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The wolf has been alternatively revered, and reviled throughout history. More often it seems, this poor animal has been maligned and accused of being a bloodthirsty, malicious killer. Here I'll attempt to present as many references as possible to wolves in both legend and History. If you know of any others or I've made mistakes please let me know. I'd really like this to be useful. I'll also apologize now, many of these entries are incomplete, or show a lack of understanding of the subject. My references are sketchy at best. If you can expand on any of these, feel free (And I will mention your name on the page as having done so).

One wolf in the south of France was reported to have killed 123 people. In the mid-1700's King Louis XV called out an entire army to hunt it down. It took 43,000 men and 2,800 dogs two months to kill this wolf.

Odin was the chief of the Norse Gods. He was swallowed by a wolf (Fenris) at the time of Ragnarok (The Norse Doomsday).

In Roman Mythology these twin brothers built Rome. They were the sons of Mars (God of War) and Rhea Silvia (a vestal virgin). In order to save their lives, whilst babies, they were placed in a basket and set afloat on a river. They were rescued downstream, and suckled by a she-wolf.

The wolf is one of Mars' sacred animals [Thank you to Dale Ingram for this piece of information].

The Wolf is often used symbolically to represent evil.

The Wolf accosts a Lamb, looking for any excuse to devour him (accusing the lamb of instulting him, eating on his pasture and drinking his water) while the lamb refutes each one. In the end the wolf has had enough and simply devours the lamb - his intention all along. The moral is given as: The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyrrany.

A wolf has a bone stuck in its throat and hires a Crane to remove it. When the crane has done so (by sticking its head down the wolf's throat), the crane asks for payment. The wolf replies that being allowed to place his head down a wolf's throat and live is payment enought. The moral is given as: When serving evil, don't expect payment, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.

A wolf dresses up in the skin of a sheep, hoping this will make it easier for him to obtain food. He is shut up with the rest of the flock that night. The shepherd later returns for a sheep for food, and mistakenly catches the wolf. The moral is given as: Seek harm, find harm.

A wolf was lying wounded after a fight with dogs. Being hungry, he called to a passing Sheep and asked him to fetch some water. He told the sheep that "if you bring me a drink, I will provide myself with meat.". To which the lamb replies, "Doubtless I would become the meat". The moral is given as :Hyopcritical speeches are easily seen through.

In this well known Fairy Tale, LRRH is on her way to her sick grandmother with some goodies. She meets a wolf along the way, and passes pleasantries with him, telling him where she is going. They part, and the wolf races ahead to grandmother's house and devours the woman. He then dresses up in her clothes and awaits LRRH. LRRH arrives, and comments on her granmothers' large eyes, ears and teeth (all the better to see, hear and eat you with are the standard replies). Just as it seems all over for LRRH a passing woodcutter hears the din and rushes in to kill the wolf. The wolf is cut open and grandmother is set free.

Three little pigs each build a home. The first of straw, the second of sticks, the third of bricks. The wolf wants to eat the pigs. At the house of the first he says "little pig, little pig, let me come in." to which the poetic little pig replies "not by the hair of my chinny chin chin". So the wolf huffs and puffs and blows the straw house down.

The wolf moves on to the second pig's house and issues the same challange, and is met with the same reply. Again he huffs and puffs and blows the wood house down.

The wolf moves on to the third pig's house and issue the same challange, and is met with the same reply. Again he huff and puffs, but the brick house remains standing. Not to be thwarted, he climbs on the roof and prepares to go down the chimney. The third little pig hears him, and builds a fire under the chimney, roasting the wolf.

• Legends/
  History
• Facts
• Book Reviews
• Spirituality (Under Construction)