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 > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > http://museums.state.nm.us/nmmnh/museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed > information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail > message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should > read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff > Museum-L" (without the quotes). > ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://museums.state.nm.us/nmmnh/museum-l.html. You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).