Ancient History, Clara Winter, Dark Ages, Experts, Gothic History, Horror Medical, Medieval Sickness, Middle Ages, Renaissance

The Dancing Plague Of The Middle Ages

We all heard of the Bubonic Plague, Black Plague, the Plague, or the Black Death, all synonyms for the same illness that killed a third of the world’s population. But do you know about the Dancing Plague?

But First, The Black Plague!

Europe in the Middle Ages suffered from many illnesses and diseases as they developed in various societies. The popularity of trading ports expanded the horizons of kingdoms but also had them face new pathogens, bacteria and germs their lives did not accustom them to.

Nothing prepared their immune system for the possibility of contagion. Their limited knowledge of medicine also led them to die in great numbers. The Church spread it was either God punishing them for their sinful ways or Satan spreading its diseases. Either way, the morale was down.

Clara WinterMarch 30, 20231 Comment

Ancient History, BooTube, Channels, Clara Winter, Dark Ages, Experts, Gothic History, Horror Medical, Medieval Sickness, Middle Ages

The Black Death History Of The Middle Ages

When the words Black Plague come together, we automatically think of the Middle Ages. Most recently, the term Dark Ages turned inappropriate but remained used, as it has another meaning for us goths, the Bubonic Plague.

The Overall Meaning Of The Black Death

The term Black Death resonates with an outburst of bubonic plague turned into a pandemic. It occurred in Western Euroasia and spread down to North Africa. Its period of spread was between 1346 to 1353.

This era was the most brutal and fatal death-spreading pandemic in human history to this day. Nothing has ever come close to the number of deaths related to a disease.

Clara WinterDecember 30, 2022January 13, 20232 Comments

Ancient History, Clara Winter, Dark Ages, Demonology, Experts, Gothic History, The Bible

Is Belial A Fallen Angel Or A Simple Demon

When watching the popular Netflix series Lucifer, Belial is one name Lucifer mentions to refer to himself. However, Belial is a character of his own rights. Here’s the story…

The Technicality Of Belial

Belial is not just a name, but a Hebrew word linked to wickedness and worthlessness. If digging deeper into the word’s etymology, we get ‘lacking worth,’ some even go as far as ‘may he have no rising.’

In King James‘ version of the Bible, Belial would be ‘a naughty person.’ However, in the Hebrew version, we see phrases such as ‘sons of Belial’ or simply put as ‘sons of worthlessness.’ When phrases use ‘sons of,’ it is a way to describe a group of people.

Clara WinterNovember 28, 2022January 13, 2023Leave a comment

Ancient History, Art, Clara Winter, Dark Ages, Experts, Gothic Art, Gothic History, Knights Templar, Middle Ages

The Knights Templar Downfall At The Hands Of A French King

The Dark Ages weren’t magic. They were unforgiving. It was a time for kingdom divisions and assertions of power for lands. But Kings and Queens weren’t the only sources of power. So were the Church and their most powerful Order, the Knights Templar.

What Do We Know Of The Knights Templar?

I am an ancient history nerd. My favourite era is the Iron Age and the Dark Ages. Because of my passion for history, the Assassin’s Creed video game franchise from Ubisoft became an obsession of mine. Their accuracy and storytelling are compelling, and so are their villains.

The Assassin’s Creed might not be real in history—or maybe it is, and it’s all part of the conspiracy!—Joking aside, the assassins aren’t real, but the Knights Templar were and still exist to this day. Most of what we know about them comes from conspiracy theorists or fiction. In fact, the most accurate depiction of the Order comes from Assassin’s Creed and the History Channel series, Knightfall.

Clara WinterNovember 14, 2022January 13, 20231 Comment

Ancient History, Experts, Gothic History, Killers, Paula Phillips, The Monsters

A Reign Of Poison And Sociopathy

Lately, Paula has been on a kick reading about early obscure killers. After she wrote her piece about The Story Of The 19th Century Forgotten Cannibal, she decided to go back even earlier. She wants to spotlight those most people would have never heard about.

