The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

It is a well-lknown fact that many ancient cults practiced the rather nasty habit of drinking the blood of their enemies! Given this, could one not also assume that this is what actually started the Vampire Mythology?

That might be possible and it would make the most sense. I can see how that might have started the vampire legend.

Its not uncommon to drink the blood of your first deer when hunting.

BaoloDrown,

Would you care to elaborate on these facts please, by providing some references where this was indeed the case?

Blood has historically been a powerful symbol in literature and art, signifying both life and death.


everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1185616

it is possible i mean who really knows what happens and who is to say it did or did not happen and why or why not it happend

i think it could be possible

any thing is passable in lore and fantasy ...

it could be possible if that is the way one would choose to look at it. others may look at is another way. its all a personal choice

It is possible, although I doubt it.

I am curious, as to what ancient cults drank the blood of their enemies? If you could please elaborate on this topic for me?

I am sure that if it were true, then the mythology of the Vampire could have came from these ancient cults. But I would like to know which cults?

i would think that is more of a trophy sort of thing like in predator where the alien keeps heads

They drank the blood and ate the hearts
because they thought it would give them the strength and power of their enemy so they could fight harder and longer.

Any in particular TheDarkWolf?

I know of a Celtic taste for the heart, but wasn't aware that was a human one.

temptation101~

you may find this interesting if not amusing...

www.classicalvalues.com/archives/002411.html

i also think that could very well be possible

I have also heard of a group who ate the heart of their enemy, although I don't know the particulars. I suppose it would be possible for this to constitute Vampirism. There is truely no clear beginning that I know of.

The Aztecs for one
The Mayans did as well

They also sacrificed people to make their gods happy.

These type of practices can contribute to the myth of vampires

TheDarkWolf,

I know that those cultures had Gods who drank blood, but they themselves, as far as I am aware, never did that.

Stabb they drank blood for the gods...because the gods "told" them to.
I did a book report in high school on the subject.They the Aztecs and Mayans drank the blood and ate the hearts...not the "Gods".

it's very possible, but i think there's more to the vampire legends than just this one thing.

TheDarkWolf,

Would you be kind enough to provide some links for this please?

Thanks.

Well there are no links...I was in high school when I was 16 -18 and Im 35 now...no internet then.I retain about 90% of stuff I read in my memory.Its all from what I read in books and research I did at the library.Im sure I can look it up...not sure how true the net is with that kind of info.

TheDarkWolf,

Then I would suggest that this is not a provable theory of yours. I've read a lot on their ideas regarding blood and haven't found anything which specifically mentions that they drank it.

Spilled plenty, but that's hardly a solely vampiric trait.

http://aztec.com/religion.html

read through the top section of this page

That may be true of the Aztec but the Maya were more into blood letting.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodletting_rituals_in_Maya_culture

TheDarkWolf,

I have read the entire article and have not found anywhere which states that the Aztecs actually drank the blood.

The blood, was intended for the Gods to take, which would have made it a sacrilege to drink it themselves.

I'm sorry, but this actually goes against the idea that they were vampires. Perhaps servants of vampire-like deities would be acceptable.

I know I was taught my people used to believe to drink the blood or eating the flesh of your enemies would bring you their power. Now do I think this makes them vampires.. no. Vampric perhaps at best.

I do think it shows they were aware of how important blood was to living and so concluded it must hold more of the persons power. And if eating and drinking food gives you the power to live.. would not eating and drinking of an enemy do the same?

I have heard that is why they thought Vlad was a vampire.

It also could be bacause Back when there was no food they feed of each other to servive. If you had no water no food and Some where soon to die anyways Or an animal id handy. Theres many things that could have been of reason

Well I also remember reading in my history class just the other day. Some could consider it the begining of the Vampire Myth. But most believe it was later that the Vampire Myth came to be...

Iteresting Subject I am currently reading a book that explains a young teenagers theory about it being diabetic related
Because the insulin-dependent diabetes is pretty much extinct today.

She describes how in the 20th century if i have my facts right how a diabetic who hasn't been treated for dibetes back then could experience the pale skin and how Others thought she was possed because of the mysterious behaviors that were accuring to her she describes all of the way an untreated diabetic could have been mistaken for a vampire

this is an interesting subject indeed and i would love to find out more about it.if you can find a couple of links i would appreciate reading the info on it

I looked on google and couldn't find any well written articles on the subject . I must say for now i concur with stabb . It looks as though there is very little for this claim to run on .

it is possible.. but i don't know of many old cultures that actually them selves drank blood.. i know they have done sacrifices..

