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= SHOCKING TALES OF = REAL-LIFE = VAMPIRES = .. INSIDE ANCIENT ORIGIN + VAMPIRES AROUND THE WORLD > MYTH VS REALITY OREO a =~ ~SSHISTORY=— ~ VAMPIRE ‘Thié idea that undead beings return to feast upon the living has fascinated ® cultures and generations for centuries, with different parts of the world — sharing their own unique tales of folklore, and with theories evolving as : science and medicine have advanced. The characteristics of vampires have always differed from country to country, as well as how they are created, = how they are identified, and how ordinary folk can protect themselves against vampires and even destroy them - should they be brave enough. In History of Vampires, uncover the remarkable origins of vampiric beliefs, and examine traditions from around the world, from gruesome tales of blood-drinking Romanian vampires to the Filipino creature that feasts on unborn children. Meet ‘real-life’ vampires, such as Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory, and learn about cases from the 19th-century New England Vampire Panic, as well as 20th-century killers. We also explore how the vampires of popular culture contrast those of folklore, and analyse the influences and inspirations in literature and on screen. With all this and much more to sink your teeth into, this is the ultimate * companion for anyone with a thirst for vampire knowledge. HISTORY VAMPIRES History ak CONTENTS Coe ig ORIGINS Tuo), : 10. THE ORIGINS OF VAMPIRES 20 DEBUNKING THE VAMPIRE MYTH 22 THE VAMPIRE HUNTER'S HANDBOOK.’ Vanes AROUND - _ THE WORLD 34. VAMPIRE SPOTTING _ 3G LEGENDARY BLOODSUCI ~~ AND WALKING CORPSES == “40 SHROUD EATERS AND SEDUCTION. - 4G MEDIEVAL MENACE OR LITERARY FIEND? 50 MURDEROUS MOTHERS AND INFANTICIDE 54 PLAGUE CARRIERS AND ICE CANNIBALS 6 AO = @2_ VLAD THE IMPALER Q-=FHZABETH-BATHORY 78. THE NEW ENGLAND VAMPIRE PANIC $8 VAMPIRES IN RECENT HISTORY 8 ORIGINS 2 TO THE ORIGINS OF VAMPIRES 10 i The horrifying spectres that would terrorise a = villages and drive people to insanity -2O_DEBUNKING THE VAMPIRE MYTH How science can explain the phenomena that made people believe in the undead y 22 -THE VAMPIRE HUNTER’S HANDBOOK <—\ How to identify, protect yourself from and even Kill these elusive creatures Z . =, “a Origins The origins of vampires Vampires were not always characters contained to stories, but horrifying spectres that would terrorise villages and drive people to insanity Words by Frances White he moon jis full and high, a crack of light dances across a pitch-black sky, and in the distance a crow caws. In a rundown alley off a moonlit street a shadow passes, his high-collared cloak wafting at his feet, as if he were hovering above the ground, As the lighting cracks overhead, a glimpse of his face can be seen: pale-white skin, raven-black hair and an unnatural, hypnotising beauty. Most unusual of all, however, are his teeth, which are sharp, as if filed to a point. Another crack of lightning, and the figure is gone; vanished, without a trace, as if he had never been there at all, As the storm rages, above the houses a single black bat can be seen, powering through the rain into the growing night. ‘This classic image of a vampire is one that is, recognisable to almost anyone alive today. It is a concept of vampires that has been popularised by writers such as Bram Stoker, and entered the cultural conscious to such a degree, that one does not even need to name a fanged being for readers to know what it is. Vampires are everywhere they are the stars of books, TV shows, movies and games. The idea of undead beings who return to feast upon the living has entertained and fascinated humanity for years. However, vampires were not always characters to entertain and enthral, but in fact very real threats to the people who feared them. Before the characters and the glamour of vampires there was the terror. This terror drove people to unearth the dead, flee their homes and mutilate the bodies of their loved ones Today, vampires may be regarded as stylish and alluring, but the origins of these beings are far more sinister. The origins of vampires Origins ‘Melrose Abbey was largely rebuilt after medieval wars ravaged its exterior The Hunderprest of Melrose Abbey This zombie priest returned at night to haunt the living ‘Once a wealthy and prosperous monastery, Melrose Abbey is home