The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

recently there was a thread here (it didnt last long) that asked if there might be a mention of vampires in the bible.

this is similar...does anyone know of any belief system that includes a vampiric element, drinking of blood to gain life, etc?

to start, i know that there is a mention of Sekhmet (of egypt) drinking blood in one tale.

does anyone know of others?

looking forward to seeing what is said!

(and please, no bashing...lets keep the thread open awhile as i think its in interesting subject)
~W~

Wouldnt drinking blood simple be a Blood Rite?

Well if it is a blood rite... then perhaps what the poster is asking is... what biblical stories does anyone know that may have reference to anything that COULD be taken in a vampiric way, seeing as there is no proof that it IS vampiric, but simply what stories there are out there that may make ones mind contemplate a bit. Could be a fun thread if it doesn't get out of hand. :)

I've been posting about this very thing in my journal.The comparisons are a bit compelling I must say.

So long as those who seek vampires in history do so using blood-drinking as the identifying characteristic, those found by such a false trait will most certainly not be "vampires." Vampires, you see, were not and are not blood drinkers... and never have been.

No... that's not opinion; it's documented historical fact.


As discussed at length in previous forums here, for centuries vampires were originally hunted down and killed for "crimes" that had nothing to do with drinking blood. Actually... for millennia they have been so hunted. Only then, as the term had not yet been coined, they were not known as "vampires."

In Slavic lands, following the arrival therein of Christian beliefs, did the false rumors begin that those by this time called "vamipres" were actually corpses rising from the grave. And only after this did they begin to dig up those corpses believed to be such "vampires." And only after this practice began, and upon finding such corpses filled with a dark blood-like liquid (their decomposed internal organs) was it so ignorantly concluded that such corpses were filled with fresh blood (?).

While for centuries prior to this "vampires" were hunted for specific characteristic(s) that had nothing to do with blood drinking, yet only after was the false belief finally begun of vampires as blood drinkers. And ever since, the original characteristics for which "vampires" were persecuted and hunted for millennia was replaced by that of blood-drinking.

Prior to this false and ignorant conclusion, vampires were neither believed to be nor had they ever before been hunted for being blood drinkers.

So... the key question remains: For what, exactly, were "Vampires" originally known? Only after first answering this key question can anyone hope to seek and find in those truly known as "vampires" throughout history.


With that said, I will further say only this: there are indeed vampires found in history, in the Bible, and in religion. In fact, I would venture to say that once you know what to look for, all such history is not only filled with it but, in fact, was begun BY those later falsely vilified as "Vampires."

In fact, the name "Upir'", by which name I have taken my own moniker at this site and from which the modern term "Vampire" directly derives, was first used in 1047 CE, almost a thousand years ago and hundreds of years before the whole false blood-drinking idiocy got started.

The term "Upir' is Russian in origin. In Slavic lands, this same term was slightly altered by their language to "Vapir." Over time, this changed to "Vampir," only a single letter away from the modern English variant: "vampire."

The truth is, and in direct contradiction to the lies about "vampires" currently believed, my namesake, "Upir Likhyj", was an Eastern Orthodox Christian priest who most certainly wsa not a blood-drinking immortal revenant from the grave who feared crucifixes and daylight. Nor did he have fangs. Yet, he was most certainly... a full-blooded vampire by race, the only way a true "vampire" can be such. And, no, not as fiction portrays all such, but as they actually were... and still are.

And all such were known for and either adored (by women) or hated, feared and hunted down (by men) for possessing a host of characteristics unique to themselves alone as males.

Historically, they founded the Sumerian and Egyptian Empires, among others. They were vilified and persecuted by certain religions that have since risen to great power throughout the Western World. And where such religions are found in the Common Era, the term "vampire" is known and feared and hated, as well.


