Ghouls are mythical creatures often found in folklore, literature, and popular culture. Traditionally, they are depicted as undead beings that feast on human flesh, typically grave robbers or creatures that inhabit or haunt graveyards. Ghouls have their origins in Arabic mythology, where they were described as malevolent spirits that could change shape and were associated with desolation and the desert.
In modern fiction, ghouls appear in various forms, often portrayed as zombies or as a type of monster that has a grotesque and fearsome appearance. They are commonly featured in horror literature, films, video games, and other media, where they are often depicted as lurking in the shadows and preying on the living or scavenging in cemeteries.
Ghouls may also be used metaphorically to describe people who are preoccupied with death or those who engage in unsavory activities related to mortality, such as grave-robbing or the exploitation of the dead.