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Banshees are death spirits native to Celtic mythology, being regarded either as a type of fairy or a ghost. Regardless of origin a Banshee was always seen as an omen of death and her screaming was said to be heard by those destined to die: appearance wise a Banshee would often resemble a woman, often a hag but sometimes an attractive maiden. According to some Celtic legends, every clan had their own specific Banshee that would come to those who were destined to die.

Banshees are one of Celtic mythology's most iconic icons, and are often used in fiction as antagonists, they are also a fairly standard kind of spectre in undead armies, and organizations despite the fact they were originally considered more akin to fairy folk than true ghosts (perhaps a representation of one of the many death-gods of pre-Christian religions).

History[]

Folklore[]

The Banshee originates in folklore and while seen as an elderly woman, she was rarely actually seen, instead it was her wailing that made her infamous - she was also greatly respected, unlike the more modern takes of her, being as much a force of nature as she was a spirit.

The Banshee can be depicted as either abnormally tall or extremely small, the smaller sized Banshees show the spirit's link to the fairy folk while the taller variants also show her connection to varied death-gods and hags.

Many variants of the Banshee exist in Irish and Scottish folklore, one of the more aggressive of which is known as the Caointeach, who often washes the clothes of those destined to die but will strike any who interrupt her duties with said clothing, usually across the legs, the victim of such a strike will lose the use of their legs shortly after.

While a solitary creature, the appearance of multiple Banshees are said to signal the death of someone great or holy.

Modern Media[]

The Banshee appears in countless modern works, being one of Ireland's most famous legendary creatures - in modern media she is often given a more villainous role and active malice than she does in the old folklore, for example she is often seen as an evil fairy or demon rather than a simple harbinger of death.

Examples of the Banshee in her modern villainous roles include her appearance in Disney's Gargoyles, the Ghostbusters cartoons, and even some live-action movies.

Powers and Abilities[]

The Banshee was immortal and ghostly, able to become both invisible and intangible at will - usually active during the hours of night, she attached herself to a single clan and would follow them wherever they went, if a member of the clan was near death or about to befall some misfortune she would wail - the sound of her wailing was feared but stories vary on whether she truly caused the misfortunes herself or if she wailed as a sign of mourning for the inevitable.

In popular culture the Banshee has more powers in her arsenal, often being a master of dark magic and evil fairy traits - this was not really prominent in the older tales and is a modern addition (much like how vampires have a weakness to sunlight in the modern world, despite original tales never mentioning it).

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • The term Banshee is often associated with an unpleasant woman, much like the word "hag" or "witch" - it can also mean any kind of noisy spirit or phenomena.
  • The call of the Banshee is believed by some to be the mistaken identity of the barn owl or other nocturnal bird.

See Also[]

  • Bean Nighe (the Scottish version of the Banshee (though in reality they are quite different spirits)).

Navigation[]

           Theology

Gods & Spirits
Gods & Goddesses:
Fomorians
Balor | Bres

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Anat | Baal | El | Mot | Yam

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Dutch
Demons (The Garden of Earthly Delights)

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Louhi

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Baba Yaga | Black Volga's Driver

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Black Volga's Driver

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Jersey Devil | Malsumis | Raven Mocker | Wendigo

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El Charro Negro | El Gritón de Media Noche

Canadian
Wendigo

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Lamashtu | Marinette | Sack Man

Oceanian
Australian
Abere

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Baphomet | Black Monk of Pontefract | Mephistopheles | King Paimon | Six Demons | Zozo

Disambiguation Pages
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See Also
Legends

           Legends

Notable Legends
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Ghosts, Paranormal Beings & Spirits
Bloody Mary| Bell Witch| Black Monk of Pontefract| Banshees| Duppy| Crew of the Flying Dutchman| Crew of the Caleuche| El Silbón| Captain Van der Decken| Hanako-San| Hinnigami| Lord William de Soulis| La Llorona| La Santa Compaña| La Sayona| La Viuda| Tunche| Teke Teke| Onryo| Poltergeists| Stingy Jack| Mackenzie Poltergeist| Nameless Thing of Berkeley Square|

