Skeleton (undead)
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| - | #REDIRECT [[Skeleton]] | + | [[Image:Calavera de la Catrina by Posada.jpg|right|thumb|200px| |
| + | ''[[Calavera]] de la [[Catrina]]'' (before [[1913]]) by [[José Guadalupe Posada]]]] | ||
| + | {{Template}} | ||
| + | :''[[animated skeleton]], [[skeleton]]'' | ||
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| + | A '''[[Skeleton]]''' is a type of physically manifested [[undead]] often found in [[fantasy]], [[Gothic fiction|gothic]] and [[horror fiction]], and [[mythology|mythical]] [[art]]. Most are [[human skeleton]]s, but they can also be from any creature or [[race (fantasy)|race]] found on [[Earth]] or in the [[fantasy world]]. | ||
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| + | == Myth and folklore == | ||
| + | * Death personified: Animated human skeletons are known to have [[death (personification)|personified death]] in [[Western culture]] since the [[Middle Ages]]. The [[Grim Reaper]] is often depicted as a hooded skeleton holding a [[scythe]] (and occasionally an [[hourglass]]), which has been attributed to [[Hans Holbein the Younger]] ([[1538]]). Death as one of the [[Bible|biblical]] [[Four horsemen of the Apocalypse|horsemen of the Apocalypse]] has been depicted as a skeleton riding a horse. ''[[The Triumph of Death]]'' is a 1562 painting by [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder]] depicting an army of skeletons raiding a town and slaughtering everyone. | ||
| + | * Day of the Dead: Figurines and images of skeletons doing routine things are common in [[Mexico]]'s [[Day of the Dead]] celebration where [[human skull|skull]]s symbolize life and their familiar circumstances invite levity. | ||
| + | * "The Boy Who Wanted the Willies" is a [[Brothers Grimm]] fairy tale in which a boy named Hans joins a circle of dancing skeletons. | ||
| + | * ''Mekurabe'' are the rolling skulls with eyeballs who menaced [[Taira no Kiyomori]] in Japanese folklore. | ||
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| + | == Modern fiction == | ||
| + | The animated skeleton featured in some Gothic fiction. One example is "Thurnley Abbey" (1908) by [[Perceval Landon]], originally published in his short story collection ''Raw Edges''. It is reprinted in many modern anthologies, such as ''The 2nd Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories'' and ''The Penguin Book of Horror Stories''. | ||
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| + | They have also been used and portrayed in [[fantasy]] [[role-playing game]]s such as ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''. The basic animated skeleton is usually a low-level form of [[undead]], and considered suitable for use against novice players. | ||
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| + | ===Film=== | ||
| + | Undead skeletons have been portrayed in [[fantasy film]]s such as ''[[The 7th Voyage of Sinbad]]'' (1958) and ''[[Jason and the Argonauts (1963 film)|Jason and the Argonauts]]'' (1963). | ||
| + | {{GFDL}} | ||
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A Skeleton is a type of physically manifested undead often found in fantasy, gothic and horror fiction, and mythical art. Most are human skeletons, but they can also be from any creature or race found on Earth or in the fantasy world.
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Myth and folklore
- Death personified: Animated human skeletons are known to have personified death in Western culture since the Middle Ages. The Grim Reaper is often depicted as a hooded skeleton holding a scythe (and occasionally an hourglass), which has been attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger (1538). Death as one of the biblical horsemen of the Apocalypse has been depicted as a skeleton riding a horse. The Triumph of Death is a 1562 painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder depicting an army of skeletons raiding a town and slaughtering everyone.
- Day of the Dead: Figurines and images of skeletons doing routine things are common in Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration where skulls symbolize life and their familiar circumstances invite levity.
- "The Boy Who Wanted the Willies" is a Brothers Grimm fairy tale in which a boy named Hans joins a circle of dancing skeletons.
- Mekurabe are the rolling skulls with eyeballs who menaced Taira no Kiyomori in Japanese folklore.
[edit]
Modern fiction
The animated skeleton featured in some Gothic fiction. One example is "Thurnley Abbey" (1908) by Perceval Landon, originally published in his short story collection Raw Edges. It is reprinted in many modern anthologies, such as The 2nd Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories and The Penguin Book of Horror Stories.
They have also been used and portrayed in fantasy role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. The basic animated skeleton is usually a low-level form of undead, and considered suitable for use against novice players.
[edit]
Film
Undead skeletons have been portrayed in fantasy films such as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963).
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Skeleton (undead)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