- Upir'

but there are a number of stories that are considered folklore regarding blood drinking immortals (i think the fangs are optional). but i am curious about in religion.
not just biblically but in others.
as i mentioned before, in the egyption beliefs sekhmet became a blood drinker for a time.
i seem to recall something similar about hecate.
in biblical lore (at least in jewish legend) there is the story of lilith. there were also tales associating cain with the vampire of the classic legends (ie blood drinking, immortality...fangs still optional).
not really all that interested in other vamps for now upir, your information is most interesting, but im seeking lore dealing with religious belief.
thanks
~W~

LW -

True indeed. Legends abound worldwide of monsters and ghouls who rise from the grave and drink blood and/or eat flesh. From werewolves and zombies to ghosts, poltergeists, mummies and monsters of all sorts, nothing scares Humans more than tales of revenants with sharp teeth seeking to do us all in and eat us alive. And this, alone, explains why the scariest tales worldwide involve exactly such sorts of hellish fanged creatures. Thus, just because one finds such tales does not evidence "vampires" but, rather, far more primal Human fears and superstitions that far precede the belief in vampires as any such.

It's all about ... historical and cultural context; a term seldom considered by vampire-seekers who, based solely on an ignorant conclusion of mid-1st Millenium CE Slavic peasants who began to dig up corpses, changed the vampire's most defining characteristic (still referenced in extant original accounts) from what it originally was that had them seeking to kill vampires long before they began to dig up corpses and that only then led them to ignorantly conclude the vampire to also be a blood-drinker.

And, thus, over time, the original trait(s) were conveniently overlooked and wholly replaced by the blood-drinking trait for which the vampire is almost solely known ever since.


- Upir'

im actually trying to find information from other areas of the world than just slavic, or even european areas.
~W~

LW -

The "vampire," by etymology and original characteristics, is Slavic. Thus, to seek the "vampire" in other cultures worldwide, one must be sure that the characteristics one seeks in other cultures' mythologies are the correct ones (i.e., the original ones).

And, unfortunately, as the vampire was only later attributed with being a blood-drinker somewhere between 1300-1600 CE (though the term, itself, was first coined by one such 300-600 years earlier), it is this false trait that most seek in other cultures' mythologies.

And as this trait was an entirely invented one based on completely erroneous assumptions regarding corpses falsely believed to have been vampires, so also are the mythological blood-drinking creatures found likewise not vampires, either.


- Upir'

Getting back on topic here, to ask the question a differant way for better understanding...

Is there any actual, aside from blood rites by the Egyptians, etc., vampiric-esque situations within any religious context?

As well, why look to religion for the answer, theology in my mind seems to have little if nothing to do with the true vampires, ie Annunaki. That is, unless were going into a historical debate as to whether or not the Annunaki are indeed the "nephilim" of the theological aspect. If not, then where did they come from and why did society call them vampires instead of terming them by their actual name of "Annunaki"?

We've never left topic.

Again... if we are going to seek vampires in religion, we have to know what it is that defines the vampire so as to seek his existence in religion.

Pretty basic stuff, that.

looking for blood rites, blood drinking, blood relating to life, power, resurrection, etc.

kali comes to mind here. and upir...i dont really care about the etymology of the word vampire. its the common term for blood drinkers. what your wanting to discuss might should be in a different thread.

SS, could you go into more depth on the nephlim and annuki (sp?).

thanks
~W~

If all you are looking for are blood-related references, then you won't be the least interested in the Annunaki, Nefilim, or true Vampires... all different names for the same unique race and none of whom were bood drinkers.


- Upir'

Thats true Upir,and we have talked of the Nephilim/vampire/Annuaki and their relation quite abit in this forum.And in the end,it really did all come down to the sex as opposed to the blood.

Here you go LordWolf,there are a ton of them in the archives,I just grabbed a couple of links for you....

https://www.vampirerave.com/forum/message.php?message=24094&group=1&catid=1

https://www.vampirerave.com/forum/message.php?message=4796&group=1&catid=1

https://www.vampirerave.com/forum/message.php?message=51307&group=1&catid=1

We sure have, Oceanne... and thanx for providing the forum links to a few of those great discussions here.

Given how ingrained the whole blood-drinking thing is today in modern culture where vampires are concerned, it is entirely understandable that it should seem both ludicrous and ignorant to think of vampires as having no connection whatsoever to blood drinking. And yet when actually critically examined, this is exactly wh history reveals.

