A Hungarian countess (1560-1614) known for her beauty and her cold-blooded sadism. In 1611, she was accused of the torture and murder of over 600 young women, most of them the adolescent daughters of Slovak peasants; as long as her victims were not her fellow Hungarians, she could do as she pleased.
It was when she had exhausted the local population of peasant girls and began preying on the daughters of lesser nobles and the gentry that the authorities intervened.
According to legends added over 110 years after her death, she was said to have bathed and even drank the blood of her victims to gain their youth, beauty, and vitality.
It was when she had exhausted the local population of peasant girls and began preying on the daughters of lesser nobles and the gentry that the authorities intervened.
According to legends added over 110 years after her death, she was said to have bathed and even drank the blood of her victims to gain their youth, beauty, and vitality.
In a case that is over 400 years old, fact and legend are difficult to separate, but Elizabeth Bathory was clearly among them most prolific serial killers of history.
An intelligent, accomplished woman, she belonged to a powerful, wealthy family and was educated beyond even her male peers. She could speak, read and write in Hungarian, German, Latin, and Greek while most of the nobles around her could barely read or write.
She and her husband had three sons and three daughters and she doted on them all... when she wasn't torturing pretty maidens behind their backs, especially the buxom ones because they supposedly lasted longer.
Very likely a psychopath, she allegedly bedded many men and women throughout her adult life (and gave birth to an illegitimate daughter through a peasant boy some months before she married). Never once did she show remorse or accept responsibility for her crimes.
An intelligent, accomplished woman, she belonged to a powerful, wealthy family and was educated beyond even her male peers. She could speak, read and write in Hungarian, German, Latin, and Greek while most of the nobles around her could barely read or write.
She and her husband had three sons and three daughters and she doted on them all... when she wasn't torturing pretty maidens behind their backs, especially the buxom ones because they supposedly lasted longer.
Very likely a psychopath, she allegedly bedded many men and women throughout her adult life (and gave birth to an illegitimate daughter through a peasant boy some months before she married). Never once did she show remorse or accept responsibility for her crimes.
by Lorelili March 02, 2010
1. A feeling or attitude that somebody or something is vile, inferior, or worthless; scorn or disdain.
2. In law, the display of disrespect or defiance of authority.
2. In law, the display of disrespect or defiance of authority.
Lydia looked at her leech of a boyfriend in contempt; he'd lost his job, had no prospects, and begged her to quit her job at the club. She refused and told him to drop dead.
Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and her husband have earned the contempt of much of the United States; even Santorum has taken on a new meaning.
The wife-battering husband arrogantly flirted with female jurors, showing contempt to the court.
Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and her husband have earned the contempt of much of the United States; even Santorum has taken on a new meaning.
The wife-battering husband arrogantly flirted with female jurors, showing contempt to the court.
by Lorelili September 17, 2011
Cute little race of people who exist in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tiny in stature (adults standing three to four feet tall); rather plump in body; with big, hairy feet; pointy ears; long, curly hair on their heads; and infectuous enthusiasm for life and won't turn down a good party or open displays of affection. Their natural habitat is the Shire, although , some have moved elsewhere.
The Elves, pretty; Humans, also nice to look at... but the Hobbits! They're so cuuuuuute! I just want hug them! ...but I'm afraid that I'd strangle them.
by Lorelili March 26, 2005
An Arawak slave woman who featured prominently in the Salem Witch Trials.
Her true origins are unknown, but she was brought to Barbados as a slave by adolescence and she was eventually purchased by businessman turned minister, Samuel Parris, and would later be brought to Salem Village, Massachusetts, and serve the Parris family, including caring for the children.
In early 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, age 9, and her cousin, 11-year-old Abigail Williams, began acting strangely, and several other girls in the community soon displayed the same symptoms. Convinced that it was witchcraft, the fanatical Parris grilled his daughter and niece until they named Tituba as the witch who afflicted them; as an Arawak slave woman in a Puritan community, she was very obvious and an easy target.
After the testimonies of Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, who both denied harming anybody, Tituba's testimony (probably to avoid any more trouble) confirmed the fears of the village: she had been coaxed by a mysterious man in black to sign her name in his book, offering her magical powers in exchange for her soul. Tituba claimed that her name and those of Osborne and Good were among a list of six other names that she could not see; this confession was like Pandora's box had opened.
