Vampires

Origins
The origins of vampire folklore can be traced back to Ancient Greece. In Greek mythology, there are a few monsters that can be considered precursors to what is now the vampire.

The Lamia- a child-eating monster and, in later tradition, was regarded as a type of night-haunting spirit. The Empusa- a shape-shifting female being. Both were fearsome daimones (the femine conjugation of daemon, which is the linguistic origin of the word demon) which assumed the forms of beautiful women to lure young men to their beds to feed on their flesh and blood. These two monsters differ in that they are women, while vampires are associated with men. Although these mythical creatures aren’t exactly vampires, they both possess characteristics that are often attributed to vampires. In conjunction to the mythical elements of vampire folklore, there are also practical explanations as to why many people believed that vampires existed. In past eras, it was far more common for people to contract serious diseases. The symptoms of diseases like rabies, tuberculosis, porphyria, and pellagra could’ve created the perception that one was a vampire. Rabies is unique in that its symptoms are strikingly similar to the behavior prescribed to Vampires. Rabies in humans causes: extreme sensitivity to light, muscle spasms and unusual postures, erratic behavior, sensitivity to water and strong smells (garlic?). Rabies also contributed to belief in werewolves (getting bitten by a rabid dog).

From 1721-1728, there was a large rabies epidemic in Hungary that not only affected animals, but also humans. Some believe this to be the definitive origin of Vampires, as they became popularized soon after.

History
Vampires are a monster that is exclusive to the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Although the Scandinavian region has the Draugr, which does share some characteristics with Vampires, it is worthy enough to be mentioned but too dissimilar to be talked about further in this wiki. The prevalence of Vampires in the Balkans demonstrates the fear and skepticism of outsiders that persisted in the region. Historically, the Balkans and Eastern Europe have been a region subject to continuous conquest. Not only has the region been conquered by countless European Empires, it has also been subject to attacks by the Huns and Mongols.

During the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, vampire folklore became very popular. In that time span, a consistent threat to the Balkan region was the powerful Ottoman Empire. The Balkans had been subject to Ottoman attacks and conquest for hundreds of years. It was common for Christian youths to be taken from Balkan provinces as tribute or stolen through conquest, converted to Islam, and turned into elite warriors called janissaries. These warriors would eventually return and raid the regions they were once from. The rational fear of conquest and the loss of the community’s sons to a foreign enemy heavily contributed to xenophobic symbolism that is present in Vampire stories. It is also present in the characteristics and powers of vampires, as they have the ability to shape shift, and act as if they are a part of the community they intend to torment.

The Vampire stories we are familiar with today originated in the 17th and 18th century, but vampire folklore predated their widespread popularity.

Characteristics
Vampires are different from other monsters in that they kill their prey in order to drink their blood. To facilitate their blood sucking, they have sharp fangs. Another distinct feature of a Vampire is a pale complexion, due to them being undead and rising from the grave. In some cases, Vampires were known to have hoofed feet, a small tail, or both. Additionally, they have transformative powers which consist of turning into animals or simply disappearing into thin air.

It is commonplace in Vampire tales that they would come into a town and try to woo the young women. They are often described as flirtatious and alluring. Vampires would take advantage of the unsuspecting women, eventually killing them, and sucking the blood from their body.

There are a handful of ways to become a Vampire. The most common of which is to be bitten by a vampire. Other methods include sorcery, committing suicide, being born with cradle-cap, dying before baptism, or having a cat jump over a person’s corpse. There are still many other ways, each one unique. Vampires are also known to be persistent, they will torment a town until properly dealt with. When the corpse of a Vampire is found, one must dismember it, burn it, or remove its heart.

Methods of Vampire prevention include: driving a stake through a corpses heart, turning the corpse face down in the coffin, roses in the coffin, washing the bodies of those who commit suicide, rocks in the mouth and ears, incense under fingernails.

Methods of keeping Vampires out of your home: stay up all night telling stories, rub garlic on keyholes, windows, and chimney, turn your shirt inside out, and turn your lamps upside down.

Methods of determination: ask it the same question three times (they can’t answer the third time), a white horse won’t walk over its grave, repelled by garlic and holy water, sensitive to sunlight.

“Vampire.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 12 Feb. 2021, www.britannica.com/topic/vampire.

“Rabies: An Explanation for the Vampire Legend?” Newswise, American Academy of Neurology, www.newswise.com/articles/rabies-an-explanation-for-the-vampire-legend#:~:text=Lifelike%20appearance%20of%20corpse%20after,dead%20person%20was%20a%20vampire.&text=Origin%20of%20the%20legend%2D%2D,where%20the%20vampire%20legend%20began.

“EMPOUSA & LAMIA.” LAMIA & EMPUSA (Empousa) - Vampiric Monsters of Ancient Greek Legend, www.theoi.com/Phasma/Empousai.html.

Murgoci, Agnes. “The Vampire in Roumania.” Folklore, vol. 37, no. 4, 1926, pp. 320–349., doi:10.1080/0015587x.1926.9718370.