The Concise Oxford Dictionary and Webster's New World Dictionary both define
"succubus" as a "female demon supposed to have sexual intercourse with
sleeping men", though Webster notes that the belief dates from medieval
times.

The word is derived from the medieval Latin succuba/succubus, meaning
prostitute or strumpet, derived in turn from "succubare" (to lie under".

I think you can assume, with some confidence, that the term has medieval
origins.

Harry



Harry Needham
Special Advisor - Programme Development
Canadian War Museum
330 Sussex Drive,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0M8
Office: (819) 776-8612;  Fax (819) 776-8623;  [log in to unmask]
Home: (613) 831-1068;  FAX: (613) 831-9412;  [log in to unmask]


> ----------
> From:         Bernard Barryte[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Museum discussion list
> Sent:         Wednesday, July 28, 1999 8:52 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      "succubus"
>
> In an article I'm editing the author refers to a "succubus" as a
> "mythological  demon."  But this creature doesn't appear in any of my
> standard dictionaries so I don't think she is Greco-Roman, though she may
> appear in Near Eastern mythology?  Anyway, I need to add a cultural
> reference, so I would be grateful to anyone who can help with a reference
> or a more complete definition.  Thanks very much, and reply off-list to:
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> ------------
> Bernard Barryte
> Associate Director / Chief Curator
> Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University
> Stanford, CA 94305-5060
>
> [log in to unmask]
> tel:  650/ 725-0466  fax: 650/ 725-0464
>
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