The Black Annis figure has several possible origins. Some have claimed, as T. C. Lethbridge did, that the origin can be found in Celtic mythology based on Danu (or Anu) or it may derive from Germanic mythology (see Hel). Donald Alexander Mackenzie in his 1917 book "Myths of Crete and Pre-Hellenic Europe" suggested the origin of the legend may go back to the mother goddess of ancient Europe which he contends was thought of as a devourer of children. He identified Black Annis as being similar to the Indic "Kali", Gaelic "Muilearteach" and "Cailleach Bheare", the Greek "Demeter", the Mesopotamian "Labartu", and the Egyptian "Isis-Hathor" and "Neith".