Marcassus relates that after a long war in Syria, during the night, troops of lamias, female evil spirits, appeared upon the field of battle, unearthing the hastily buried bodies of the soldiers, and devouring the flesh off their bones.
"The Book of Were-Wolves"
Sabine Baring-Gould
He wondered whether he were not becoming the sport of the same baleful influence; if, like the lamias and Dryads of antiquity, this queen of the woods were not some spirit of the elements, incarnated in human form and sent to him for the purpose of dragging his soul down to perdition.
"A Woodland Queen, Complete"
Andre Theuriet Last Updated: March 3, 2009