Have to agree with STABB though.. not much relevance to that claim

It is possible that many cultures consumed their enemy's blood, but I don't feel that is where the myth of the vampire originated. I believe the myth of the vampire was created to help people explain the mysteries of death and their lack of knowledge on the process of decomposition.

I don't think so. I believe the myths come farther back in history then that.

I would agree toatally. They drank the blood to put fear into their enemies and what greater fear then knowing you would be drained of blood.

It could have. I don't think for the whole vampire myth in general but I'm sure this would spark some fear in many old places where a lot of folk tales hold way too much weight.

About blood drinking rituals, in my family it is very important to drink the hearts blood of your first kill. This was to take the spirit of the animal, some of its strength some of the wild into your self. I heard this from my great-grandfather. My family linage on that side was from Scotland. I do not know about the blood of enemies though.
*grin*

I would definately like to see another source to back up your theory TDL. But interesting if it can be proven to be true.

There are also other cultures that do rituals with drinking blood. It just may be possible this is were the whole vampire myth comes from

Yes like that weird tribe in the Philippines that drink the blood of the animals they kill or the other people they kill

That is a good theory however I feel that a lot of things contributed to the formation of the vampire race. No one event could have possibly created such a varying race.

i guess it could be...but we were here before they started that.

u could take this any way u wanted but some people also drank the blood of animals on Hallows eve to signify there ancesters. SO therefore then y arent animals also turned to vampires?

An excerpt from
The book i am reading
Sweetblood by, Pete Hautman

CHAPTER 6

"The Sad Truth About Bloodsucking Demons"
by, Lucy Szabo
Creative Writing, 4th Period

There are many tals about vampires, but almost none of them are true. So why are there so many books on vampires? Why do so many different cultures have their own vampire stories?
The truth is, Vampire legends are based upon actual fact. Vampires were (and are) real, as I shall prove in the following paper.

Most of the modern ideas about vampires came from a book by bram stoker titled Dracula. Count Dracula (according to the book) was a vampire who lived in a castle in Transylvania and drank blood to stay alive. He could turn into a bat, andhe was hundreds of years old. He was superfast and superstrong and 100% evil. Bram Stoker got many of his ideas from Romanian folk legends, and from reading about a real historical person named Vlad Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler.

[I skipped the part where she describes what Impalement is, as I'm sure we all know our vocabulary]

But the real Vlad Dracula was not a real vampire (as far as we know). He was just a sadistic sicko, much like Elizabeth Bathory, who liked to bathe in blood colected bby murdering local maidens. She also liked to bite them and torture them.
Basically, Bram Stoker was just a writer who cobbled together a few folk-tales and some twisted history into a kind of ghost story. But ever since, the vampire legend has grown to become a huge force in modren literature. The true story, however, was lost in the mists of time--until now.
Most myths and legends are based on real events. For instance, the story of Noah's Ark might have been inspired by a real flood, and the Abominable snowman is probly a rare species of a bear.
This is also true of vampires.
First, you have to relize that when the vampire stories got started there was very little knowledge about disease and medicine. People treated cancer with leeches and rubbed dirt into cuts to make them heal. Ignorance was even greater then than it is today.


[If you would like to know more, please message me and I will send you the rest]

Yes it's true that in ancient times many cultures drank the blood of their enemies once defeated in battle. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with gaining their strength through the blood.

I think it's really possible that this is where the myth of vampirism originated from, the myth being that vampires are terrifying monsters of the night, reanimated corpses that will drink your blood.
It makes sense, people don't want to believe that humans can be monstrous...So they make up monsters to almost rationalize their fears.

I do not know that could be so but I understand that Blood is very powerfull in magic uses epesically the first menstarl period of a women or young virgin women,. I do not know if that has caused vampyrism and people thinking they are vampires for just drinking blood

Latin american cultures like mayans and aztecs were very fond of human sacrifices and also they found necessary to drink their enemies blood... of course that doesnt mean that they had any vampiric instinct... they just did that as a practice and in honor of their gods...
i dont see a relation between the sacrifice itself and being a vampire...

did anyone even read what i wrote earlier id like some feedback please

I agree 100% with Kryptic and Midnytcat.

