Incubus

An incubus is a mythological male demon believed to visit and engage in unwanted or sometimes desired sexual activities with women during sleep. Originating from medieval folklore, it was used to explain mysterious or frightening experiences during sleep, such as sleep paralysis or erotic dreams. In modern interpretations, the incubus remains a symbolic representation of fears, unconscious desires, or psychological struggles, rather than a literal entity. Its concept underscores human attempts to understand complex emotional or physical phenomena related to sleep and sexuality within cultural and historical contexts.