VILKTAKAS
(lith. vilk(o)takis, vilk(o)takas “Wolf Runner”)
in Baltic (Lithuanian) mythology human with ability to turn into a ➚ wolf or transformed into one with magical rituals by ➚ burtininkas or ➚ raganas (in the latter case werewolf was not dangerous). Wolfish characteristics of vilktakas occurred for a certain period of time. Sometimes a lycanthrope could be discovered only after death. When in the wolf form, vilktakas killed livestock to feed.
Compare with MARDAGAYL; WEREWOLF-I and II.
Related articles: