Vampire

Vampire is a creature from folklore that subsists by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires were undead beings that often visited loved ones and caused mischief or deaths in the neighborhoods they inhabited while they were alive. They wore shrouds and were often described as bloated and of ruddy or dark countenance, markedly different from today's gaunt, pale vampire which dates from the early 19th century.

Etymology

The English word vampire was borrowed from German Vampir, in turn derived in the early 18th century from the Serbian вампир/vampir when Arnold Paole, a purported vampire in Serbia was described during the time when Northern Serbia was part of the Austrian Empire.

Characteristics

Vampires are said to be unable to walk in sunlight, and are repelled by garlic, sacred items, mirrors, or running water. They can transform into bats or wolves, and can control the weather. They are immortal, but can be killed by a stake through the heart, decapitation, or burning.

In Popular Culture

Vampires have been a fixture of popular culture for the last two centuries, since the publication of John Polidori's The Vampyre (1819). They have been featured in literature and cinema, with Bram Stoker's Dracula and Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire being among the most famous examples.

See Also

• Vampire folklore by region
• List of vampires in folklore and mythology
• List of vampire traits in folklore and fiction
• Vampire literature
• Vampire films

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