An Early Queen With A Taste For Men

This article takes us back to an ancient kingdom that is seen nowadays as part of Sri Lanka. This commentary introduces readers to Queen Anula of Anuradhapura.

She lived in the kingdom of Anuradhapura. This was a kingdom that ruled over Sri Lanka. Queen Anula has been recorded as the first female of the state in Asia.

NZGeekChicNovember 11, 2022November 10, 20221 Comment

Ancient History, Clara Winter, Dark Ages, Experts, Gothic History, Horror Medical, Paranormal Burial

Anglo-Saxon Dangerous Dead Burial In Nottinghamshire

In the Middle Ages, the rise of many beliefs creeping out of ancient folklore surfaced. One of them is the vampire, alongside witches that were common and werewolves. In modern times, when digging in the ‘old country,’ one might find rather strange burials.

The Middle Ages Fortune-Tellers

Back in Medieval Times, people didn’t have meteorologists to explain Mother Nature’s behaviour. They didn’t have the luxury of biologists telling them not to drink stagnant water. Instead, people had other ways to explain diseases and poor crops.

People of the Middle Ages often tried to find someone to blame, and it would come from dark places. With the Church spreading its wings across Europe, witchery was the popular belief.

Clara WinterNovember 10, 2022January 13, 20232 Comments

Ancient History, Clara Winter, Dark Ages, Experts, Gothic History

An Evil King In A Most Unforgiving Time

In the Dark Ages, technology and discoveries were stagnant. Yet, to this day, creative minds dive into history to grab a piece of its history. While some things stood still, the battle for kingdoms had begun. Reign of Mad Kings roared over lands, and Æthelred II was one of them.

Dark Ages Fun Fact & Warning

A Dark Ages fun fact: people had no surnames or family names. In fact, they had either sobriquets or a nickname to separate them from others wearing the same first name. For that reason, many last names today carry words that once meant something different.

I should warn you that this article is about Æthelred II, ‘the Unready’ from later in history and not based on the fantastic character from the television series, The Last Kingdom. Those are two different Æthelred II. While native from the same kingdom apart in time.

Clara WinterNovember 9, 2022January 13, 20234 Comments

Ancient History, Clara Winter, Dark Ages, Demonology, Experts, Gothic History, The Bible

Moloch, One Of The Abominations Of Demon Kings

Moloch is a demon often used in horror for various reasons. However, he needs a representation of his identity and what he does. So, let’s dive into the history and folklore surrounding this deity.

Before We Start, Get Holy Water And Read! Seriously, Read It!

This is an entertaining article about the demon Moloch viewed by a professional demonologist. I have certification in the field, as well as vampirology and cryptozoology. All research contains hours of work and can still be subjective to my interpretation.

WARNING: This article contains possible gruesome facts about the demon Moloch.
AUDIENCE: 18+. Mature audience only.
ENTERTAINMENT: This article does not suggest summoning demons. You are warned.
BIBLE USED: For all my articles, I use King James’ rendition.
TRIGGERS: Child sacrifice | Hell | Religion | Catholicism | Trauma | Mental Disorders.

Clara WinterNovember 8, 2022January 13, 20231 Comment

Ancient History, Experts, Gothic History, Paula Phillips

The Rings Of Poison A History Of Murder

The history of jewellery is not always about embellishment or a sign of status in society but a weapon and these rings have a hellish history. Continue reading The Rings Of Poison A History Of Murder

NZGeekChicNovember 2, 2022November 2, 2022Leave a comment

Ancient History, Dora Esquivel, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Gothic History, Killers, Serial Killers, The Monsters, Torture

The Hellish Killer Who Fought With Joan of Arc

Gilles de Rais or Baron de Rais, was a knight and lord from Brittany, Anjou and Poitou. He was a leader in the French army, and a companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc. So, how is it that his reputation turned to a killer of children?