Her true origins are unknown, but she was brought to Barbados as a slave by adolescence and she was eventually purchased by businessman turned minister, Samuel Parris, and would later be brought to Salem Village, Massachusetts, and serve the Parris family, including caring for the children.
In early 1692, Elizabeth "Betty" Parris, age 9, and her cousin, 11-year-old Abigail Williams, began acting strangely, and several other girls in the community soon displayed the same symptoms. Convinced that it was witchcraft, the fanatical Parris grilled his daughter and niece until they named Tituba as the witch who afflicted them; as an Arawak slave woman in a Puritan community, she was very obvious and an easy target.
After the testimonies of Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne, who both denied harming anybody, Tituba's testimony (probably to avoid any more trouble) confirmed the fears of the village: she had been coaxed by a mysterious man in black to sign her name in his book, offering her magical powers in exchange for her soul. Tituba claimed that her name and those of Osborne and Good were among a list of six other names that she could not see; this confession was like Pandora's box had opened.
Although portrayed as an African slave in many dramatizations, the historical Tituba was actually a First Nations slave, most likely Arawak.
While there is little contemporary evidence, the legend is that Tituba entertained her young wards with tales of her life in Barbados, tales involving magic. As the winter continued, Tituba grew bolder and began demonstrating magic tricks for the girls, including a divination method in which an egg white was suspended in a glass of water and the shapes that it made were interpreted.
By this time, other girls and young women from the village were coming to these secret meetings. Their excitement was mixed with guilt, for they knew that this was forbidden; during one divination, the egg settled into what looked like the shape of a coffin, an image that snapped their nerves.
While there is little contemporary evidence, the legend is that Tituba entertained her young wards with tales of her life in Barbados, tales involving magic. As the winter continued, Tituba grew bolder and began demonstrating magic tricks for the girls, including a divination method in which an egg white was suspended in a glass of water and the shapes that it made were interpreted.
By this time, other girls and young women from the village were coming to these secret meetings. Their excitement was mixed with guilt, for they knew that this was forbidden; during one divination, the egg settled into what looked like the shape of a coffin, an image that snapped their nerves.
by Lorelili August 03, 2011
A band of soldiers or other combatants chosen to take the leading part in a military operation, such as an assault on a defended position, where the risk of casualties is high.
The term is from Dutch, roughly translated as "lost troop".
While the Donner Party was trapped in the mountains, a team of the fifteen strongest immigrants (five women, nine men, and a boy of twelve) set out on December 16, 1846, to find help, using makeshift snowshoes made by an old farmer, Franklin Graves. Later known as the "Forlorn Hope", the group consisted of:
*Luis and Salvador (19, 28), Miwok guides, murdered for food.
*Antonio (23), a teamster, died
*Patrick Dolan (35), died
*William Foster (31), survived
*Sarah Murphy-Foster (20), survived; she and William lost their toddler, Jeremiah (2.5)
*Harriet Murphy-Pike (18), survived; lost her baby, Catherine
*Lemuel Murphy (12), died despite his sisters; his mother, Levina (37), and brother, John (17), also lost
*William Eddy (28), survived; lost his wife, Eleanor (25), and both children, James and Margaret (3, 1)
*Franklin Graves (57), died; his wife, Elizabeth (46), and three youngest children, Jonathan, little Franklin, and little Elizabeth (7, 5, 1), were lost.
*Mary Graves (20), survived
*Sarah Graves-Fosdick (22), survived
*Jay Fosdick (23), died
*Amanda McCutchen (23), survived; lost her baby, Harriet
*Charles Stanton (30), died
The term is from Dutch, roughly translated as "lost troop".
While the Donner Party was trapped in the mountains, a team of the fifteen strongest immigrants (five women, nine men, and a boy of twelve) set out on December 16, 1846, to find help, using makeshift snowshoes made by an old farmer, Franklin Graves. Later known as the "Forlorn Hope", the group consisted of:
*Luis and Salvador (19, 28), Miwok guides, murdered for food.
*Antonio (23), a teamster, died
*Patrick Dolan (35), died
*William Foster (31), survived
*Sarah Murphy-Foster (20), survived; she and William lost their toddler, Jeremiah (2.5)
*Harriet Murphy-Pike (18), survived; lost her baby, Catherine
*Lemuel Murphy (12), died despite his sisters; his mother, Levina (37), and brother, John (17), also lost
*William Eddy (28), survived; lost his wife, Eleanor (25), and both children, James and Margaret (3, 1)
*Franklin Graves (57), died; his wife, Elizabeth (46), and three youngest children, Jonathan, little Franklin, and little Elizabeth (7, 5, 1), were lost.