This has long been acknowledged by true vampirologists and statements in this regard are found in the books of all such. Even the well-renowned sang vamp website sanguinarius.org acknowledges that, in fact:

"The
weird thing is, in actual panics, where people thought the 'vampire' was right there and active, there are almost no stories about blooddrinking."

- http://www.sanguinarius.org/articles/vampdef.shtml


Thus... if one truly seeks vampires in religion, one must know what the true identifying characteristics are of the "Vampire." When one does, one will indeed find them in the Bible and many places elsewhere in Sumerian, Egyptian and other ancient writings found around the world.


- Upir'

Even in the basic form of christianity, "Christ" was said to say the quote "this is my blood"- a goblet that was said to be containing wine, during the last supper...
Perhaps a deeper meaning lyes there. This has always held mystery to me.

Also, I believe that in Satanic religion, there are blood rituals- but I may be mistaken here. It seems like forever ago since I was studying this piece of it.

A somewhat obscure myth, folklore holds that vampires originated with Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Christ. Because Judas had betrayed Christ to the Romans, he and his family were cursed. The Bible holds that Judas committed suicide because of his guilt; suicides in vampire folklore were very likely to come back as vampires, so this may have helped contribute to the belief that vampires originated with Judas. Also, vampires descended from Judas were usually identifiable by their red hair. This probably points to the origin of the myth among the Greeks, as they believed red hair to be a mark of vampirism. Among the dark Greek, red-hair would certainly seem strange, but among people farther north, closer to the Scandinavian countries which feature such hair, there would be little to no stigma attached to it.

Someone suggested to me that the vampire's aversion to silver perhaps comes from this myth, as Judas betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver. When Judas tried to return the silver and could not, he cast it away as something hateful to himself. However, the use of silver as a deterrent for vampires is more widespread than the Judas myth. Though I have yet to find any good explaination of it, silver may be used because of its religious signifigance among pagan religions, which were carried over into vampire folklore.

3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
(Matthew 27:3-5)

This is just something I'm passing along, not because I believe it, but because its a story I've heard and relates to this thread. Aus.

Re Upir; Etymology. English vampire comes from German Vampir, in turn from early Old Polish *vąper' , in turn from Old Slavic oper (with a or opiri. The Slavic word, like its cognate netopyr' (bat), comes from the root for to fly). The word Upir as a term for vampire is found for the first time in written form in 1047 in a letter to a Novgorodian prince referring to him as Upir Lichyj (Wicked Vampire). Does this agree with your research?

With the exception of Jesus' blood, consuming blood to live eternally would have stood starkly against God's Plan, and so God would naturally be against such a shortcut. Perhaps thats why Holy Water, crosses and crucifixes, and God's light (the sun) would be expected to have a condemning effect on vampires. The vampire story principles practically grow themselves in the fertile ground of the Bible's soil.

coolleyhou - Re Upir; Etymology. English vampire comes from German Vampir, in turn from early Old Polish *vąper' , in turn from Old Slavic oper (with a or opiri. The Slavic word, like its cognate netopyr' (bat), comes from the root for to fly). The word Upir as a term for vampire is found for the first time in written form in 1047 in a letter to a Novgorodian prince referring to him as Upir Lichyj (Wicked Vampire). Does this agree with your research?


All of your three entries hit close to the historical truth... or at least touch upon aspects of it... though not quite yet in proper focus. As regards the connection to Jesus, there is indeed such a connection, but it is far stronger than suggested in your entry. Far far stronger.

As regards Upir Likhyj, you are in essence correct, though the key components (like your Christ references) are very abbreviated. However, you have at least not made the mistake, as did the Wikipedia reference initiatlly to this first-ever self-confessed "vampire" of history in first portraying him as a "blood-thirsty prince. Only after I submitted the requisite evidences and re-wrote the entry that was subsequently accepted and replaced the earlier one does it now accurately reflect the fact that he was not a prince but instead a priest who worked for a prince.

