The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

The following two paragraphs were taken from a book called 'The Vampire Encyclopedia'.

''Binding a corpse: The practice of tying the arms or legs of a corpse to prevent it from becoming a revenant and thus wandering. The exact methods of binding vary from place to place, depending upon local customs. The Finns tied the knees together while others preferred to tie the feet. The practice of tying the mouth shut was also used in some regions. Others used coins, cotton, or garlic to prevent the deceased from biting or chewing. Such binding was not permanent, as knots could hinder the dead person's journey into the afterworld; the ropes were thus cut before burial. In Romania the ropes were burried nearby, and if they were ever used in black magic ceremonies after the burial, the corpse became one of a vampire species called the strigoii.''


''Piercing a Corpse: The act of impaling or mutilating a body in order to prevent the return of the deceased as a revenant or vampire. Corpse piercing is different from using a stake to impale an undead or decapitating it with a sexton's spade, as this act is a preventive measure, intended to make sure that a vampiric transformation does not take place at all. It is also different from corpse binding, as it involves the piercing of the flesh. The act has been practiced in many regions, especially the Balkans and Greece and in northern Europe, where nails were pounded into the heads of corpses. Stakes were hammered into the chest to pierce the body to the grave, and studs or nails were also inserted into the feet, hair, and legs. This symbolic attaching of the corpse to the earth was believed to ensure eternal rest. Such acts were combined with even more severe practice of decapitation or with more simple placement of antievil substances in the grave, items such as grain, nets, garlic, or roses. Stakes can also be pounded into the earth above the grave to perform the same function, impaling the vampire as it attempts to rise from the earth.''

Has anyone else heard of this?

If so do you really think it would work in preventing a vampire to be 'born' so to speak?

Also, have you heard of any other ways to stop a vampire from coming about?

Note: This is not to be ways of killing a vampire, but ways to stop a vampire from being created.

I've heard variations of both--and would think that with the damage done to the corpse it would not be salvagable for turning.

The Wallachians believed that the dead can be prevented from returning to life by driving a long nail through the skull of the corpse and placing a thorny stem of a wild rosebush upon the body.

One way prevent a person from becoming a vampire is to rub the body with the lard of a pig killed on St. Ignatius’s Day. For vampire detection, they place a young boy on a black horse and walk them around the cemetery. If the horse refuses to pass over a certain grave, it means that a vampire lies within it.

Whats interesting to me is that they were assuming that the transformation would not be immediate, that it would occur later albeit close to burial. If the transformation were immediate they wouldn't have the opportunity to perform such rituals.

Any ideas for not having a vamp develop -- I will go with a) dont get bitten b) dont drink blood from strangers (if anyone at all -- blech)

I'm not sure if they would work or not.

In some early Christian cultures they used to cross the corpse's arms over a bible or some other religious symbol. It was believed that this would prevent evil from entering the body and help lay the soul to rest.

I have heard of coprse binding, but not piercing. Do you have any dates for piercing ?

I know that in the real old days they used to put a stake through the hearts of those they believe committed suicide, to stop them from coming back from the grave. But then a stake through the heart kills most things, I have not heard of the body being tied up though.

I've heard of those before...in the old days I can understand how people would be worried about that. Though in present day, obviously, such methods aren't necessary.
Though...if vampires are extraordinarily strong, I don't see how these things would stop them. As far as impalement goes, if they're already dead, what's another fatal injury?

that's horrible. why does everybody think that vampyres are dead?? that's just like calling us zombies because if you say we wake from the dead and eat people then i don't see a difference. I find this to be offending, or just the fact of the theory that vampyres are inhuman.

Vampires ARE undead. They're re-animated corpses basically. By piercing or impaling the corpse to the ground people hundreds of years back felt assured they would not have their blood taken for the vampires feeding purposes.

Let me rephrase that.


People felt assured the dead wouldn't return AS vampires to feed off their blood.