The Savage Man Of England: Tales Of The Wodewose

Unknown creatures from folk tales and mythsthe periods of its existence, the wood-dweller has
have the ability to become as realistic as possiblelearned to fashion and used tools from wood.
to the cultures that create them. Along withIt is also believed that the wodewose may have
beliefs and theories on the existence of wild mensprung from interpretations of the Greek myth,
in Asia and North America, comes the tales of athe satyr, or a creature that is half-man and
wild being or savage man that lived in earlyhalf-beast. Some additional descriptions of the
periods in England. These wild folk have been thewodewose say that only the feet were not
heart of many English legends and stories, andcovered with thick hair. Like the Neanderthals,
were called the wodewose, from thetheir brow ridges protruded, and they had
Anglo-Saxon term wudawusa, which meantdeep-set eyes. Their arms were abnormally long,
wood-dweller.while their legs were shorter. Known to be shy
Though the wodewose was said to have existedcreatures, the wodewose have been told be
in the region before the 15th century, tales aboutnumerous accounts to appear to humans during
the wodewose flourished during the Elizabethanthe winter.
Era in the 16th century. The wodewose isMany attempts to link the stories of the
described as a large bearded man whose entirewodewose with that of the North American
body was covered in curly hair. He wore noBigfoot were made. Some accounts even claim
articles of clothing, and carries with him a largethat in many parts of the world, hominids exist up
wooden club. Late-medieval church art in theto the present day. Hominids are a species in
areas of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia havewhich humans and primates originated. Various
thousands of depictions of the wodewose on theirversions of the wodewose can be read about in
structures.Italian, Spanish, German, Norwegian, Chinese,
Images of the wodewose can be seen carved inIndonesian, Mongolian, and other cultural accounts.
stone and wood decorations on Anglican churches.Here are some names associated with creatures
There were even pictures and books printedthat bore similarities to the wodewose: vedi of
during the 15th century which told of stories ofCroatia, basajaun in Spain, sasquatch in Canada,
appearances made by the wodewose. Someyeren of China, and almas of Mongolia, yowie of
historians of the church believe that theAustralia, yeti of Tibet and Nepal, and many
wodewose was used to symbolized paganism, toothers.
further stress the contrast between opposingThere is a website that describes the Wodewose
religions at that time. Many stone statues depictingand numerous other creatures of Cryptozoology
the wodewose show the hairy man defeating ain detail, this website is called: Unknown Creatures
beast such as a lion or a dragon-like creature.and it may be found at this url:
Variations of the name can be written or spokenYou may publish this article in your ezine,
as wudewasa, wudu, or wood houses. Therenewsletter or on your web site as long as it is
have been explanations as to the significance ofreprinted in its entirety and without modification
the wooden club carried by the wodewose.except for formatting needs or grammar
Historians theorize that the wodewose may havecorrections.
been some ancestor of ancient man, and during