Where do Nightmares come from? Nachtmar

“The term nightmare, at its most etymological core, is a gift or a curse from the same superstitious believes that brought us Lamashtu, and subsequently the creation of the vampire.

Its linguistic origin can be traced back to Old English and Germanic fairy tales. The concept first reared its head in the 13th century in the Norse saga: Ynglinga. In this epic fable: the Vikings attested to the existence of a creature known as the Mara or Maere. A demon of sort, similar and perhaps even of the same breed as the Succubus or Incubus. Psychic vampires that, while feeding off your soul, would inspire a deep sleep paralysis over their victims.

It was said, and in certain parts of Europe the belief still stands firm, that this goblin would come while you dreamt and forcefully weight itself on top of your chest. It would suffocate you as your body rested; giving you horrible terrors as it drained your energy away. Once the ‘Mara’ had filled its belly, it would leave you in a state of deep exhaustion: tired, covered in sweat and, for some odd reason, with your hair entangled- this last action even had a label: ‘marelocks.’

Hallucinations were the most common consequence in people afflicted by these blighted fantasies. Some would even wake, from a particularly distressing dream, to witness two red orbs staring down on them. A second later reality would set in and the vision would fade into nothingness. 

In the mid 18th century, the phenomenon grew in celebrity when Henry Fuseli painted: ‘The Nightmare’ 

and Francisco de Goya, a few years later, etched his famous print-work: ‘The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters’. 

Both masterpieces were only two, of many, that depicted these mythological imps.

The German’s served as a source to the etymological birth, by adding the word ‘night’ or ‘Nacht’, to stress out the dream aspect of the experience. Hence the word ‘Nachtmahr’ or its cognate in english: “nightmare.”

German Folklorist, Franz Felix Adalbert Kuhn, devised, or recorded, an ancient spell-charm that served to ward off these attacks.

Here I am lying down to sleep;

No night-mare shall plague me

until they have swum through all the waters

that flow upon the earth,

and counted all stars

that appear in the skies.

Thus help me God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

Amen!

Excerpt: The Wraith of The Obelisk- L.J. Gomez.