*Mary Graves (20), survived
*Sarah Graves-Fosdick (22), survived
*Jay Fosdick (23), died
*Amanda McCutchen (23), survived; lost her baby, Harriet
*Charles Stanton (30), died
The Forlorn Hope wandered from December 16, 1846, until January 17, when a Miwok village helped the seven survivors to the safety of Johnson's Ranch, where they called for a rescue mission.
On Christmas Day, hopelessly lost and their starvation rations gone, the idea of cannibalism was first discussed, but nobody could bear to kill anybody. As a blizzard lashed them that night, Antonio died, followed by Graves, who died in the arms of his daughters; Dolan went mad before he slipped into a coma. Those remaining butchered and ate the flesh of their dead companions, sobbing in shame as they ate; Luis and Salvador, plus William Eddy, refused to eat. Taking pains to avoid eating their dead relatives, the party trudged on, cursing the man whose shortcut had led them to this.
William Foster, crazed by hunger, suggested killing Luis and Salvador for food; Eddy unsuccessfully tried to discourage him before warning the two men, who ran as far as they could.
Sarah Fosdick, a newlywed, had just lost her father and then had to watch her husband die and then see his heart roasting on a stick.
"What to do we did not know. Some of those who had children and families wished to go back, but the two Indians said they would go on. I told them I would go too, for to go back and hear the cries of hunger from my brothers and sisters was more than I could stand. I would go as far as I could, let the consequences be what they might." -Mary Graves (1826-1891)
On Christmas Day, hopelessly lost and their starvation rations gone, the idea of cannibalism was first discussed, but nobody could bear to kill anybody. As a blizzard lashed them that night, Antonio died, followed by Graves, who died in the arms of his daughters; Dolan went mad before he slipped into a coma. Those remaining butchered and ate the flesh of their dead companions, sobbing in shame as they ate; Luis and Salvador, plus William Eddy, refused to eat. Taking pains to avoid eating their dead relatives, the party trudged on, cursing the man whose shortcut had led them to this.
William Foster, crazed by hunger, suggested killing Luis and Salvador for food; Eddy unsuccessfully tried to discourage him before warning the two men, who ran as far as they could.
Sarah Fosdick, a newlywed, had just lost her father and then had to watch her husband die and then see his heart roasting on a stick.
"What to do we did not know. Some of those who had children and families wished to go back, but the two Indians said they would go on. I told them I would go too, for to go back and hear the cries of hunger from my brothers and sisters was more than I could stand. I would go as far as I could, let the consequences be what they might." -Mary Graves (1826-1891)
by Lorelili January 04, 2012
(September, 1841-September 8, 1888) Also known as "Dark Annie", the second recognized victim of Jack the Ripper.
Born Eliza Ann Smith, she was married in 1869 to John Chapman, a coachman, had two daughters and a son (Emily Ruth, born 1870; Annie Georgina, born 1873; John Alfred, born 1880) with him, and they lived fairly comfortably for some time.
Life went awry when young John was born crippled. Then in 1882, Emily Ruth died of meningitis at age 12. Around this time, the couple began drinking heavily. About 1884, they separated.
Annie somehow fell to the slums of Whitechapel by 1886. John continued to send her 10 shillings a week until Christmas of 1886, when he died of cirrhosis. His death shattered Annie's will to live.
In her last days, Annie was a homeless alcoholic, living in lodging houses, selling flowers and crocheting and occasionally prostituting herself (despite her plain features, plump figure, and poor health) to get by.
Born Eliza Ann Smith, she was married in 1869 to John Chapman, a coachman, had two daughters and a son (Emily Ruth, born 1870; Annie Georgina, born 1873; John Alfred, born 1880) with him, and they lived fairly comfortably for some time.
Life went awry when young John was born crippled. Then in 1882, Emily Ruth died of meningitis at age 12. Around this time, the couple began drinking heavily. About 1884, they separated.
Annie somehow fell to the slums of Whitechapel by 1886. John continued to send her 10 shillings a week until Christmas of 1886, when he died of cirrhosis. His death shattered Annie's will to live.
In her last days, Annie was a homeless alcoholic, living in lodging houses, selling flowers and crocheting and occasionally prostituting herself (despite her plain features, plump figure, and poor health) to get by.
