Hello.. I am very new here, and have been learning my way around before inserting my foot into my mouth. However, I thought I would comment on this, and add my 2 cents.
One of my favorite books is by Montegue Summers, most have probably read it. His book "The Vampire in Lore and Legend" is quite insightful, though to short in my opinion.
He breaks down the legends by countries and geographical location.
My favorite so far, would be the Vourkolakas of Modern Greece. (Please note this book has a first copyright of 1880 through 1948). The Vourkolakas were considered beyond ravenous as compared to other legends of that time. The Vourkolakas would appear as flesh or spectre. Food was their most urgent demand, in the form of robbing eggs, poultry and cattle, of which they gained very little nourishment, similiar to the Assyrian vampire. Eventualy, all Vourkolakas turn to human prey, general thier closest living relative. Should the Vourkolakas take spectre form, the victim would lose their spiritual energy, most suffering a painful death. They believe also, that the vourkolakas could impregnate a female victim, however the female Vourkolakas was incapable of bearing offspring.
As documented then by Sir Rennell Rodd, It was believed th Vourkolakas were created one of two ways, birth by a living female, or excommunication from the church. Staking was not an option. A preist was required to perform a rite of absolution (called the Nomocanon cap. lxxxii) over the creature (or grave.. some of the book is in latin), which generaly turned to a pale a grey ash.
Other Vampaire species of note: Wurwolakas (Albanian), Mormo, Katakhanas, Empusa, and Lamia.. a few of my favorites.
A side note: "The word vrykolakas was occasionaly applied to living persons in the sense of the werewolf" - but thats a different post.