The True Face Of Evil

Gilles ‘Baron’ de Rais fought alongside Joan of Arc at the Siege of Orléans. This was around La Roche-Bernard in France in September 1438.

de Rais was a young lord who was hailed as a hero. So, understandably any mother would be honored to have their ten-year-old son go live with de Rais and become his page. Unbeknownst to the mother, she would never see her young son again.

Dora EsquivelSeptember 22, 2022September 18, 2022Leave a comment

Ancient History, BooTube, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Gothic History, Legend & Folklore, Paranormal Footage

Mystical Menagerie – The Reptilian Monster of California by Mandi Konesni

The phobia of reptiles go back millennia. However, we’ve evolved but did lizards evolved too? Mandi Konesni dive into the subject in this week’s column!

A Primal Fear

Move to the suburbs, they said. It’ll be safer, they said. Until you’re running through the maze of carbon-copy streets, heart-pounding, breathing frantic. The pup in your arms is getting so heavy, but you’re terrified to put it down. All you wanted was to take the pup for a quick potty break before bed. The quiet, tree-lined street was a haven, a refuge from city life.

Mandi KonesniOctober 4, 2021Leave a comment

Ancient History, Clara Winter, Curses, Demonology, Demons, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Gothic History, Phobias, The Bible

Why Is 666 The Number Of The Beast

What numbers do we think about when we hear the word ‘devil’ or ‘evil?’ 666. But why is 666 the number of the Beast, and what does it mean? How far back are we going?

666 In Pop Culture

Why is 666 the number of the beast? The number 666 goes back a while, but we also use it to represent something negative, such as the Beast in today’s world. Often when houses or buildings have 666 addresses, they have a lower price—people associate, like the number 13, a bad reputation.

WARNING: Conspiracy theories | Religion | Catholicism | Christianity

Clara WinterMay 14, 20211 Comment

Ancient History, Angels, Clara Winter, Death, Demonology, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Folklore, Gothic History, Hell, Legend & Folklore, The Monsters

Did You Know Death Was An Angel

We often associate Death with the Grim Reaper or a dark silhouette. However, its origin and appearance are quite different than we know, and the name is Azrael.

The Origin of Death

Did you know Death was an angel? Having a being the representative of Death is part of many cultures, but here we are focusing on Death’s relatively old portrayal. It is part of Islam, Jewish, and Catholic faiths.

In Norse, the goddess Hel is the Underworld ruler and is, by definition, Death. In Greek as well as Roman mythology, Thanatos is the one to bring Death upon humans. Those are the bearer of the end of life and the beginning of the afterlife.

Clara WinterFebruary 26, 2021February 26, 20212 Comments

Ancient History, Clara Winter, Demonology, Experts, Gothic Art, Gothic History, Gothic Research, Horror Literature, Legend & Folklore, Stereotypes & Misconceptions, The Monsters

The Devil’s Landing On Earth

If you grew up Catholic, you must well know the story where Archangel Michael defeated the Devil, and he fell from Heaven. But, where exactly did he land? Satan created Hell following his fall. The answer might surprise you.

The Fall Of All Falls

As part of the Abrahamic religions, Satan or the Devil often uses seduction to induce a sinful response from humans. The Devil is part of almost all religions throughout history. But the one we are addressing comes from not only Catholicism and Christianity, but also Islam as well as Judaism. The Devil’s landing on Earth, is it real?

The Devil is a fallen angel, but when angelic one of the most precious ones to God. He was his favorite and most beautiful angel and ‘son’ at the time. Despite his rebellion against God when he refused to bow to Adam, the Devil lived.

Clara WinterJanuary 25, 2021Leave a comment

Ancient History, Curses, Dora Esquivel, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Folklore, Gothic History, Gothic Research, Horror Literature, Legend & Folklore, The Monsters, Werewolf Trials, Werewolves

Full Moon And Legends Gives You A Werewolf

I have always loved the werewolves. Something about being so powerful has always struck me.

My First Screen Experience

My first dab with the beasts was seeing them on screen, and I have to say as a little kid, I was awestruck by the transformation from human to werewolf.

