Black Annis

Black Annis

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Black Agnes; Black Anna; Cat Anna; Gentle Annie

ORIGIN:

England

Black Annis, Hag of the Dane Hills near Leicester, England, allegedly eats children who stray into her territory after dark, or at least so their mothers traditionally warn them. First she skins them; then she eats them, scattering the bones around the hills and hanging their skins from trees. Black Annis snatches lambs from pastures and climbs through windows to seize babies, although perhaps over the years she’s just been blamed for missing children and livestock. Sometimes Black Annis is called Gentle Annie, although this is generally considered a supplicating attempt at appeasement.

Manifestations:

She may manifest as a blue-faced crone with long claws and yellow fangs, as a huge black forest cat, or as some sort of woman/cat merger: a cat Demon.

Animal: Cats

Place: Black Annis lives in a cave called Black Annis’ Bower that she personally clawed out from the rocks. Some scholars think her cave marks an Iron Age shrine and that Black Annis, now a dread bogeywoman, was once a venerated goddess. Once upon a time, Black Annis liked to sit and observe her territory from within a giant oak near her cave, vestige of the vast forest that once covered this region. The oak was felled and so she’s now apparently moved permanently to the cave.

SEE ALSO:

Aine; Aynia; Ketta

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.