How did the vampire mythology appear?

Question

10 points for the best answer.

Answer 1

There are a couple of theories on this.

One revolves around a genetic disorder called porphyria (sp?). Sufferers have a number of conditions and syndromes, including psychosis, anemia, hemophilia and liver disease. The combination of anemia and psychosis can lead to a desire to drink blood. Several kings of England are known to have had this disease, and it's suspected that Vlad the Impaler had it as well.

Another theory has to do with corpses. Hair and nails continue to grow for several days after death. Combine this with the vagaries of decomposition -- some corpses didn't rot as quickly as expected, probably due to variables in soil acidity and moisture. If a week-old corpse was still mostly intact, and someone who saw it noticed that the nails were looking claw-like, then uneducated peasants might fear that the body was going to get back up.

Answer 2

Vampire myths are much older than Vlad the impaler or Bram Stoker. Stoker just combined the vampire myth with the legend of Vlad, who was a vicious and merciless adversary.

First, let's look at people's innate fear of the dark. That's step #1.
then add ignorance.

It seems that when a body is buried, at first the blood solidifies, then over time it liquefies again. So, if for any reason these bodies were dug up. the people would find blood dripping form the bodies's orifices. It must have been scary and very distasteful to the people who know nothing of science. Their explanation developed. these corpses must walk the nights seeking blood from the living, that's why the blood had dripped out of the mouths of the corpses, I guess they drank too fast or something.

Answer 3

It Appeared When A Romanian Prince Called Dracula Used 2 Kill Peasants 4 For Fun An Evil Prince Or Wicked Should I Say However Peasants Started Rumors That He Drank Blood I Think
It Was In The Medival Ages

Answer 4

First vampires are not mythology, they are legend and folklore. But how they first came about was through a series of extremely messed up royalty who liked to either bath in or drink up blood. The most famous leader of all would be Vlad Dracula (which litterally translates to Vlad son of Dracul). This guy was crazy. He was the leader of a small Romainian county (which is just apart of Romainia now) who loved to take his defeated enemies and put them on 10-15 feet tall stakes and dip his bread in their blood and eat it. Pretty sick if you ask me. He did this for many many years until he was finally over thrown and exiled from the country and murdered by his long time enemies. So that's where the first major vampire comes from (Count Dracula). Another look into vampires is a lil kinky. It was not socially acceptable to write about intimate encounters with men and young females when vampire stories were first coming out, so the authors came up with a metaphorical and hidden kiss on the neck, the vampires bite. The stories of vamipires is just one big smelting pot of weirdos and freaks, but nontheless very interesting.

Answer 5

That weird C... is partly right. I don't know the name of the disease but the people with the disease were albinos and couldn't stand the sun or daylight. They were very pale of course. In those days there was no medicine for the disease but blood contains something that works the same. That's why they drank blood. So... pale people who only came out at night and who drank blood... combined with Vlad the Empaler... Vampire!!! I would love to meet a real one. Maybe Johnny Depp after he's been bitten..

Answer 6

More than likely it was to explain Porphyria, of which there are many symptoms and degrees. Also back then people had little understanding of how the human body works. Bodies that were in the process of decomposition were often mistaken for vampires. It was also uncommon for people to be burried alive, shallow graves. You might see someone wake up and dig themselves out, and the church has pronounced you dead so the fact that your alive must be "the devil's work".
I'm just giving theories here, try the link below.

Answer 7

as usual it grew out of several things people either were trying to find explainations for or would add to the myth to make it a better scarier story. i will list a couple of things

1) people frequenly used to accidently get buried alive.
this still happens in places lacking modern medicine and funeral practices
2) Consumption was a common diease that made the victim pale and wraithlike.
3) People born Albino. often have major problems with sun burn.

the mythology really took off with the birth of the printing press. when the up til then verbal myths were shared, expanded upon and gained a wider audience

Answer 8

In the bible when Adam told God he was lonely .God made him a mate the same way he made Adam from the Earth. And she was called Lilith. She was to much like Adam in temper and Questioned GODs laws . Such as why should she be the one that had to lie beneath Adam when having sex.She quickly drive Adam nuts. And asked God to create another mate that was more doctile to him.
God sent Lilith out of the Garden of Eden and she dewlt with another tribe and became The first Queen of the Vampires according to jewish myth. She also snuck back into the Garden and had some talks with Adams second wife Eve . UntilGod found out and locked her out.

Answer 9

If you are talking the modern concept, Bram Stoker's Dracula. If you are talking in general, the vampire mythology developed all over the world at different periods of time. I believe they are a derivation of the 'hag' myths of a malevolent spirit that would sit on your chest and draw in your life force.

Answer 10

Supposedly it traced its origins back in Romania of a tyrant called Vlad the Impaler. His name came to be from the many victims' he impaled through a spear as a result.

Although, he was considered a hero among his people... he was naturally feared by his enemies. The author Bram Stoker later readapted this folklore into the greatest story we've known today as, "Dracula".

The imagery of blood, gore, sensuality & immortality are a result of Hollywood film making.