Empusa

EmpousaorEmpusawas a female spirit inGreek mythology.The origin of the figure is unclear. Her mother was probablyHectate.Empousa seems to have been a spirit used to frighten people. In appearance, she probably resembledMormoand Lamia. She seems to have had the ability to change her appearance or shape (known asshapeshifting).

One of the first to describe her was the Ancient Greek poetAristophanes,in hiscomedyThe Frogs:When the Greek godDionisusis on the way to the underworld with his slave Xanthias, Empusa appears in different forms (animals:cow,donkey,dog), and finally as a woman. One of her legs is made of iron, the other is made of cow dung.