medieval traditions
Incubus: Definition, Origins, and Cultural History
Orin Vale
An incubus is a malevolent supernatural figure from European folklore, traditionally described as a demon that visits sleepers, especially women, in the night. Tracing its roots through medieval demonology, older nocturnal spirit beliefs, and explanations for sleep paralysis and erotic dreams, the incubus reveals how societies linked desire, fear, and the supernatural.