If you pay attention in your history classes, then you wouldn't have to ask that question. Just looking at the behavior of people in the past will tell you exactly where myths and legends come from... Mostly, it's all the sickos in the world that start the legends and become famous for something so disgusting.... Like cannibals today.. most of them claim to be vampires and look at how many fans they have... They're absolutely adored by the public. *yick*

I've read that the Scythians did such a thing. I think anyone who would be in the path of a warring nation and could fall victim to it would certainly have lots of horror stories, real and embellished as well.

I guess it depends on what the group/cult thinks where the orgin of their own blood drinking came from or why they do it.

blooddrinking has been a part of history for a long time however not all blood rites make you a vampier

It could have sprouted the fear of those certain people who drink the blood of others. Obviously because people feared it would be their blood that was taken ;)

It's been a common belief throughout history and still to this day that drinking the blood of your enemies or sometimes, even eating their flesh, would allow you to consume their strength.

Excellent post Bloodx I also would agree with the belief that consuming the blood of your enemies was a way of gaining their strength.

There is one account of Vlad the Impaler dipping a piece of bread in some recently killed enemies and eating it.

Well done, BloodxCreep.... there were ancient civilizations and perhaps tribes in parts of Africa,and other places, that would drink the blood of their enemies as well as eat either the brains or the flesh of their captured or slain warriors from battle. In doing so, they thought they were taking in the warrior's energy and strength.

I find it interesting to note that a fear of vampires comes about due to religious beliefs.

In nature a vampire would be just another animal. Those humans which are religious are taught that vampires are evil and in so, have a fear instilled in them by their faith and it is that fear which has caused so much trouble for the vampire.

I believe the native tribes of the world in general, looked less fearfully at vampires and accepted them as part of the world around them. They were not feared as much as they were respected.

I suppose that it could be true, but personally I wouldn't do such a thing. I watch my enemies vanquish themselves, yet I do not seek out their blood.

Rev. Ravyn

Almost every culture in history has some kind of Vampiric legend.Im thinking that some might have began with the Aztecs and other South American cultures,but not all.

even the indians or aborigional people believe that consuming the heart and blood of another man would therefor strengthen themselves...

for example look at when the native americans attacked Fort Dearborn, where Captain William Wells defended killing 8 natives before being slain and his heart consumed because they believed they would 'absorb' his courage.

It is probably one of the several beginnings.

I would agree that all civilizations and one point has that in their history, i would think more that of it being the warriors though

I actually mentioned this in a paper I wrote for my Comparative Religion class. Our modern take on what a vampire is may have descended from these bloodthirsty gods and goddesses, but I would beg to differ slightly. I think if anything, it's an offshoot, and a blurry one at that; the undead, rotting, imbecilic blood-drinking zombie of a couple hundred years ago is a far cry from the powerful god. These gods also weren't something to admire, like the modern vampire, but something to fear and placate. But, certainly, the imagery and act of drinking blood is powerful, and is as old as our own species. Vampires (the modern kind) are just one aspect.

*Note: when I refer to "modern" vampires, I am referring to what the vampire is in current movies and books, from about Varney the Vampire on.

Blood is a powerful symbol. I know it is a tradition to drink the blood of your first kill when deer hunting.

I don't know any hunters that have done that, and I know a lot of hunters. Deer hunting is huge in my area and I've never heard that before.

I seem to remember in "Dances with wolves" that they ate the liver of the freshly killed Buffalo. Different culture, different belief system.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen.

that and there are many monsters thought u pto explain phenomena, and to inspire fear or safety, etc. and eventually the monster myths just sort of got around, spreadin guntil they were kind of merged together...the idiots guide to vampires talks about his alot...its a pretty awesome book. there seems to be an idiots guide to everything nowadays :)

Probably not. As it probably was started before then.

I do think that is the very reason Prince Vlad The Impaler did drink the blood of his enemies; the history of such acts.

dawsone -

He actually drank it?

Alot of historic stories have accounts of drinking enemys blood or even bathing in it . To me it would make sense if this is one of the sources for the vampire legends but who knows

Yep, very well could be the story that started all the movies! ;)

Chances are that had a lot to do with the myth of vampires getting started. I would venture to say that the relatives of those who had their blood drank had many things to say about those who did the drinking.

I guess so, but I personaly believe that there is more to the miths than just some tribes drinking blood for their ritualistic beliefs.

