A golem is a clay monster from Jewish folklore created by rabbis to fulfill their wishes. It lacks free will and intelligence, and is activated by writing a sacred word on its forehead. In Western literature, it symbolizes the dangers of pride and black magic.
A golem is a type of monster in Jewish folklore. He is made of clay in the shape of a giant man and can make his creator’s wishes come true. In most stories, golems are made by rabbis. The idea is that a holy man, in his closeness to God, acquires some God-like powers; however, since the rabbi is not really God, the creatures he makes are inferior to man in form and intelligence, and lack any sort of free will. A golem is said to be unable to speak, indicating its lack of a soul; if a talking one could be created, it would be very dangerous.
Many stories of golems date back to the Middle Ages. At this time, the creature was typically characterized as a defender of the Jewish people. He could be violent and scary, but he was usually a vengeful force. Furthermore, a rabbi with a golem servant was considered to have achieved the highest levels of earthly holiness.
In some golem legends, the monster is activated by writing a sacred word on its forehead or on a clay tablet or piece of paper inserted into its mouth. In the monster’s first published story, from an 1847 collection of Jewish folk tales, it is animated by writing Emet or “truth” on its forehead. Deleting the first letter would change the word to Met or “death” and revert the creature to inanimate clay.
Later in the 19th century, the golem entered the larger realm of Western European literature and lore. In Christian accounts, it has been re-figured as a symbol of the dangers of excessive pride and an injunction against black magic. Stories from the 19th century often had the creature’s creator losing control over it, or the golem turning on its master, similar to the medieval Christian idea of the homunculus, a small humanoid created through alchemy. Today, golem references abound in popular culture, from literature to film, games, comics, and television.
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