to one ofthe creepiest vampire legends, certainly in Scotland. in 139, there was a chaplain to ‘one of the ladies who lived nearby. This chaplain was known to revel in a wide aray of sins and vices, even earning himself the nickname Hunderprest, meaning dog priest’. He was given this title apparently ‘due to his fondness for hunting with a pack ‘of wild hounds. itis believed that when the priest died, he paid for his sinful life by being cursed to return asa revenant, oF vampire. There were sightings of the priest stalking the streets, searching for blood and terrifying the locals. t was said he would retur to the abbey in the dead of night in the form of a bat. The monks at the abbey ‘were reportedly able to drive the vampire ‘away with prayers and rituals; however, this simply drove the priest into the house of his old mistress, who he bothered for sex. Terrified, she called upon the help of the monks, hoping an exorcism would help. In order to finally rid themselves ofthis sinful demon once and forall, an elder monk travelled to the priest’ grave where he reportedly witnessed the man rise out ofthe ‘ground and approach him. The monk fought him off with a staff, and drove the phantom back into the ground. Now confident he ‘was dealing with a vampire, the monk and ‘some companions opened up the grave the following moming, Inside they found the priest's body, a smile upon his lips. dripping ‘with blood, The monks removed the body, burned it to ashes, and scattered the ashes into the wind. The monks were satisfied that ‘the demon was dealt with and things began to.calm down. However, today itis said that ‘on some nights ghostly howis can stil be heard throughout the ruins ofthe abbey. 174 Although the word ‘vampite’ did not appear in the English language until 1734, the idea of blood- sucking, energy-consuming beings has existed since ancient times, One of the earliest examples of beings that resembled what we know as vampires today was from ancient Sumer and Babylonia in 4,000 BCE. The ekimmu were a kind of vengeful spirit of the recently deceased, returned from the dead to consume the life-force of Ifa the living Tales of creatures that return from the dead to consume the blood or flesh of those still alive appear in an alarming number of cultures all around the world. Although the term ‘vampire’ was not used, these demons, strongly associated with the devil, can be linked with the modern-day vampire that drinks the blood of its victims. India had the vetalas, ghouls that inhabit corpses and the pisaca, the spirits of people who died in insanity. Persian history is littered with tales of blood- drinking demons, Assyria told stories of Lilitu, who sustained her hunger with the blood of babies, and estries were female beings, able to change their shape to roam the night and seek out their victims. The Greco-Roman world further built on this idea of blood-drinking demons with Empusa, a nun made the mistake of stepping over an unburied body, legenc dictated she would turn into avampire demonic child of the goddess Hecate who seduced men and feasted on their blood, a far mote similar example to the vampires of pop culture today. The striges were described as feasting on children and adults alike, and took on the appearance of crows, an early example of the now-famous vampire link to animals. However, it wasn’t until the medieval period that some of the most prominent myths and stories surrounding vampires as we know them today began. In the Tath century, English historians, Walter Map and William of Newburgh recorded accounts of revenants, animated undead corpses to haunt the living. Unlike vampites, revenants were said to be in advanced states of decay, with fiery, red eyes, reeking of rotting flesh and dressed in burial shrouds, Revenants were known to spread disease among the living and could only be defeated by decapitation, burning and removing the heart. Newburgh noted that stories of revenants were so common he wouldn't have the time to record every instance. In one of his accounts, a husband returned from the dead to visit his family and neighbours, becoming "a serious nuisance” ‘These nocturnal visits are similar to later accounts of vampires. “These demons, strongly associated with the devil, can be linked The sexual aspect of vampires tra ‘violent and non-consensual with the modern-day vampire that drinks the blood of its victims”