If truly interested in the full history of the real Upir Likhyj, including exactly what he wrote in 1047 CE translated verbatim from the original Russian, please read my journal article on him as found here (2nd entry of my November 2006 Journal):

Upir' Likhyj - The First Vampire in Recorded History


As regards the historical Jesus connection, and more specifically as regards why he chose to implement a blood-by-proxy rite on the very night his male disciple(s) betrayed him, I shall continue to keep this to myself given its extremely controversial nature.

However, I shall reveal that, as stated in the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, this rite was pointedly given only to those male disciples who throughout his ministry never understood him or his mission... and at least one (if not more) of whom ended up betraying him to his enemies that resulted in his death. All his female disciples, who greatly outnumbered the males and some of whom were just as noteworthy as any of his male disciples, were specifically not given this rite, whose blood symbolism was especially abhorrent and repugnant to all practicing Jews... and was one of the reasons Jesus gave it to this particular group of male disciples.

In fact, as also stated in the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, when Jesus revealed to Mary what he had done in instituting this bloody-by-proxy rite to these male disciples, Mary laughed. Mary laughed because, like Jesus, Mary fully understood why Jesus had instituted this rite the true purpose behind doing so. The male disciples and the church that THEY (not Jesus) then started blindly insitituted this blood-like ritual into that church... a ritual that was truly abhorrent to all the true followers of Jesus and down through the ages has helped to distinguish Jesus' true followers from those who betrayed him.

That's enough clues for now.


I hope you enjoy the journal article on Upir Likhyj (the actual historical one... not me, of course. hehehe).

Oh... by the by... if you truly do wish to find "vampires" in religion, and more specifically in the New Testament, simply read the tiny Book of Jude.

The men being discussed were falsely vilified in the Book of Jude as evil men and, later, falsely vilified as "vampires... and for the same reasons.


- Upir'

there is some good info going on here keep it up :)

I would like to point out that when discussing the act of intimacy, here and now as well as back in the day, ie history, it was so taboo (for lack of a better term) to talk about intimacy and blood play that most political orders, ie church and state felt completely uncomfortable speaking on any of this.

Even Stoker in his novel had to remove the intimacy and replace it with blood to cover for other things.

As ~Upir~ has pointed out, most of this stuff is very contravertial, since it has to do with religions histories and why no one will come forward with further knowledge regarding the actual scenerios which are shrouded in conspiracy.

I mean, how would you feel if your religious believes and or practices were taught out of falsehoods by those of whom brought them to you from the beginning of time, changing scenerio's because they seemed too insulting for the average individual? I don't mean to insult any ones religion, but certain truths do need to come about in order to understand the whole "vampire mythos" and what it actually entails.

There are certain things that light must be shed upon for a proper understanding to take its form. Religions use rituals, called sacrament to signify certain things of which reveal certain truths, but acknowledged out of falsehoods to cover up for the facts.

One would wonder why these rituals/sacraments take place and for what true purpose? Does society ever think about this? Or do they just go with the flow, thinking that everything will be alright just because their pastor/priest says so? Sacrifices a plenty anyone?

Anywho, off the topic of blood as it relates to the "vampires" in other ways aside from drinking. Back to the topic of a more "taboo" nature.

a bit left field here, but wouldnt vampires have their own religion, if that is the case then there is your answer. In regards to other religions I dont believe it is about vampires more the fact of blood.

Thinking about the whole thing about vampires and Christianity, could it not be that alot of the beliefs about vampires, such as drinking blood, having an aversion to Holy water and the cross, could have been thought up to keep people in the Christian faith?

Alot of people now have turned their back on Christianity, and many other religions, is it not possible that the same was happening hundreds of years ago, so the Church created these stories about Vampires, to strike fear into peoples hearts, by telling them only having faith in God and Jesus could save them?

Careful LadyStrange... you're thinking outside the box, again. How very heretical of you. Were we living in different times, you might well be put to the stake as a witch... just as I would for being a vampire.

You are also, of course, thinking very close to the path of truth.


- Upir'

... as also, I hasten to add... was Jesus.

Of course, in his case, he was not burned at the stake. But he was still just as horrifically put to death... and for largely the same reason as were those later accused as witches and vampires. And, no, that reason had absolutely nothing to do with blood drinking or blood rites of any sort.


