The Legend of the Witch Known as Black Annis May Have Roots in Reality

01/11 19:15 - The Legend of the Witch Known as Black Annis May Have Roots in Reality
Black Annis is an English witch who supposedly ate children, which is always a good story to keep your kids from wandering in the woods at night. A written account from 300 years ago said she lived in a cave, was raised by wolves, had sharp claws, and wore a skirt made from human skin. We know the specific area the legend came from, but where is the cave? Could the story of Black Annis come from that of a 15th-century nun named Agnes who lived alone outside her convent? A woman hermit was very unusual, but Agnes seems to have been respected and even revered. However, a couple of hundred years separated those stories, and intervening events may have changed the details greatly to fit new religious narratives. There are alternate theories on the origins of the legend, and Dr. Emily Zarka (previously at Neatorama) goes through them to judge their accuracy.  ...