Origins Of The Ghoul

Ghouls are as popular as ghosts, and often mistaken for being the same thing. They’re used throughout the media, for example in works of art, literature, films, television, and so on. Many people have no idea what a “ghoul” actually is, or what culture it comes from, whereas almost everyone can tell you what a ghost is. There’s even a star named after the ghoul. It’s call “Algol”, and is also called the Demon Star, though it’s actually a small constellation, and has had various other similar names, mainly because it acts “peculiar.” In astrology it’s known as the most unfortunate star in the sky. The word ghoul, and the creature itself, comes from the ancient Arabian term “ghul”, and it translates literally to “demon.” Back then it was one of the more evil species of jinn, and is believed to have been sired by Iblis, the Islamic equivalent to Satan.

The ghouleh, is said to be the female form, and plural ghouls are “ghilan”. The ghoul is known in the Middle Eastern regions as being a desert dwelling demon, with the ability to change shape, to different animals or pest. The favourites among the forms it prefers to take are scavengers, such as hyenas. The ghoul convinces travels out into the desert, away from caravans, and then eats them. They’re also known to be grave robbers, eaters of children, and notorious for eating the dead. This may actually be the theory for the hyena or a dog,
before it was actually known to be a scavenging animal. Dogs were known particularly by the Egyptians and Romans to eat corpses, and for lurking at the edge of the desert where the ancient Egyptians buried the dead. This is also speculation on the theory behind the origins of the jackal-headed god Anubis.

Because ghouls are known to be grave robbers, the term has been used as a synonym for human grave robbers, or anyone who particularly enjoys gore, and macabre behaviour. In Persia, a ghul is just another word for a giant, or a large person. Persian beliefs are that the ghoul is a creature similar to a human being, though large, and not very bright. Depending on the context it’s used in, someone may be calling you a big idiot, in Persia, so be nice to people when you’re there.