| Barghest | |
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Other Names |
Barghest, Barguest |
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First Appearance |
English folklore |
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Created by |
English Folklore |
Origin[]
In Northern English folklore, the Barghest or Barguest is a mythical monstrous black dog with large teeth and claws, though in other cases the name can refer to a ghost or household elf, especially in Northumberland and Durham, such as the Cauld Lad of Hylton.
One notable case is said to frequent a remote gorge named Troller's Gill in the Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire, England. A ballad entitled "The Legend of the Troller's Gill" can be found in William Hone's Everyday Book (1830). It recounts the tale of a man who ventures forth "to the horrid gill of the limestone hill" in order to summon and confront the Barghest in an act of ritual magic. The man's lifeless body is discovered soon after with inhuman marks upon his breast.
In the 1870s a shapeshifting Barghest was said to live near Darlington and was said to take the form of a headless man (who would vanish in flames), a headless lady, a white cat, a rabbit, a dog, or a black dog. Another was said to live in an "uncanny-looking" dale between Darlington and Houghton near Throstlenest, and yet another haunted an area of wasteland between Wreghorn and Headingley Hill near Leeds.
The Barghest often serves as an omen of death. At the passing of a notable person the Barghest may appear, followed by all the other dogs of the local area in a kind of funeral procession, heralding the person's death with howling and barking. If anyone were to get in the Barghest's way it would strike out with its paw and leave a wound that never heals.
Besides taking the form of a large black dog with fiery eyes, it may also become invisible and walk about with the sound of rattling chains. It may also foretell the death of an individual by laying across the threshold of his or her house, and like the vampire the Barghest is unable to cross rivers.
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Wonder Comics #20 - Sir Giles of Clewsby was an evil knight and enemy of King Arthur. Through the magic of the sorcerer Black Barton he could transform into the Barghest, a "fearful night-beast." At Black Barton's behest, Sir Giles took on the Silver Knight in single combat and, taking advantage of his refusal to wear his enchanted armor in a tournament, transformed into the Barghest. He kidnapped the now-cursed Silver Knight and imprisoned him in his castle. The Silver Knight would die unless Arthur surrendered his crown. But at the advice of the Deathless Druid's ghost Tarna took up the Silver Knight's sword and armor and rode to his aid. Tarna defeated Sir Giles and forced him to remove the curse from the Silver Knight, after which he was killed by the Knights of the Round Table.
Notes[]
- The Pokemon Absol, originally from Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, is inspired by the Barghest as well as the Bai Ze, a legendary Chinese dog-like beast.