Vampires, in popular legend, a creature, often fanged, that preys upon humans. With the intent of killing them and draining their blood for its own sustenance. Vampires typically have fangs. Although less people believe in vampires in current times. The concept of vampires has been a part of the folklore. And fiction of a wide variety of cultures for hundreds of years, most notably in Europe.
Mythological vampires described as malevolent beings that come out at night. To prowl the globe in quest of humans to bite and drink their blood. It’s possible that people are familiar with them more than any other iconic monsters. The majority of people have an image of Count Dracula. In their heads when they think of a vampire. Dracula was the topic of Bram Stoker’s epic novel Dracula, which was first published in 1897. However, the history of vampires began a significant amount of time before Stoker was even born.
They wore shrouds and were frequently portray as being bloated and having a rosy or black visage. This is a stark contrast to the gaunt and pale depiction of a vampire. That has been popular since the early 19th century. There is evidence that vampires exist in many different cultures all throughout the world.
What Is a Vampire?
There are about as many distinct tales about vampires as there are traits. That may attributed to vampires. However, the most distinguishing feature of vampires (also known as vampyres). Is that they feed on human blood. They usually cause their victims’ deaths by draining the blood from their sharp fangs. At which point the victims are transformed into vampires.
In general, vampires are nocturnal hunters because exposed to sunlight reduces their strength. It’s possible that some of them have the capacity to transform into animals like wolves or bats. Vampires have superhuman strength and frequently leave their victims. Feeling hypnotized and sensuous after feeding on them. They are unable to recognize their reflection in a mirror and do not produce any shadows.
Characteristics
Because of the lengthy history of walking corpses and bloodsucking ghouls in legend. It’s hard to identify a set of vampire-specific traits. Consuming human blood or other essence (such as physiological fluids or psychic energy). It is central to vampire folklore. As is having sharp teeth or fangs. In most representations, vampires are “undead,”. Or miraculously revived after death, and many reported to emerge nightly. From graves or coffins carrying their original soil.
Vampires often described as having pale skin and ranging from hideous to attractive appearances. Inability to cast a reflection or shadow often prevents a person from being shot or filmed.
Most people become vampires by being bitten by one. Sorcery, suicide, contagion, or a cat jumping over a corpse are some options. Some believed babies born with teeth, on Christmas, or between Christmas and Epiphany were vampire-prone. While vampires don’t die of disease or other common human afflictions. And are supposed to heal quickly, there are ways to kill them.
A wooden stake through the heart, fire, decapitation, and sunshine are popular. Garlic, running water, or Christian tools like crucifixes and holy water repel vampires. In some stories, vampires can only enter a residence if invited, and in others. Sprinkling seeds or grains forces them to count, allowing potential victims to leave.
History
Vampire-like monsters have existed at least since ancient Greece. When tales recounted of creatures who attacked people. As they slept and drained their body fluids. In times of affliction, medieval Europe was rife with tales of walking corpses. That drank the blood of the living and spread the plague. Those who lacked a modern understanding of infectious disease. Which came to believe that vampires preyed first on their own families.
According to research conducted in the 20th and 21st centuries. Vampire characteristics can traced back to diseases such as porphyria. Which makes one sensitive to sunlight; tuberculosis, which causes wasting; pellagra. A disease that thins the skin; and rabies, which causes biting and general sensitivities. That could result in aversion to light or garlic.
The name vampire most likely originated in eastern Europe. Where vampire beliefs were extremely prevalent. It believed that the natural signs of decomposition. Such as receding gums and the appearance of growing hair and fingernails. Bolstered the belief that corpses were in reality maintaining. Some form of life after death in numerous societies across Europe.
Possibly adding to this perception was the proclamation of death for individuals who were still alive. Due to the limitations of medical diagnosis at the time, people who were extremely ill. Or occasionally even extremely intoxicated, and in a coma or state of shock were believed to be dead and then “miraculously” revived. Often too late to prevent their burial. Before a corpse buried, it staked in the heart due to a belief in vampires. In some societies, the dead were bury facedown so that they could not escape their tombs.
Dracula
In Nosferatu (1922), Dracula inspired the first depiction of a sun-sensitive vampire. The movie was sufficiently similar to Stoker’s novel that his widow sued for copyright infringement. And many copies were burned. Dracula influenced decades of vampire fiction on page, theater, and screen.
Both the novel and its film version generated multiple sequels and spin-offsn. Including Dracula’s Daughter (1936) and other Hammer pictures, including Dracula (1958). Starring Christopher Lee. Vampires became popular in pulp magazines and stories like “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire” (1924). Dacre Stoker, the original author’s great-grandnephew, and Ian Holt published Dracula: The Un-Dead in 2009.
In the 20th century, vampires depicted with more human traits. “Homecoming” (1946) is a story about a “regular” boy with a family of exotic creatures, including vampires. Dark Shadows (1966–1971) starred Barnabas Collins, a lovelorn vampire.
Fred Saberhagen retold Stoker’s story from Dracula’s perspective in 1975’s The Dracula Tape. Anne Rice’s sympathetic portrayal of vampires in Interview with the Vampire ushered forth a new era (1976). Rice’s tale introduced melancholy, self-loathing, human-like vampires. While Rice’s vampires were emotionally more fragile than earlier vampires. They were physically less vulnerable and possessed superhuman beauty, speed, and senses.
Interview with the Vampire was successful and spawned a vampire fiction revival that lasted into the 21st century. Rice wrote more Vampire Chronicles books, some of which filmed.
Are Vampires Real?
During the Middle Ages, the fear of vampires flourished. Which is not surprising given the widespread devastation caused by the epidemic. Lesions in the mouth that bled frequently were one of the telltale signs. That the disease left behind on its victims,. Which the uninformed believed to be a symptom of vampirism.
It was not unusual for those who suffered from strange forms of physical. Or emotional ailment to given the moniker of a vampire. Porphyria, a blood ailment that can create severe blisters on skin that is exposed to sunlight. Has been suggest as a sickness. That may have linked to the tale of vampires by a number of researchers.
Ingestion of blood can provide momentary relief for some of the symptoms associated with porphyria. In addition to rabies and goiter, the spread of the vampire belief. Has attributed to other ailments.
When the body of a person who was thought to a vampire passed away. It was frequently exhumed to look for telltale symptoms of the vampire lifestyle. In certain instances, the person’s heart pierced with a spike. To ensure that they remained dead after they buried. According to other sources, the practice of beheading. And burning the corpses of those thought to vampires continued long into the nineteenth century.