Esoteric Knowledge Thread

[Reiwa]

AI Overview

The Thieves' Accomplice:

The Hand of Glory - The Haunted ...

The Hand of Glory is a legendary object, appearing in European folklore as a mummified, severed hand of a hanged criminal, particularly from the 15th century onwards. It was believed to aid burglars by inducing a deep sleep in inhabitants, opening locks, or even by acting as a magical candlestick with a candle made from the criminal's fat, which only the holder could see, and could only be put out with milk. Preparation involved pickling the hand in various substances, drying it, and then exposing it to the sun or an oven.

Origin and Beliefs

Gallows Tradition: The Hand of Glory was the hand of a man who had been hanged, often the right hand or the hand used in the crime.

Magical Properties: It was believed to have several powers, including:

Inducing Sleep: It could lull people into a deep, unwakeable sleep.
Opening Locks: It was thought to have the ability to open any door or lock.
Candle Holder: In some versions, a candle made from the same hanged man's fat and virgin wax was placed in the hand, which burned only for the holder and was only extinguishable with milk.

Indicating Watchers: In a variation, fingers of the hand would be lit, and an unlit finger signaled an awake person inside the house.

Preparation of a Hand of Glory
Removal: The hand was cut from a still-hanging corpse.
Pickling: It was then pickled in salt, human and animal urine, or in a mixture of saltpetre, salt, and pepper.

Drying and Preservation: After being pickled for days, it was smoked with herbs and hay, hung on an oak tree, laid at a crossroads, and then hung on a church door to dry further.

Historical Context

Folklore: The Hand of Glory is a product of folklore and superstition, with stories of its use emerging across Europe and Russia from the 15th century onwards.
Museums: Real Hands of Glory are displayed in some museums, including the Whitby Museum in England, which contains the only known surviving Hand of Glory. These artifacts are mummified human hands, but their magical powers remain a matter of considerable debate.