History of Vampire

	Revision 57 . . (edit) December 3, 2001 6:29 am by Magnus Manske [Structure]
	Revision 56 . . (edit) December 3, 2001 6:24 am by Magnus Manske [+external link to movie list]
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	Revision 52 . . (edit) November 1, 2001 1:27 am by Corvus13

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Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 1c1

A mythical being that is said to subsist on human (and sometimes animal) blood; usually the vampire is the corpse of a recently dead person, reanimated by one means or another. The tradition of the dead craving blood (regarded as containing the life force) is very old, going back to the ancient Greeks? at least. An example is the episode in book 11 of the Odyssey where Odysseus carries out a necromantic? ritual; the dead are lured to the fresh blood of sacrificed rams, and Odysseus holds them back with his sword until the shade of Tiresius?, whom he had wanted to speak to, appears.

A mythical being that is said to subsist on human (and sometimes animal) blood; usually the vampire is the corpse of a recently dead person, reanimated by one means or another.

Changed: 3c3,4

Vampires are believed to not show up in mirrors: this is because, being dead, they have no souls.

Vampires in history and culture The tradition of the dead craving blood (regarded as containing the life force) is very old, going back to the ancient Greeks? at least. An example is the episode in book 11 of the Odyssey where Odysseus carries out a necromantic? ritual; the dead are lured to the fresh blood of sacrificed rams, and Odysseus holds them back with his sword until the shade of Tiresius?, whom he had wanted to speak to, appears.

Changed: 5,7c6,10

A vampire (despite not being alive in the classical sense, and therefore referred to as undead)) may be "killed" (for good) using several methods: * Ram a stake (use wood for best results) through a vampire's heart and into the earth to hold him (or her) in the grave. In some areas, a red-hot iron was preferred. The body should subsequently be burnt or buried at a crossroads. * Subject a vampire to direct sunlight (vampires are "nightwalkers" although it is said that "daywalkers" do exist)

It is believed that vampires have no reflection, as traditionally it was thought that mirrors reflected your soul, and creatures of evil have no soul, consequently they have no reflection. Fiction has extended this belief to an actual aversion of mirrors, as depicted in Dracula when he casts Harker's shaving mirror out of the window. A vampire (despite not being alive in the classical sense, and therefore referred to as undead) may be "killed" (for good) using several methods, which can vary between 'species': * Ram a wooden stake through a vampire's heart, traditionally the stake would be made from ash or hawthorn, and the vampire should be impaled with a single blow. In some areas, a red-hot iron was preferred. The body should subsequently be burnt or buried at a crossroads. * The idea that exposing a vampire to sunlight will destroy them varies from culture to culture. Some 'species' of vampire are destroyed by sunlight, although it depends upon how powerful the vampire is, this is associated with vampires that are active from sunset to sunrise. Many species of vampires are active from 12 noon to midnight or the converse, and consequently sunlight is harmless.

Changed: 14c17,18

Pathology and vampirism

Changed: 19c23

Fiction

Vampires in fiction

Changed: 24c28,29

* Dracula by Bram Stoker

* Dracula by Bram Stoker (also the inspiration for many films) * Interview With the Vampire and its sequels by Anne Rice (also a film)

Changed: 26c31,32

This last has been the definitive description of the vampire in popular fiction for the last century. Its portrayal of vampirism as a disease, (contagious demonic possession!) with all its undertones of sex, blood and death seem to have struck a chord in a Victorian England where tuberculosis and syphilis were common. Before the Victorian era, the romantic connection between vampires and sex did not exist.

Dracula has been the definitive description of the vampire in popular fiction for the last century. Its portrayal of vampirism as a disease, (contagious demonic possession!) with all its undertones of sex, blood and death seem to have struck a chord in a Victorian England where tuberculosis and syphilis were common. Before the Victorian era, the romantic connection between vampires and sex did not exist.

Added: 47a54,55

:External links : http://www.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/vampirefilms.html An extensive list of vampire movies.