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In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss a wide variety of creepy and unexplained activity all coming from British Columbia. This region of Canada is well known for its long history of bizarre stories and events. From UFO sightings, to haunted islands, and even its own legendary cryptid, British Columbia is a treasure trove for anyone who is interested in the strange and unusual.
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In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the phenomenon of Cynocephaly, the bizarre characteristic of humans that possess a dog-like head. Creatures of cynocephaly have been recorded in human history for thousands of years, dating back to the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Tales of these human/dog mixes have been seen throughout the middle ages and even up to the modern day. The origins of these mysterious beings remain a mystery, as well as to why stories of them exist all over the world.
Though commonly believed to be a mere myth, some have come up with several logical reasons behind the origins of these creatures to explain their existence and persistence throughout history. Some theories suggest ancient people mistook certain animals to be cynocephali, while others think people portrayed as these half-dog beasts were simply how civilized societies represented foreigners and barbarians. Whether there is any realistic explanations for these fantastical creatures will forever be unknown, but the legends of cynocephaly continue to be an intriguing historical mystery!
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In this Strange Matters Short the legend of the ancient creature known as the Sirrush is discussed. This dragon-like beast was heavily featured through the great city of Babylon. The Sirrush was an obscure creature that was nearly lost to time, and widely believed to be merely a myth. However, after its rediscovery there have been new theories and explanations that would instead claim that the mysterious beast was in reality an actual living animal!
Was the Sirrush a descendant of the dinosaurs, a leftover of an extinct species? Perhaps a rare breed that was brought to Babylon from a distant land? Or are all the new theories a fantasy, and the truth remains that the Sirrush is, and has always been, simply a made up myth or legend created by the ancient people of Mesopotamia. Check out this Strange Matters Short and hear all about this strange and interesting creature!
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In this episode of Strange Matters a number of infamous and legendary monsters and vile creatures of America are discussed. Each of these monsters have become well known urban legends in their own specific regions across the country. Whether it is the dark woods of New Jersey, the creeks of Kentucky, or even the snowy lands of Michigan, rumors and stories have spread of terrifying beast lurking in the dark.
The Jersey Devil is one of America’s most well known and oldest monster story. This hybrid creature’s origin supposedly dates back before the formation of the United States even. Combining the body parts of numerous different animals, this horrifying creature was rumored to be the spawn of the Devil itself. This monster allegedly lurks in the deep woods of New Jersey, scaring unsuspecting hikers with its blood curdling scream.
The Dogman of Michigan is a mysterious creature that lives in the deep snowy woods of the northern state. Combining the torso of a man with the legs and head of a canine, the Dogman has been spotted and encountered for over a century. Whether the Dogman is actually some type of freak hybrid creature, or just the over-imagination of the locals, has been an ongoing debate for years.
The Pope Lick Monster is a terrifying abomination, a creature combing the body parts of man, goat, and sheep together. This violent monster is rumored to lure innocent victims onto the train tracks on its home bridge. There, they are helpless to either face the oncoming train, or jump to their own demise below. Though the Pope Lick Monster is well known to be merely a myth, the popularity and danger of its tale has lead to many unfortunate accidents.
Finally there is the Beast of Bladenboro, a creature responsible for a string of attacks on people’s pets and livestock in the winter of 1954. When its legend grew, over a thousand people swarmed to the town to try and hunt this vampire like beast. Just as quickly as the Beast arrived, the attacks soon ceased, leaving the people of Bladenboro to wonder to this day exactly what kind of creature was behind the violent animal murders.
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In this story we present a collection of local myths, folklore, and urban legends that have been sent in to us by our listeners around the world!
The origins of these stories range from Austria, England, Canada, and a few in the United States. This episode is a mixture of tales and urban legends including a sadistic murderer, a mythical suicide pool, the haunting of the water babies, the foul smelling Honey Island Swamp Monster, as well a number of other supernatural and paranormal events.
Thanks to our listeners Raphaela, Thomas, Cody, & Kate for sharing your local urban legends with us!
Also big thanks to fellow podcast hosts Jordan, Ryan, and Sam for sending in their own stories as well. Check out their podcasts and give them a listen when you have finished with this episode!
Night Time Podcast | Rumor Flies Podcast | Inward Empire Podcast
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In this Strange Matters Short, Sean discusses the man-eating creature known as the Beast of Gevaudan. This violent animal terrorized a region in France for several years as it killed as many as a hundred men, women, and children. During this time the local populace was nearly hysterical with fear, forced to venture outside to make a living knowing all along that there was a huge beast roaming the area attacking anyone it can across. In an attempt to take down this violent creature, a French officer organized large hunting parties of thousands of soldiers to patrol the area. Professional wolf hunters were hired to track down and kill the Beast. Despite all this, the Beast of Gevaudan evaded any attempt to kill it and continued its reign of terror.
After three years of setbacks, embarrassments, and dozens of deaths, the Beast was reportedly finally brought down by a local farmer when he shot and killed a large wolf near his village. Through the years there have been multiple accounts and theories as to what the Beast of Gevaudan really was. Most think it was a pack of large and man-hungry wolves, while others believe it could have been an exotic or imported predator introduced into the region. There has been more outlandish claims of a werewolf or an ancient species still roaming the land. Whatever the true identity of the animal actually was, the Beast of Gevaudan is one of the most unique and unusual cases in history of a creature that specifically enjoyed hunting and slaying humans.
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