Vampires: A Brief History
One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is on the nature of vampires and if they are "real."
Vampires are mythological beings who feed on the blood or life essence of the living. While vampire legends date back to ancient times, they entered popular culture with Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula in 1897. Read articles about vampires below.
Lamia
Lamia (lamiai) were harmful spirits who killed infants and seduced sleeping men.
Callicantzaros
Greek vampires that would feed on children born around Christmas time.
Vrykolakas
The Greek equivalent of the Slavic/European vampire was called the "vrykolakas" derived form the older Slavic term "vblk'b dlaka", meaning wolf pelt wearer.
African Witchcraft and Vampirism
Two of the many types of vampires in Africa, the obayifo and the asasabonsam.
Vampires (German)
Germany had mainly two names for vampires: Nachtzehrer ("night waster") used in Northern Germany and Blutsauger ("bloodsucker") used in Southern Germany and Bavaria.
Vampires (Czech)
The Czech and Slavic vampire was called a upir or a nelapsi. The upir had two hearts and two souls.
Chiang-shih/ Kiang shi
The chiang-shih is the Chinese version of the vampire. In Chinese belief, each person has 2 souls, a superior & an inferior soul.
Vampires (Bulgarian)
The nature of vampires, benefits of baptising your children early, and how to kill a vamp in Bulgaria.
Yara-ma-yha-who
These little red men like to feed on people who camp underneath fig trees.