Succubi (singular: succubus) are powerful female demons who use their sexuality to appear in the dreams of victims, usually young men. They then seduce and prey on these victims, slowly draining their souls with each encounter. Their male counterpart is called an Incubus.
The idea of succubus and incubus date back as far as medieval and biblical times. The earliest writings date back to Mesopotamia circa 2400 BC. It was believed that a demonic creature called Lilu or Lilitu (female form) would erotically seduce men and women in their dreams.
However, the actual title of Succubus (to lie beneath, Latin) and Incubus (to lie on top, Latin) were not applied to these mythical demons until medieval times. Throughout the 15th century theologians are documented as having discussed these demons in hopes of determining the origins of these disturbing night prowling deviants.
The term derives from Late Latin succuba "paramour" from succubare "to lie beneath" (sub- "under" and cubare "to lie"), used to describe this being's implied sexual position relative to the sleeper's position. The English word "succubus" dates from the late 14th century.
The Nightmare (1781) by Johann Heinrich Füssli
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Origins and Evolution
The origins of Succubi lay steeped in occult mysteries and various sleep disturbances. The descriptions of the same can be traced back to the folklore of medieval times. In ancient Mesopotamian mythology, a precursor to the Succubus was Lilith, a figure who, according to some Jewish traditions, was the first wife of Adam and later became a demoness associated with seduction and the death of infants.
Succubus is understood as a Lilin-demon in female form or supernatural entity that appears in dreams to seduce men, usually through sexual activity. As depicted in the Jewish mystical treatise Zohar and the medieval Jewish satirical text Alphabet of Ben Sira, Lilith was Adam's first wife, who later became a succubus. She left Adam and refused to return to the Garden of Eden after she mated with the archangel Samael. In Zoharistic Kabbalah, there were four succubi who mated with the archangel Samael.
Previously, Succubi were noted as being horribly disfigured monsters, with monstrous rows of teeth, 3 sets of breasts and talon-like nails. Throughout history it's been believed that the succubus would come at night and would sexually attack men in their sleep retrieving their semen. They would then transform to their incubus form.
They would then transfer this sperm to women in their sleep and impregnate them in the hopes of the woman bearing a gifted child called a cambion. Thereby, deceptively spreading there species into humankind. These creatures can allegedly drain energy, blood and life from humans to strengthen itself to continue it's purpose.
The basic description of a succubus or incubus had remained very much the same early on. Described as gargoyle-like with wings and tails, horns and scaly skin. As time evolved so did its description. In the 18th and 19th centuries it's description evolved into more humanlike imagery. However, some people that have experienced a visit from the creature still describe it in its original animalistic form.
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Victims of 'Succubi' described their visits to the men as 'a feeling of someone sitting on my chest or pelvic area'. Succubus encounters have also been theorized as an attempt to explain birth defects or sometimes adultery. Succubi would use supernatural powers to seduce a man and steal his semen. Then, the Succubus would transform into an Incubus and seduce a woman.
Are Incubus And Succubus Real Sleep Demons?
Characteristics and Abilities
Characteristically, a Succubus is a psychic, or 'manipulative' demon. Kiss of Death - A succubus has the ability to steal life force energy from victims via a kiss.
The Succubus typically appears as a beautiful and alluring woman, using her physical attractiveness to manipulate and seduce her victims. She can often change her form to suit the desires of her target, appearing as their idealized partner.
One of the Succubus’ defining traits is her ability to enter the dreams of her victims. In these dreams, she engages in acts of seduction and feeds off the energy of her target. A Succubus sustains herself by feeding on the life energy of her victims, usually through sexual contact or dreams. In many myths, this act leaves the victim weak, exhausted, or even dead.
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Succubi are often portrayed as immortal demons who can take on any appearance they desire, making them highly skilled in deception. Their ability to transform allows them to infiltrate societies and manipulate individuals with ease.
Succubi in traditional fantasy comprise various sexually appealing forms, from long-haired to lithe and winged. Though they can appear in the form they believe most pleasing to their intended victim, they tend to default to a scantily clad, shapely, bat-winged demon.
Succubi have often been described as exceptionally beautiful women, but sometimes with bat or other flying animal wings on their backs. As with the Incubi, the Succubi attack their victims at night and allegedly prefer religiously-minded victims as well. The Succubi seek out sleeping men and are said to drain them of their blood, breath, life-energy and semen - even until the point that the victim could die.
