Corpach

A corpach (Scottish Gaelic: corpach, meaning "corpse," "body," or "carcass") is a term in Scottish folklore that refers to a creature, often malevolent, animated by dark magic and sometimes associated with the restless spirit of a murdered person. The corpach is typically believed to be created through a ritual, often involving the desecration or manipulation of a dead body. Unlike a zombie, the corpach's animation is driven by a more intentional and targeted purpose, usually revenge or the fulfilling of a specific task dictated by the one who created it.

While the exact details of corpach lore vary across different regions of Scotland, common themes include:

• Violent Origins: A corpach is almost always associated with a violent death, often a murder. The injustice of the death is a key element in its ability to be reanimated.

• Supernatural Strength and Resistance: The corpach possesses unnatural strength and a resilience to harm exceeding that of a living human. It is often difficult or impossible to destroy through conventional means.

• Limited Free Will: The corpach is generally not considered to be a sentient being with free will. It is typically bound to carry out the instructions of its creator or driven by the powerful emotions (such as revenge) associated with its original death.

• Association with Dark Magic: The creation and control of a corpach are always linked to dark magic and necromancy, considered a dangerous and taboo practice.

The belief in corpachs reflects traditional Scottish anxieties about death, violence, and the potential for the dead to return and disrupt the natural order. The corpach serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of injustice and the dangers of tampering with forces beyond human understanding. The term sometimes overlaps with other revenant figures in Scottish folklore, but the corpach is distinguished by its explicit connection to violent death and its creation through intentional magical intervention.