While the rest of the Ripper victims came from ordinary working class backgrounds, Annie Chapman's family had a foothold in the middle class. Known by her friends late in life as "Dark Annie", for her dark brown hair, Annie had become estranged from her surviving children and from her sisters.
Only 5 feet tall, plump, and never a classic beauty, at age 47 Annie Chapman was malnourished, a homeless streetwalker, and suffering from tuberculosis and brain diseases that would have killed her soon if Jack had not killed her.
At 1:35 AM on September 8, 1888, Annie was turned away from her lodging house since she had no money for a bed. She was last seen alive at 5:30 AM outside 29 Hanbury Street, negotiating with a man who was probably her killer. Half an hour later, her body was found in the backyard of the same house, inches from the back steps.
Her skirt was hiked to her groin and her legs pulled up and leaning outwards, implying coitus; her throat was cut to the bone, her stomach opened, her intestines pulled out and draped over her shoulder, and her uterus taken away.
Only 5 feet tall, plump, and never a classic beauty, at age 47 Annie Chapman was malnourished, a homeless streetwalker, and suffering from tuberculosis and brain diseases that would have killed her soon if Jack had not killed her.
At 1:35 AM on September 8, 1888, Annie was turned away from her lodging house since she had no money for a bed. She was last seen alive at 5:30 AM outside 29 Hanbury Street, negotiating with a man who was probably her killer. Half an hour later, her body was found in the backyard of the same house, inches from the back steps.
Her skirt was hiked to her groin and her legs pulled up and leaning outwards, implying coitus; her throat was cut to the bone, her stomach opened, her intestines pulled out and draped over her shoulder, and her uterus taken away.
by Lorelili October 07, 2012
An ancient Greek poet.
Little is known of her life and what litle information we do have comes from her poetry, which consists of one complete poem, several long fragmants, and countless smaller pieces.
Reportedly bisexual and had relationships with men and women throughout her life. But women were clearly her main objects of affection; From her, we get the word "sapphic", and the word "lesbian" derives from the Isle of Lesbos, where she spent most of her life.
Little is known of her life and what litle information we do have comes from her poetry, which consists of one complete poem, several long fragmants, and countless smaller pieces.
Reportedly bisexual and had relationships with men and women throughout her life. But women were clearly her main objects of affection; From her, we get the word "sapphic", and the word "lesbian" derives from the Isle of Lesbos, where she spent most of her life.
"For that girl, that lovely maiden; the clinging
of her dress makes you shake when you see it,
And I laugh for joy." -Sappho.
"On the throne of many hues, Immortal Aphrodite,
child of Zeus, weaving wiles--I beg you
not to subdue my spirit, Queen,
with pain or sorrow
but come--if ever before
having heard my voice from far away
you listened, and leaving your father's
golden home you came
in your chariot yoked with swift, lovely
sparrows bringing you over the dark earth
thick-feathered wings swirling down
from the sky through mid-air
arriving quickly--you, Blessed One,
with a smile on your unaging face
asking again what have I suffered
and why am I calling again
and in my wild heart what did I most wish
to happen to me: "Again whom must I persuade
back into the harness of your love?
Sappho, who wrongs you?
For if she flees, soon she'll pursue,
she doesn't accept gifts, but she'll give,
if not now loving, soon she'll love
even against her will."
Come to me now again, release me from
this pain, everything my spirit longs
to have fulfilled, fulfill, and you
be my ally -Sappho.
of her dress makes you shake when you see it,
And I laugh for joy." -Sappho.
"On the throne of many hues, Immortal Aphrodite,
child of Zeus, weaving wiles--I beg you
not to subdue my spirit, Queen,
with pain or sorrow
but come--if ever before
having heard my voice from far away
you listened, and leaving your father's
golden home you came
in your chariot yoked with swift, lovely
sparrows bringing you over the dark earth
thick-feathered wings swirling down
from the sky through mid-air
arriving quickly--you, Blessed One,
with a smile on your unaging face
asking again what have I suffered
and why am I calling again
and in my wild heart what did I most wish
to happen to me: "Again whom must I persuade
back into the harness of your love?
Sappho, who wrongs you?
For if she flees, soon she'll pursue,
she doesn't accept gifts, but she'll give,
if not now loving, soon she'll love
even against her will."
Come to me now again, release me from
this pain, everything my spirit longs
to have fulfilled, fulfill, and you
be my ally -Sappho.
by Lorelili March 22, 2005