Some resources say that a Succubus doesn’t even need to be physically present in the man’s room to attack. They suggest that Succubi can simply enter into men’s dreams and absorb their vital energies that way. Normally, these dreams are also of an erotic nature and lead the men to experience deep sleep paralysis. Some legends say that Succubi and Incubi are two forms of the same demon.
Cultural Variations
Many other cultures have sex demons as part of their mythology, analogous, or similar to the incubus and succubus. In Arabic culture, there are descriptions of jinns, who are thought to be responsible for similar sexual acts. In Arabian mythology, the qarînah (قرينة) is a spirit similar to the succubus, with origins possibly in ancient Egyptian religion or in the animistic beliefs of pre-Islamic Arabia.
According to African beliefs, men who experience having sex with such principality (succubus) in dreams (usually in the form of a beautiful woman) find themselves exhausted as soon as they awaken. The alp of Teutonic or German folklore is one of the better known.
In Zanzibar, Popobawa primarily attacks men and generally behind closed doors. In Hungary, a lidérc can be a Satanic lover that flies at night and appears as a fiery light (an ignis fatuus or will o’ the wisp) or in its more benign form as a featherless chicken.
In Swedish folklore, there is the mara or mare, a spirit or goblin that rides on the chests of humans while they sleep, giving them bad dreams (or “nightmares”). Belief in the mare goes back to the Norse Ynglinga saga from the 13th century. In Turkish culture, incubus is known as Karabasan.
In India, the succubus is referred to as Yakshini, who are attendees of Hindu God of Wealth, Kubera and are considered to be guardians of hidden treasure in the earth. They are shown as beautiful, voluptuous females with wide hips and narrow waists, broad shoulders, and exaggerated spherical breasts.
Yakshini's are believed to provide gratification to senses as they have extreme beauty and have power to delight the body. Thirty-six different types of Yakshini's are described in the texts of Tantras, who fulfill the different desires of human beings. They are believed to always remain young and beautiful, powerful, and effective, who if pleased can fulfill the materialistic desires of a person.
The Succubus in Modern Media
In modern fantasy, the Succubus has evolved from a purely malevolent figure into a more complex and varied character, sometimes portrayed as tragic, sympathetic, or even heroic.
Examples in modern media include:
- Diablo: In Blizzard’s Diablo series, Succubi are portrayed as alluring demons who attack the player with magic and melee attacks.
- World of Warcraft: In World of Warcraft, the Succubus is a demon minion that warlocks can summon.
- Succubus Blues: by Richelle Mead is a series that portrays a Succubus named Georgina Kincaid as the protagonist.
- Lost Girl: The TV series Lost Girl follows the story of Bo, a Succubus who struggles to control her powers and live a normal life.
- Charmed: In the Charmed series, Succubi are portrayed as demons who seduce men and drain their life force.
Psychological and Medical Perspectives
Succubus is also known as demon female lover who approaches males in their dreams to have sex. This is the phenomenon which is rarely described in psychiatric literature. It is more identified as a cultural belief in different religions. Many anthropologists and psychologists believe the explanation of succubus and incubus to be supernatural explanations for sleep paralysis and hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations.
Reports by people suffering from nightly visits have described the interaction as very physical, painful and extremely real. They can describe the demonic visitor in extreme detail and recall being immobilized as the creature has its way. Upon its release, many victims show physical signs of an encounter and feel victimized and scared.
Succubus is believed to be purely mythological and folklore by psychiatrists and occurrences have been treating patients suffering from these night visits by way of prescribing antipsychotic medications even though many sufferers have shown no signs of mental illness or any physical disabilities. It's believed in the medical community that these attacks are actually vivid and lurid dreams that occur during sleep paralysis.
Sleep paralysis is dreaming while your eyes are open but the brain hasn't fully awakened.
Here is one woman's story of her encounter with an Incubus.
The reality of these entities is still heavily debated within the scientific, psychological, paranormal and spiritual communities.
If you or someone you know believes they are suffering from the effects of a succubus/incubus I would recommend you seek out a certified demonologist or priest.
The following table summarizes the key aspects of Succubi and Incubi:
| Aspect | Succubus | Incubus |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Female | Male |
| Target | Men | Women |
| Method | Seduction in dreams | Assault in dreams |
| Purpose | Drain life energy, collect semen | Impregnate women |