Bone and Sickle
BONE AND SICKLE explores historical topics related to folklore and horror. With acerbic wit and a scholarly penchant for the grotesque, rogue folklorist Al Ridenour delves into a wide but carefully curated range of topics illustrated by stories from histo
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Recent Episodes
Mermen and more Marvels of the Northern Seas
In this episode, we continue our survey of supernatural sailors’ lore of the North with a look at mermen, Iceland’s “evil whales,” and sea-draugs.
After...
The Kraken and Other Marvels of the Northern Seas
The Kraken is only one of the monsters said to inhabit the storied northern seas of Scandinavia. This episode is the first of two that will examine...
Bees: Gods, Death, and Honey
The mythology of bees has been tied for centuries to notions of the otherworld and death. In this episode we trace some of that folklore along with...
Medusa and the Gorgons
Medusa was one of the Gorgons, creatures originally considered quite monstrous, who over the centuries came to be humanized and even regarded as beauties...
The Lover’s Head
The motif of lovers retaining the head of a decapitated partner is surprisingly widespread. In this — our romantic Valentine’s Day episode —...
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