Behind the mystical aura that surrounds the evil name of vampires, there are often true stories full of pain and suffering. Terrible crimes committed in the distant past have taken the form of a legend or a story told around the campfire. Who are vampires? History tells us about the different events associated with them. Some events have remained unchanged, while others have forever lost their former appearance. And that is why it is so difficult to distinguish truth from fiction.
Vampires of Ancient Egypt
Who are vampires? The history of Ancient Egypt tells of people who returned from the world of the dead, whose death was so shameful that they could not get into the Underworld. One of them, dated to the 3rd c. BC e., tells of a young man named Azenet, who fled the battlefield, leaving his post. The enemies overtook him and chopped up the body, leaving it to rot in the sands. After some time, Azenet began to appear to his relatives, demanding that he be allowed into the house. The victim of this spirit was the traitor's bride, who herself went to him. Archaeologists found this story on the walls of the tomb of a poor girl whose skull was missing the lower jaw.
Daughters of the Dark Moon
If one takes a closer look at the past, stories of bloodlust can be traced back to Ancient Greece itself. The Greek word for vampire is empousa. Mention of these creatures can be found in the writings of some philosophers. So, for example, Philostratus in his work "The Life of Apollonius from Tyana" describes the story that happened to the Lycian Menippus.
According to this story, during the journey, the young man met a beautiful stranger who so captured his fantasies that Menippus was ready to marry her. Every night the student of the philosopher began to spend on the ruins, in which, as he claimed, are the chambers of his beloved. Only the intervention of his teacher saved the Lycian. Apollonius banished the ghost, and described everything that happened in his writings. The story of vampires could have happened in reality.
It is known that from the 5th to the 3rd centuries BC. e. on the territory of Greece and Rome there was a cult of worshipers of Hecate. Investigation protocols have survived to this day, mentioning bloody rituals in which priestesses drank blood. Perhaps it was these stories that became part of the legends about vampirism.
Legends of Ancient Europe
The inhabitants of Europe sincerely believed in the existence of vampires. Often this belief was based on the fear of medieval inhabitants of a variety of diseases that distorted the body. Raging epidemics not only claimed thousands of lives, they filled the mind with facts about non-decaying remains, tetanus and external deformities.
Probablyfor this reason, modern scholars find so many graves with evidence of the ritual burial of those convicted of vampirism. So, during excavations in the counties of Dorset, strange ritual burials were discovered, among them was the corpse of a woman, the body rested on the remains of animals that followed the contours of her body. The cervical vertebrae were broken, and the head was separated from the body, the legs rested on animal limbs. Based on the results of the research, scientists came to the conclusion that the woman was killed during the period when the inhabitants left the village.
Vampirism is a plague spawn
Who are vampires? The story tells that in 2009, the Italian archaeologist Matteo Borrini discovered a vampire burial in the vicinity of the city of Venice. In the historical period to which the remains belong, there was a plague epidemic. The terrible events of that time were reflected in many sources. On the basis of mass hysteria, belief in otherworldly evil forces pushed people to desperate acts. The elderly woman was buried in a mass burial ground. A piece of brick was placed in her mouth, which was believed to prevent the vampire from attacking the living.
One of the legends of that period tells of a we althy lady who lived in the 16th century. Her name was Beatrice Dandolo, she led her married life in a family estate near Pisa. The woman was famous for her beauty, her husband did not spare money for outfits and jewelry to show off to his neighbors. When the plague began to take lives, Beatrice's husband was one of the first victims. A woman, fearing to lose her beauty and he alth,locked herself in one of the wings of the castle. She gave the order to block the entrance. Her self-imposed seclusion gave rise to many legends that in fact the woman contacted dark magic and performed rituals on blood, wanting to save herself.
Subsequently, the story of Beatrice Dandolo was used to create the storyline of the movie "The Brothers Grimm". When creating the outfit for the image of the Mirror Queen, the costume designers relied in part on portraits of Beatrice.
Vampire from Würzburg
Who are vampires? The history of the legend of the 30s of the XIX century tells that inexplicable phenomena associated with vampires also occurred on the territory of Bavaria. Dr. Heinrich Spatz lived in the city of Würzburg. He was a respected worthy man. As a practicing physician, he published several works on medicine, which entered the world practice. But here are some facts of his biography suggesting his involvement in the Nosferatu clan.
According to the data, the doctor had his own medical practice and was in charge of the hospital for the poor. For a long time, the Spatz couple did not attract much attention to themselves. But after the doctor curtailed his work and left the city, the police received alarming news about the missing people. Former assistants to the doctor said they could prove the involvement of the doctor in the disappearance of Joachim Feber, who was a doorkeeper in the hospital. After a search of the former hospital, many bodies were found, one of them had a characteristic feature that identified the missing Feber. It was not possible to find a doctor. But, according toprotocols, one of the assistants who reported him died under mysterious circumstances.
Bloody secrets of Bulgaria
Who are vampires? The history of the Bulgarians, their beliefs are also no less interesting. According to folk legends, a very evil person becomes a vampire. Moreover, this superstition concerned only men suspected of witchcraft. After death, such a person was pierced in the heart with a steel bar or aspen stake.
Who are vampires? The history of origin suggests that they really existed. This is evidenced by the excavations carried out by scientists near the church "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker". In a stone grave, the skeletons of two men were found, whose chests were pierced with steel bars. Similar strange graves have been found before, but in this case it was possible to more fully restore the whole picture thanks to the good preservation of the remains.
Myths about Siberian vampires
Who are vampires? The history of the emergence of these creatures is also relevant in Siberian lands. In 1725, the peasant Pyotr Plogoevitz died suddenly and was buried in his native village of Kizilov. After some time, Petra's fellow villagers began to pass away. The local authorities were alarmed by the fact that at their dying confession they all said that the reason for their illness was the constant visits of a Siberian vampire.
Due to pressure from the village population, it was decided to open the peasant's grave. What was the surprise of the inspector,who arrived to follow the exhumation procedure, when it turned out that the body of the deceased had hardly changed. These facts were stated in the inspector's report. The villagers took action by driving a stake through Peter's heart and setting his body on fire.
Curse of the Black Continent
The history of vampires is not only a product of European mythology. The inhabitants of Africa also keep many analogues in their epic. In their folklore there is a creature called "fifole". It is a rejected soul that wanders among the world of people, attacking the weak and babies. Many of the tribes of Africa keep legends about how a witch cursed a man for his misdeeds, forcing him to drink the blood of loved ones. These superstitions they took with them to America as slaves.
Who are vampires? The history of the appearance speaks of one of the documentary references to such a created vampire, which dates back to 1729. The incident took place in Virginia at the villa of Gregory Watstock, a we althy landowner. By order of his wife, one of the minor servants was severely flogged for damaging property. Due to the severity of the punishment, the child died. His mother was known as a powerful witch among black slaves. Allegedly, she put a curse on the entire plantation family.
At that time, consumption was a common disease, which soon claimed the life of Mrs. Watstock. Some time later, her eldest daughter mysteriously died. And the youngest son complained to the priest that before his death, his sister was visited by their deceased mother. After this statement, the relatives visited the cemetery and burned the corpses, which wasdocumented by the Reverend Father.
Who are vampires? The history of creation is very interesting and exciting. But in the modern world, the image of a vampire has changed in many ways. He was given a touch of piquancy and gloss. But do not forget that behind all the tinsel lies completely unattractive content.
