Pokemon That Are Based On Disturbing Myths

Look at a myth, any myth, and you will probably see a story invented to explain something early cultures couldn’t comprehend. For instance, the legend of the Cyclops was likely penned because Greek explorers couldn’t wrap their heads around elephant skulls, while early Welsh people believed corgis were created by fairies as battle mounts (no seriously). A similar scientifically explainable myth might have inspired two Pokemon.

At first glance, Sneasel and Weavile are based on real-world weasels. After all, when you chop their names in half and combine the pieces, that’s the word you get (that and “sneavile”). But if the Pokemon were based on weasels, why are they part Ice-type, and why do Weavile hunt in packs? Weasels are supposed to be solitary hunters. That’s because Sneasel and Weavile are based on a different kind of weasel, the Kamaitachi. Viajes y turismo

According to Japanese legend, Kamaitachi are whirlwind-fast weasels with steel claws that leave bloodless scars. Although, myths vary from region to region. In some areas, Kamaitachi hunt in groups of three — One trips its prey, one slices them up, and one applies a healing salve. In others, though, the Kamaitachi just stop at step two and let their victims bleed. These myths mirror Sneasel and Weavile’s high speed stat, emphasis on claw attacks, and pack mentality. Their Ice-typing, however, is more based on the real-world explanation for Kamaitachi. In 1911, a medical journal published an article on “spontaneous wounds.” Dubbed “Kamaitachi disease,” these bloodless scars were reportedly the result of vacuums caused by stray air currents on mountains during thunderstorms.

Usually, Pokemon based on myths just draw from the fiction, but the people behind Sneasel and Weavile also decided to take cues from old scientific beliefs, just to spice things up.