succubus

Succubus is a female demon or supernatural entity prominent in European folklore and later Christian demonology. Descriptions generally portray a seductress who appears in dreams or nocturnal visions to entice men, often through sexual activity. The male counterpart incubus is said to target women. Across cultures, succubi are depicted as alluring figures who may shapeshift, manipulate, or drain vitality, depending on the tradition.

Etymology: from Latin succuba meaning "lying under" or "a lying beneath." The term appears in medieval Latin writings, and the concept likely reflects attempts to explain erotic dreams, sleep paralysis, or nocturnal emissions within religious and moral frameworks. In Christian demonology, succubi were described as demons exploiting male lust, sometimes consorting with other demons to corrupt souls. Some traditions link succubi to earlier figures such as Lilith.

Characteristics and variations: Some depictions emphasize beauty and seduction; others emphasize danger or grotesqueness. In many tales, the succubus drains energy or life force from victims, rather than merely taking pleasure. Tales often caution against sexual sin; incubus and succubus motifs have been used to moralize or to dramatize fears about sexuality. Stories also connect succubi to dream states and sleep disorders.

Legacy and scholarship: In literature, art, and contemporary media, succubi appear in Gothic fiction, fantasy games, and horror films. Scholars analyze the figure as a lens on gender, power, and sexuality; feminist readings critique the demon as a symbol of patriarchal anxieties, while other interpretations view it as a cultural myth that encodes psychological fears about dreams and desire.