral Order in Ancient Egypt

Anubis gets the credit for weighing the heart. But Ammit eats the souls.

From the description:

Ammit, known as the Devourer of Hearts, is a crucial figure in ancient Egyptian mythology, symbolizing divine judgment and cosmic balance. She awaited the weighing of hearts against Ma’at’s feather, consuming the unworthy, which represented ultimate annihilation. Ammit’s significance reflects the Egyptians’ moral beliefs, asserting that eternal life is earned through righteous living.

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Celtic Druids and Trees

Reflecting the Celts' profound awareness of the natural world and its spiritual aspects, the relationship between trees and Celtic spirituality is deep and complex. Trees were not just considered survival resources but as sacred beings filled with knowledge and power. Trees for the Celts, and particularly for the Druids, were bridges between the terrestrial and the divine, reflecting both practical usefulness and deep metaphysical importance. From their myths and ceremonies to their everyday lives, this respect for trees permeated all facets of their society, hence stressing the vital importance of nature in Celtic spirituality.

Among the most significant manifestations of this link were the sacred groves, or nemeton, where Druids conducted their rituals and ceremonies. Often ruled by oak trees, these groves were viewed as sites of immense spiritual vitality and heavenly presence. Central to many Druidic rituals, the oak, sometimes known as the "king of trees," represented strength, endurance, and nobility. In Celtic belief, some trees also had particular spiritual and symbolic connotations. Often planted in graveyards to reflect the cyclical character of life, the yew, with its remarkable lifespan, was linked to death, rebirth, and eternity. Linked to wisdom and inspiration, the hazel tree was valued for its knowledge-related connections, and its nuts were thought to grant insight. Commonly planted close to homes or used in talismans, the rowan, a tree of protection, was believed to ward off evil. Woven throughout Celtic mythology, traditions, and folklore, these symbolic attributions showed how trees acted as spiritual guides and protectors in their perspective.

Trees also had spiritual importance in Celtic literature and Ogham alphabet divination. Often referred to as the "Celtic tree alphabet," this ancient script connected each letter to a specific tree or plant, hence forming a symbolic system linking language to the natural world. With each tree figure providing particular insights into the spiritual realm, the Ogham was not just a means of written communication but also a tool for divination and meditation. Beyond this, the Celts, like other ancient peoples, accepted the idea of a World Tree, imagining it as a cosmic axis linking the underworld, the mortal realm, and the sky. Embodying the oneness of all existence, trees with their roots deep in the earth and branches reaching skyward were viewed as living emblems of this link. From seasonal celebrations to rites of passage, Celtic ceremonies reflected this respect for trees and emphasized their importance as holy companions over life and death.

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The Role of Druids and Divination in Ancient Societies

Druids did more than practice human sacrifice. One of their many task was to practice divination and attempt to decipher the future.

From the description:

The ancient Druids were the spiritual and intellectual leaders of Celtic civilization, deeply connected to nature. They practiced divination to connect with supernatural forces, using methods such as observing natural omens, Ogham, and dream interpretation. Their traditions shaped societal decisions and reflected a worldview in which the divine communicated through the natural world.

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Edmond Halley and the Hollow Earth

Renowned 17th-century astronomer Edmond Halley, well known for forecasting the orbit of Halley's Comet, was also somebody of fascinating and unusual ideas. Among his less well-known ideas was his suggestion of a hollow Earth, a notion that would fascinate both scientists and storytellers for ages. Halley's take on the hollow Earth was a theory based on his observations and the scientific knowledge of his day, not a fanciful idea produced on a whim.

Halley proposed that the Earth consisted of a series of concentric spheres nestled inside each other, akin to a set of Russian dolls. He proposed that the outer shell of the globe covered several inner layers, each spaced apart enormous distances. Halley believed that the motions of these inner spheres could explain the anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field. He also speculated that perhaps a bright core would light these interior areas, making them even habitable. Though Halley's hollow Earth theory was never popular among his contemporaries, it captured the spirit of investigation that characterized the Enlightenment period. Halley's readiness to consider extreme theories showed his intellectual bravery while scientists of the day struggled with enigmas regarding Earth's formation. Halley's idea set the stage for debates on Earth's composition and motivated further geophysics research; we now know the Earth is solid with a molten core.

Over time, Halley's hollow Earth theory changed in the popular perception to become a mainstay of pseudoscience and speculative fiction. Inspired by the concept, authors such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne created colorful stories of underground kingdoms. Though contemporary science has completely disproved the idea of a hollow Earth, Edmund Halley's audacious theory serves as a reminder of the need for curiosity and the quest for knowledge, even when it takes us down unusual routes.

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Dinosaurs and Hollow Earth: Myths and Realities

Dinosaurs once existed but are now extinct. The Hollow Earth has never been real. Put them together and we have some excellent fiction.

From the description:

The fascination with the notion of surviving dinosaurs in a hollow Earth stems from the combination of two long-standing theories: the hollow Earth hypothesis and the survival of non-avian dinosaurs. Despite scientific rejection of both ideas, they thrive in popular culture as captivating narratives that reflect humanity’s curiosity and desire for undiscovered wonders.

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Chase Vault

Shrouded in legend and enigma, the Chase Vault is in the graveyard of the Christ Church Parish Church in Oistins, Barbados. Best known for the story of mysterious moving coffins, the burial vault has fascinated skeptics and believers alike. Emerging in the early 19th century, the narrative asserts that the coffins inside the locked tomb unexplainably moved between funerals. Though the vault was well sealed with a huge stone slab, the lead coffins were said to be in disarray every time it was opened for family member interment. Never definitively explained, this strange occurrence invites conjecture about supernatural activity, natural forces, or a hoax.

Often credited to Thomas H. Orderson, the Rector of Christ Church in the 1800s, whose stories were subsequently included in James Edward Alexander's Transatlantic Sketches in 1833, the legend of the Chase Vault These retellings cover a string of burials between 1812 and 1819 during which, despite the vault being externally undisturbed, the coffins allegedly moved. The discovery of the massive lead coffin of Thomas Chase, the family patriarch, was particularly unsettling. Skeptics contend the story is historically questionable and that natural events like flooding or seismic activity might have either exaggerated or faked the shifts.

The Chase Vault's enigmatic reputation endures, therefore drawing attention from paranormal fans and ghost stories. Though there is no solid proof to back the supernatural assertions, the narrative has remained a lasting component of local legend. The vault is a sobering reminder of how a combination of historical tales, human imagination, and the appeal of the unknown can fuel legend. Whether a case of real-life mystery or an elaborate narrative, the Chase Vault keeps visitors interested and contributes to the mystique of Barbados' rich cultural past.