Aliens & Ufology
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Bogeymen
Abo Ragl Ma Slokha| Black Annis| Black Volga's Driver| Bugbears| Boggarts| Baba Yaga| Coco| Krampus| Grýla| Yule Cat| Yule Lads| Sack Man| Sacamantecas| Namahage| Metminwi| Tokoloshe| Whipfather| Wewe Gombel|

Monsters, Animals & Anthropomorphic Beings
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Cryptids
Beast of Bray Road | Beast of Gévaudan | Black Eyed Children | Black Stick Men | Blue Devil | Cherufe | Devil Monkeys | Dog-headed Men | Emela-Ntouka | Enfield Horror | Fear Liath | Flatwoods Monster | Ghosts | Goatman | Grafton Monster | Greys | Highgate Vampire | Hoop Snake | Indrid Cold | Jackalopes | Jersey Devil | Kelpie of Loch Ness | Kongamato | Malawi Terror Beast | Mamlambo | Manananggal | Maricoxi | Mngwa | Momonjii | Morag | Morbach Werewolf | Nobusuma | Ogua | Pope Lick Monster | Popobawa | Pukwudgies | Rawhead Rex | Reptoids | Roc | Ropen | Salawa | Sea Serpents | Shadow People | Sheepsquatch | Slide-Rock Bolter | Snallygaster | Spring Heeled Jack | Tanuki | Thunderbird | Two-Toed Tom | Water Horses | White-Eyed Children | Yowie

Urban Legends
Aliens (AC) | Amanda the Doll | Black Goo | Bloody Mary | Bunnyman | Cameraheads | Cartoon Cat | Cartoon Dog | Charlie | China Doll | Clown Doll | Commander (Russian Sleep Experiment) | Crisis | Crying Boy | Eyeless Jack | Ghost (Johnny, I Want My Liver Back) | Ghost Trains | Hairy-Armed Woman | Hatman | Herobrine Homey the Clown | Hook Killer | Jeff the Killer John and Susan Buckley | Joliet the Haunted and Cursed Doll | Kankandara | Karadedeler | Kidney Thieves | Kunekune | La Tunda | Licking Maniac | The Man Upstairs | Martinez Dog Demon | Melon Heads | Men in Black | Momo | Mystery Killer | Nain Rouge | Nameless Thing of Berkeley Square | Orie Chef | Paimon | Patasola | Robert the Doll | Test Subjects (The Russian Sleep Experiment) | The Baby in Yellow | The Bacteria | The Gendarmerie Commander | The Lifeforms | The Seeker | Ticci-Toby | SCP Foundation | SCP-035 | SCP-049 | SCP-087-1 | SCP-087-B Entities | SCP-096 | SCP-106 | SCP-173 | SCP-343 | Siren Head | Smile Dog | Skinned Tom | Slender Man | The Spirit of Dark and Lonely Water | Teke Teke

Conspiracy Theories
Illuminati | Rain Man | Men in Black

Possessed Objects
Amanda the Doll | China Doll | Clown Doll | Coffin on Wheels | Curse Jar | Ghost Trains | Joliet the Haunted and Cursed Doll | Painting of the French War | Robert the Doll

Video Games
Wendigo

Theology Legends (Demonology, Gods & Spirits)
Main: Theology Villains

H.P Lovecraft "Cthulhu" Legends
Main: Cthulhu Villains

Creepypasta Legends
Main: Creepypasta Villains | Backrooms Villains | Marble Hornets Villains | Slendrina Villains | Channel Zero Villains | Stress Level Zero Villains

SCP Foundation Legends
Main: SCP Foundation Villains

Trevor Henderson Legends
Main: Trevor Henderson Villains

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