-Upir'

Vampchica's comment hit a note with me. RAised Catholic and the "body and blood" thing hammered in to the point that we were warned, scolded, and warned again not to chew the communion wafer. Schoolyard discussions had to do with thinking that if we did blood would gush out of our mouths. Horrifying thought to some, titillating to others, but the thread of blood and flesh interwoven.

This is some interesting information I came across:

Ekimmu Vampires

The first myth on vampires predates back to roughly 4000 B.C.E. from the ancient Sumer civilization. The ancient Sumerians existed in Mesopotamia and facts prove that by 3100 B.C.E., their culture brought the earliest archeologically proven dynasty; the first cities were built along with establishing the city and state religions were set up and practiced. The Sumerians is the first civilization to receive our attention as the first and oldest myth of a vampire-like being that is the Ekimmu.

The Ekimmu, like many vampires of folklore, was believed to have been created when someone died a violent death or was not buried properly. Although not referred to out right as a vampire, the way they are described as helps us to draw the conclusion that these creatures were real intentional psychic vampires. They were described as demonic in nature, severely rotting corpses, phantom-like entities that roamed the earth, unable to rest, in search of victims. In reference to The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia, by R. Campbell Thompson, the creatures preferred the attack pattern of finding a helpless individual, then tormenting this victim until a priest or priestess could come and perform a ritual or exorcism to force the vampire off.


Uruku

Another creature from the Mesopotamian that fits this role as vampire-like creatures is that of the Uruku or Utukku. The Uruku is actually referred to as a "vampyre which attacks man" in a cuneiform inscription. There is very little known about the Uruku, but, the mere fact that it has been referred to as a "vampire" deems it worthy to mention here.


The Seven Demons

Another "race" of vampires is also mentioned as a vampiric entity which was much feared: "The Seven Demons". These beings have been mentioned in many Mesopotamian religious texts and incantations, like the following excerpt taken from a Sumerian banishment (taken from The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia, by R. Campbell Thompson):

Demons that have no shame,
Seven are they!

Knowing no care...
Knowing no mercy,
They rage against mankind:
They spill their blood like rain,
Devouring their flesh [and] sucking their veins.
Where the images of the gods are they quake...

They are demons full of violence
Ceaselessly devouring blood.
Invoke the ban against them,
That they no more return to this neighborhood...

The creatures described above clearly have attributes similar to immortal blood-drinking vampires. The blood drinking and vein sucking make it clear to assume that they are vampires of some sort indeed. The eighth line in the excerpt indicates that the creatures are afraid of the images of the Sumer gods, or of the temples in which most god images are kept.

From the following link:
http://hellhorror.com/vampires/vampire_mythology/

A religion in which drinking blood is part of a rite...Christianity, the wine taken in communion is suppose to represent Christs blood.

Information about the Ekimmu:

Ekimmu

Predating back to nearly 4000 B.C.E., the Ekimmu is one of the first and oldest myths known to man. This entity was given life by the beliefs of the Ancient Assyrians and shared by the Babylonians as well, and later with the Inuit and Eskimo tribes. The Assyrians, are believed by some to have given birth to the vampire belief, others believe, that it was Egypt. The Ekimmu was fearfully dreaded by the Mesopotamian empire and was described as a very angry and bitter spirit of a once living human being, who was unable to find peace. The Ekimmu’s appearance was described by the Inuit and Eskimo tribes as “severely rotting corpses”and considered unusual in the fact that they maintained, the mind and personality they had in their mortal life. However, the Ancient Sumerians description of the Ekimmu is somewhat different than that of the Inuit and Eskimo tribes.