The first movie I saw that dealt with was the old white and black, The Wolf Man. You have to remember this was the late 70s so old black and white movies were still showing.

Dora EsquivelAugust 7, 2020August 7, 2020Leave a comment

Ancient History, Authors, Curses, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Gothic History, Legend & Folklore, The Monsters, Vampires

Vampires Are Monsters Too

GBM keeps going with the Favorite Monster Week and it wouldn’t be complete without vampires, right?

The Beginning

It is hard to say where Vampire folklore began, there are myths of creatures similar to vampires all the way back to Mesopotamia, approximately 3100 B.C.

These are known as the precursors of the vampiric legends. The vampire that we know today originated almost exclusively from 18th century southeastern Europe.

HolliWalkerAugust 5, 2020August 5, 20201 Comment

Ancient History, Authors, Death, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Gothic History, Horror Literature, Horror Medical, Phobias

Phobia Week Taphophobia

It starts from the idea of being in a confined place such as a grave by mistake. It’s a fear of premature death.

Six Feet Deep

For as long as I can remember, I have had a deep fear of being buried alive. More specifically, I was worried that the people around me would find me in the form of suspended animation. Resulting in not being able to tell that I was really alive, and they would think I was dead and bury me.

And then I would come to in a dark coffin with little oxygen and not being able to move. I would terrorize myself with this thought while trying to go to sleep at night. Why would I do that? Well, I have always been fascinated by the macabre, even when it scares the hell out of me.

HolliWalkerJuly 15, 2020July 15, 20202 Comments

As Above So Below — 2014 Movie — Netflix

Ancient History, BooTube, Clara Winter, Experts, Gothic History, Horror Literature, Masters of Horror, Movie Trailers, Movies - TV, Reviews

As Above So Below Be Careful

“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…” — Hermes Trismegistus

As Above So Below Original Summary

As above so below be careful…

Archaeologist Scarlett Marlowe has devoted her whole life to finding one of history’s greatest treasures: Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone. According to legend, the artifact can grant eternal life and turn any metal into gold.

Clara WinterApril 14, 20202 Comments

Ancient History, Clara Winter, Demons, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Gothic History, Legend & Folklore, Magic, The Monsters

Beelzebub The Prince of Demons

One of my earliest interest in the paranormal was not vampire but demonology. My attraction to history leads to legends and folklores. A common mistake is Beelzebub who is not the King of Hell.

Infernal Dictionary It’s a Thing

Beelzebub the prince of demons’ story starts like this. In the year 1818, a quite unique dictionary went under publication in two separate volumes. Between the years 1818 and 1863, that book went through reprints six individual times, and many changes applied.

The gathering of superstitions mixed with discoveries from multiple legends, folklores, and bibles, created not only demonology but the Dictionnaire Infernal.

Clara WinterApril 7, 2020April 6, 20206 Comments

Ancient History, Book Trailers, BooTube, Clara Winter, Experts, Fears & Nightmares, Gothic History, Horror Literature, Indie Community, Interviews, Legend & Folklore, Masters of Horror, News, Paranormal Researchers, Phobias, The Monsters, Vampires, Witches

Interviewing A Professional Vampirologist

Gothic Bite Magazine loves to interview everyone, including those walking straight out of an Epic Gothic novel such as, The Gravedigger. Come meet with Clémentine Lyon.

The First Professional Vampirologist

Dr. Clémentine Lyon is a professional vampirologist. She is a parapsychologist with a doctorate in anthropology and history. She is here to talk about her experience with “living” vampires. Now, this is how interviewing a professional vampirologist happens at Gothic Bite Magazine!

Hello, everyone. I am Clémentine Lyon, a doctor in anthropology and history. My specialization is in ancient history, more precisely legends and folklore. I developed an interest in vampires when realizing that the term of “forceful bite” happened to be mentioned everywhere around ancient civilizations from around the globe.

