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Vampires Galore!

Cause and cure varied from country to country.

Travellers who visited remote parts of transylvania in the 16th century returned with strange and horrific tales of creatures that were neither lining nor dead. . . . . creatures that left their haunts at night and feasted on human blood.

These monsters went by various names: vurculac, wampyr . . . . .and vampire. Although similar creatures are recorded in Greek, Roman and Hebrew mythology, the story of the vampire stems almost entirely from Eastern Europe: from the carparthian mountains, Transylvania and Wallachia, and from neighboring areas in the Balkans.

At the root of the vampire myth lie two concepts. First, that an evil spirit can take over a corpse and use it for its own malevolent purposes. Second, that the soul of a person considered too wicked to be allowed into the realm of the dead can continue to inhabit its own body-in the guise of a vampire.

Characteristics

The mythology of the vampire is remarkably detailed---and specific! The Transylvanian species, for instance, is said to be easily recognisable by its gaunt appearance and deathly pale complexion.

It is said to have full red lips and pionted canine teeth; gleaming eyes with a hypnotic gaze; long, sharp fingernails; eyebrows that meet; and hair on the palms of their hands. Its breath is said to be foul and its diet of blood endows it with a superhuman strength and ability to rejuvenate when injured.

In addition to these characteristics, some European vampires are said to have a cleft lip.

The Russian vampire has a purple face and is believed to have been, in human form, one who rebelled against the church. Those from Bulgaria had only one nostril . . . . . the Baravian variety slept with its left eye open and its thumbs linked-and was held responsible for cattle plague.

The Moravian vampire was addicted to throwing off its shroud and attacking its victims in the nude. Albanian vampires wore high-heeled shoes, and the Brazilian type had feet that were plush covered, which presumably indicated a velvet tread.The Chinese vampire, according to its chroniclers, drew its strength from the light of the moon; the American species-from the Rocky Mountains-was said to suck blood from its victims' ears through its nose; and the Mexican vampire was recognisable by its fleshless skull.

Accounts of the vampire's powers vary from country to country, but all are able to take the shape of bats and have the power to control all the creatures of the night.

Methods of combating vampires

The methods of combating vampires seem to be as numerous as their species themselves. Some Romanians believe that the best day to tackle a vampire is a Saturday, the only day when it is powerless to leave its grave. The method of disposal? Pour a basin of boiling water into the hole near the grave. Such a hole, Romanians believed, is a sure sign that the occupant of the grave is a vampire.

Others claim that vampires can be discouraged by sprinkling chalk and holy water, but those in favour of more direct methods prefer to drive a wooden or iron stake through the creature's heart as it rests in its grave. To make absolutely sure, cut off the head with a gardener's spade and fill the mouth with garlic. The rays of the sun are said to be fatal to a vampire and a crucifix is also held to be a powerful deterrent.

Origins of vampires

The vampire's origins varied considerably from country to country (probably due to the difference of species). In Romanian tradition, if a vampire stares at a pregnant woman, there is a strong chance that her child will become a vampire. So will a corpse over which a cat has jumped.

But by far the most common method of joining the clan is to become a vampire's victim. Once the nocturnal visitor has drained the blood of its human prey, the victim dies and, in turn, is condemned to walk the night as one of the undead.

The most famous and openly gruesome Dracula was Vlad the Impaler, of wallachia, who had a penchant for impaling his enimies and victims alive. Vlad was known as "Draculaea", son of the Devil.

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