The Sumerians described the Ekimmu as demonic, phantom-like entities that roamed the earth, unable to obtain solace, searching for victims. They were also referenced as “evil wind gusts” and according to Sumerian mythology, wind is often shown as a expression of psychic or apparitional power. (As in the example of the Babylonian God, Marduk.) The Ekimmu has also been referenced on rare occasions with the British Banshee who would be heard wailing and crying outside of a household, warning that there would be a forthcoming death to someone within that home. The Ekimmu has never actually been labeled “vampire” because of their lack of blood consumption, but, because the Ekimmu’s characteristics are very similar to the “utukku”( a.k.a. Uruku) meaning “vampyre which attacks man” derived from a cuniform inscription, and much more is known of the Ekimmu, it has respectfully earned it’s place amongst the vampire myths.

One should also keep in mind that not all vampires sustain themsleves through blood consumption alone, but can also feed from the life force of plants, animals, elements, and human beings by tapping into their aura. These vampires are known as psychic vampires. The Sumerians reference to the Ekimmu as being “evil wind gusts” and if you look into occult studies of the psychic vampire, you will find that breath and the transfer of psychic energy are intimately correspondent. With this reference, the Ekimmu very much indeed fits the description of a intentional psychic vampire.

Some of the reasons behind the hostility of the Ekimmu (translated meaning “that which was snatched away”) were believed to be due to the following: a violent or premature death by being murdered, possibly in a battle, or dying at a very young age. Dying before love could be fulfilled, improper burial, or not being buried at all, dying in pregnancy, drowning, starvation, improper libations (a serving (of wine) poured out in honor of a deity.) or food offerings.

In Inuit legends, it is believed that the Ekimmu becomes existent when a individual makes a promise to take care of the grave of the deceased, and then fails to uphold that responsibility. The deceased then become this creature with full knowledge of why they have returned, making them very angry and bitter. But they are rarely concerned with avenging the person responsible for their return, instead they roam the earth attacking at random.

They try to put their past lives behind them, but there have been rare instances where an Ekimmu has attempted to get their family to join them in undeath. They are said to be found amongst the unfortunate homeless, living in steam tunnels, sewers and abandoned buildings in decayed inner cities. It is believed that the Ekimmu can not stand their atrocious existence which drives them into insanity, causing them to be the horrendous predators that they are, feeding on the terror of those who remind them of their former loved ones.

According to the Ancient Sumerians, an Ekimmu would seize it’s victim and torment them until a priest or priestess could come and perform a ritual or exorcism to force the vampire off.

Works Cited
Books
Melton, Gordon J. The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead. Canton,MI. Visible Ink Press, 1999.
Bunson, Matthew. The Vampire Encyclopedia . Gramercy, 2000.

Copyright © Darkness Embraced


This information is free to use, all I ask is that you link back to www.darknessembraced.com and please keep all the works cited in tact! These authors/web sites deserve full recognition for their time, effort, and hard work.

Not being raised Catholic, I would never have guessed how much focus is placed on the Church's literal belief in transsubstantiation (the host and wine literally becoming the flesh and blood of Jesus). How horrific to hear that as a child, Bloodmother.

And, VampChica, forgive me for not having previously acknowledged your entry that got the discussion going into this key area... for, indeed, there is an enormous mystery surrounding Jesus' institution of the communion... as it is so very ironically called. And that mystery has nothing to do with religion or spirituality... and everything to do with forcing those who betrayed him and testified against him to be forced to symbolically eat his flesh and drink his blood in remembrance of their own betrayal or him. Jesus told them the truth about who he really was... and ultimately, they used that truth to have him condemned. So, on the night he was to be arrested... he made them symbolically exhibit their own bloodthirstiness for his blood and flesh in a rite that was truly abhorrent to them as Jews, which they all were. Yet, so as not to have him become suspicious of them... they ate and drank.

Later that night after Jesus' arrest, as Peter also stood with the guards just outside the Chief Priest's house where Jesus was being tried by the High Priests, when he denied Jesus three times... he was waiting with others of the "Twelve Apostles" to likewise testify against him. That's why Peter was there.

This also explains why not a single one of Jesus' "apostles" attended his crucifixion. Only Jesus' true disciples did... the many women who accompanied him throughout his life as well as his death.


- Upir'




- Upir'

well...since this thread has become the upir show, and it has moved far from the original intent, im closing it. sad tho, because i thought it was a valid concept that i had wanted to explore.
~W~