Clara WinterFebruary 11, 2020March 19, 20215 Comments

We all heard of the Bubonic Plague, Black Plague, the Plague, or the Black Death, all synonyms for the same illness that killed a third of the world’s population. But do you know about the Dancing Plague?

But First, The Black Plague!

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When the words Black Plague come together, we automatically think of the Middle Ages. Most recently, the term Dark Ages turned inappropriate but remained used, as it has another meaning for us goths, the Bubonic Plague.

The Overall Meaning Of The Black Death

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Like this:

When watching the popular Netflix series Lucifer, Belial is one name Lucifer mentions to refer to himself. However, Belial is a character of his own rights. Here’s the story…

The Technicality Of Belial

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Like this:

The Dark Ages weren’t magic. They were unforgiving. It was a time for kingdom divisions and assertions of power for lands. But Kings and Queens weren’t the only sources of power. So were the Church and their most powerful Order, the Knights Templar.

What Do We Know Of The Knights Templar?

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Like this:

Lately, Paula has been on a kick reading about early obscure killers. After she wrote her piece about The Story Of The 19th Century Forgotten Cannibal, she decided to go back even earlier. She wants to spotlight those most people would have never heard about.

An Early Queen With A Taste For Men

Share this:

Like this:

In the Middle Ages, the rise of many beliefs creeping out of ancient folklore surfaced. One of them is the vampire, alongside witches that were common and werewolves. In modern times, when digging in the ‘old country,’ one might find rather strange burials.

The Middle Ages Fortune-Tellers

Share this:

Like this:

In the Dark Ages, technology and discoveries were stagnant. Yet, to this day, creative minds dive into history to grab a piece of its history. While some things stood still, the battle for kingdoms had begun. Reign of Mad Kings roared over lands, and Æthelred II was one of them.

Dark Ages Fun Fact & Warning

Share this:

Like this:

Moloch is a demon often used in horror for various reasons. However, he needs a representation of his identity and what he does. So, let’s dive into the history and folklore surrounding this deity.

Before We Start, Get Holy Water And Read! Seriously, Read It!

Share this:

Like this:

Gilles de Rais or Baron de Rais, was a knight and lord from Brittany, Anjou and Poitou. He was a leader in the French army, and a companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc. So, how is it that his reputation turned to a killer of children?

The True Face Of Evil

Share this:

Like this:

The phobia of reptiles go back millennia. However, we’ve evolved but did lizards evolved too? Mandi Konesni dive into the subject in this week’s column!

A Primal Fear

Share this:

Like this:

What numbers do we think about when we hear the word ‘devil’ or ‘evil?’ 666. But why is 666 the number of the Beast, and what does it mean? How far back are we going?

666 In Pop Culture

Share this:

Like this:

We often associate Death with the Grim Reaper or a dark silhouette. However, its origin and appearance are quite different than we know, and the name is Azrael.

The Origin of Death

Share this:

Like this:

If you grew up Catholic, you must well know the story where Archangel Michael defeated the Devil, and he fell from Heaven. But, where exactly did he land? Satan created Hell following his fall. The answer might surprise you.

The Fall Of All Falls

Share this:

Like this:

I have always loved the werewolves. Something about being so powerful has always struck me.

My First Screen Experience

Share this:

Like this:

GBM keeps going with the Favorite Monster Week and it wouldn’t be complete without vampires, right?

The Beginning

Share this:

Like this:

It starts from the idea of being in a confined place such as a grave by mistake. It’s a fear of premature death.

Six Feet Deep

Share this:

Like this:

“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…” — Hermes Trismegistus

As Above So Below Original Summary

Share this:

Like this:

One of my earliest interest in the paranormal was not vampire but demonology. My attraction to history leads to legends and folklores. A common mistake is Beelzebub who is not the King of Hell.

Infernal Dictionary It’s a Thing

Share this:

Like this:

Gothic Bite Magazine loves to interview everyone, including those walking straight out of an Epic Gothic novel such as, The Gravedigger. Come meet with Clémentine Lyon.

The First Professional Vampirologist

Share this:

Like this: