Why does human flesh provide magical properties when eaten?

Question

Certain cultures beleived that consuming human flesh would provide some magical abilities, such as wisdom, speed, immortality, etc. I'm curious, what is special about human flesh that makes it provide these powers, as opposed to meat from any other animal?

I know it's all supernatural belief and it won't work if I try it, but I'm just interested in the concept of why customs believe this would work.

I see some concerns have raised about me asking this question. To set matters straight, consumption of human flesh is NOT something I wish to try. I'm asking this question for a horror fiction novel I'm writing. Hope this puts my enquirey in a better light now.

Answer 1

Ok. Some cultures would eat the flesh (and some innards) of their dead relatives in order to take on the power of that relative. It's sort of like an "everlasting life" type of thing. If you continue to eat dead family, then supposedly their spirit will continue on forever (provided the custom continues to be followed).

Other cultures consumed the body of their enemies, in order to take on the enemy's power, enabling the flesh-eaters to supposedly defeat their foes (because they have their own power in addition to the enemy's power).

It's gruesome and fascinating all at once. And I believe the word you were looking for is "inquiry."

Answer 2

Some beliefs are actually proven to be scientifically correct! Think about the Salmon of wisdom. That story made people to believe that eating salmon would actually make you wise, or intelligent. Fact is, that there is iron in any kind of fish, and iron helps to build up brain cells, so it does help your brain work better.
Personally I think the story came out of personal experience from the people who lived then, and they made the story up to tell other people about the properties of fish.

As for cannibalistic beliefs, they come from something completely different. People might have wondered very often how they could become so fast, strong, or intelligent as someone else, and it led them to believe that eating those people might pass on those traits to them - which is, of course, a load of bollix. There is nothing special about the flesh, and contrary to the salmon story, it doesn't contain scientifical truth either. It is all just in the mind. They believe it gives them those supernatural powers, and they start behaving like it. The mind is a funny thing. If you just put your mind to it, you can gain more wisdom, speed or whatever (apart from immortality), and in such case, even a silly carrot could do the trick.

Answer 3

I've heard of this, and of some cultures believing the same thing about the flesh of some animals like lions. It would be impossible to prove that this had any basis in reality; however, my guess would be that it stems from the fact that any animal protein you eat gives you a potent energy - not because it's magical, but because it's protein and that's what protein does.
Probably human flesh being considered special derives from the fact that eating it is taboo.

Answer 4

Man I'm either totally exhausted and don't comprehend the English language any more or you are totally insane...I'm off to bed in case it's the first and if it's the second...I can recommend a good shrink...man I hope you don't live in my state.

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And stay away from my dogs you will not I assure you gain a stonger sense of smell if you kill and eat them...you'll only gain a two barrel shotgun shell of lead mixed with copper. Trust that.

Answer 5

I think that deep down the cultures that are cannibalistic claim special powers to keep the population involved in a ritual that even most other mammals won't partake in as well as put fear into whoever their current enemies are. Kind of like "Eat a worm to join the secret club" type deal.

Answer 6

Have you read the Ann Rice vampire series? One of the books -I believe Queen of the Damned- describes the beginings of the vampires (in her version of them), and how it was appropriate when a great and powerful person died, to eat a part of them -usually the heart. This was also done in Q of the D, when the Queen was defeated, and the twins consumed her still-living heart. (That scene was mangled in the movie, though!) This is an example of one culture, though admitedly fiction.

Answer 7

The belief that this would be so is what makes this a powerful concept - respect for your enemy in battle makes eating his flesh a powerful ritual in cannabalistic cultures.

Answer 8

tribal beliefs say that if you eat certain parts of your enemy's body, you could take its courage, strengh or intelligence.
but funny enough, tests done on the lats cannibalistic tribes revealed that they usually develop ESB, the mad cow disease.
it seams mammals' brains are programed to self destruct when the flesh of a kin is regularly consumed.

Answer 9

It only works if you consume the flesh of a witch doctor, a magician or a well educated person who had already consumed the flesh of other witch doctors, magicians or educated persons.

Answer 10

Some cultures believed if you ate the flesh of your enemy, you would inherit their powers and abilities. Still others believe you had to eat your relatives to honor them.