Your theory has some logic in it, however were that the case then it could also be surmised that werewolves or zombies originated from cannibals, who just got morphed through imagination into hairy beasts or undead, diseased corpses who feast on the brains of the living. Maybe this contributed to vampire lore, but I doubt there was one singular reason for the creation of vampire stories.

well i like know of many asian familys who drink the blood of the pig they slaughter, and the ducks.. very big on the ducks blood...that one they believe gives them strength and power i believe...

I think it's possible. I mean that's what most movies go by. Enemy = source of blood. In a more recent vampire movie I've seen they went after a really secluded area to feed. 30 days of night, they fed off the people in Alaska.

I think it could just as probable as any other theory. There are many different kinds of lore that have been going around about what started vampirism.

I believe this is how the myths start.. with a rumor. Tall tales and bedtime stories until the facts are presented to back it up.

I can only say I heard because it sounds familiar... this thread is also familiar too.

I read somewhere that some crazy queen back in the 14 or 15 hundreds bathed in the blood of young virgins to preserve her youth and killed hundred upon hundreds of girls to do this and thats how it all got started

no, those were rumors and it turned out to not be true ... it was Elizabeth Bathory

Here is the link to her story The Blood Countess

Yes that was Elizabeth Bathory. that is a well known theory as well. but I guess it could be possible that this version could also be true. There are so many lores now that try to explain where Vampirism came from.

A few points: (long, my apologies)

1. My understanding was that Vlad Tepes did not actually drink the blood of enemy soldiers. He ate dinner in front of the impaled corpses to show his contempt for his enemies. That scene, over time, became "he drank their blood." He might have, who knows.

2. Again, I don't have a reference, but I recall reading that the myths of Vampires or the walking dead rose through the middle ages and into the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries because A) people were often buried alive after serious illness, when they were actually comatose and suffocated, and B) in order to learn about the Human body, "Doctors" arbitrarily dug up corpses to study them. Modern medicine tells us that it's possible that hair and nails continue to grow after death. Those folks didn't know that, thus they assumed some evil, supernatural force was at work. They must have been "Vampires," etc.

I believe in the 1 to 100 rule. For every plausable supernatural encounter, there are 100 similar events with mundane explanations. Similar to for every thousand women the Inquisiton wiped out for being witches, perhaps a few actually dabbled in what they would consider to be actual Heresy, or Magick. But, hysteria breeds more hysteria, etc.

Kinda like for every Vampire Club, how many real Vamps hang there? =)

I believe anythings possible. Bur I also beleive that people are too quick to believe on some occassions.

I've never heard of ancient cults or the like drinking the blood of their enemies. Possibly eating their enemies, yes.
But I was under the impression the blood was given up to whatever God/Goddess/Deity they may have worshiped.

As with many myths and legends they are borne of some truth...whether it be real or stretched to an extent or someone's mistaken belief in what is real.

I believe that alot of stories that have been told in different cultures and things may have had some truths to them but were exaggerated to scare others for whatever reason they may have had.

I must say that this is an interesting thread and that it does warrant some research.

From what school has taught me is that the Vampire mythology was started during Prince Dracu rein or better know as Drau the impailer.

I believe that sacrifical and/or victory blood drinking could have been one of many sources for the vampire beliefs.

Also remember that some hunting cultures believe that you absorb the power of an animal you kill by drinking its blood.

A very plausible belief to consider.

Bahaha, that's something I've included in my book; drinking the blood of your enemy. It's a way to celebrate victory in my book though.
Some real cultures would eat their fallen foe, not just drink their blood. Waste not, I suppose. It's all to do with absorbing their strength or whatever.

i have heard of ppl that ate the hearts of there enemies but as to which i am nnot certain

Emotionally and physically, vampires are unpredictable, moody, temperamental and overwhelming. The major distinguishing characteristic of real vampires as opposed to ordinary people who share those qualities is the vampire's intensity. Vampires are extremely intense people. They are frequently given nicknames such as "the black hole." When others talk about them (usually to complain about them), vampires are often described by such terms as "needy," "attention-seeking," "grandstanding," "manipulative," "exhausting," "draining," "monopolizes the conversation," "jealous," "huge ego," and so on. A vampire's emotions are deep, fervent, and powerful, and she usually displays great psychic ability and has uncontrolled magickal and psychic experiences. Vampires are also empaths, and while they remain unconscious of their natures, they are frequently "psychic sponges" who simply absorb vibrations from everywhere, with the expected emotional instability resulting.

This thread has been automatically closed for length.