[5] He identified Black Annis as being similar to the Indic Kali, Gaelic Muilearteach and Cailleach Bheare,[8] the Greek Demeter, the Mesopotamian Labartu and the Egyptian Isis-Hathor and Neith.
[9] It is thought that offerings of children may have been made to the goddess that inspired the legend in the archaeological Hunting Period, the oak tree at the cave's entrance also a common site of local meetings.
He suggests that the Black Annis of Leicestershire legend was based on a real person named Agnes Scott, a late medieval anchoress (or by some accounts a Dominican nun who cared for a local leper colony), born in Little Antrum, who lived a life of prayer in a cave in the Dane Hills and was buried in the churchyard in Swithland.
[10][11] Hutton suggests that the memory of Scott was distorted into the image of Black Annis either to frighten local children or due to the anti-anchorite sentiment that arose from the Protestant Reformation.
[10] The connection between Black Annis and Agnes Scott was made previous to Hutton, including the gravesite and cave, in an issue of the Leicester Chronicle dated Feb. 26th, 1842 and reprinted in the first volume of County Folklore (1895).
[1][12] Many of the modern conceptions of Black Annis were popularised in a poem by John Heyrick, given in full in County Folklore but excerpted here: 'Tis said the soul of mortal man recoiled To view Black Annis' eye, so fierce and wild Vast talons, foul with human flesh, there grew In place of hands, and features livid blue Glared in her visage, whilst her obscene waist Warm skins of human victims close embraced