Homunculus

A homunculus (Latin for "little man", plural: "homunculi"; from the masculine diminutive form of homo, "man") is a representation of a small human being. Popularized in sixteenth century alchemy and nineteenth century fiction, it has historically referred to the creation of a miniature, fully formed human. The concept has roots in preformationism as well as earlier folklore and alchemic traditions.

History

Folklore

References to the homunculus do not appear prior to sixteenth century alchemical writings; however alchemists may have been influenced by earlier folk traditions. The mandragora, known in German as Alreona, Alraun or Alraune is one example.

In Liber de imaginibus, Paracelsus however denies that roots shaped like men grow naturally. He attacks dishonest people who carve roots to look like men and sell them as Alraun. He clarifies that the homunculus’ origins are in sperm, and that it is falsely confused with these ideas from necromancy and natural philosophy.

The homunculus has also been compared to the golem of Jewish folklore. Though the specifics outlining the creation of the golem and homunculus are very different, the concepts both metaphorically relate man to the divine, in his construction of life in his own image.

Homunculus (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the homunculus is a construct.

Publication history

The homunculus was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The homonculous was introduced to the game in its first supplement, Greyhawk (1975).

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The homonculus appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a creature created and animated through a special magical alchemical process to serve a magic-user.

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the homunculus. The fylgar homunculus, the gretch homunculus, and the ulzaq homunculus appeared in Creature Catalogue (1986), and the Creature Catalog (1993).

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The homonculous appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993), along with the mottled homunculus.

List of Fullmetal Alchemist characters

The Fullmetal Alchemist manga and anime series feature an extensive cast of fictional characters created by Hiromu Arakawa. The story is set in a fictional universe within the 20th Century in which alchemy is one of the most advanced scientific techniques. Although they basically start the same, the first anime, midway through its run, begins to differ greatly from the original manga; characters that are killed early on in the manga survive to the end of the first anime and vice versa. The second anime's (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) events, however, faithfully follow those from the manga.

The story follows the adventures of two alchemist brothers named Edward and Alphonse Elric. While trying to revive their mother, the brothers lost parts of their bodies, with Alphonse's soul being contained in a suit of armor, and Edward replacing his right arm and left leg with two sets of automail, a type of advanced prosthetic limb. Advised by Roy Mustang, an alchemist from the State Military, Edward becomes a State Alchemist, and starts traveling with Alphonse through the country of Amestris in order to find a way to recover their bodies. In their search, they hear of the Philosopher's Stone, a powerful alchemy artifact that the brothers can use to recover their bodies. However, after becoming a State Alchemist, Edward discovers that several members of the military are also attempting to get the stone, most notably humanoid creatures known as homunculi, who start chasing the Elric brothers.