The Vampire Mythology

The Vampire is a mythological creature, which has a thirst for blood, a need to avoid sunlight, and an obsession with sleeping in a coffin.

The Vampire origins can be traced back to the Eastern Europe pagan beliefs. Their common belief that body and soul were separate entities influenced the idea that a corpse could be possessed by an unclean spirit after the original soul had vacated.

This undead Vampire would wreak havoc on civilization by drinking blood of livestock and people. The Vampire was also blamed for unexplained deaths, illnesses, and tragedies.

Decomposition also contributed to the belief in Vampires. Gases from decomposition caused a corpse to swell. Pressure forced blood from the mouth and nose. Hair, nails, and teeth appeared longer because gum tissue and skin shrank.

Therefore, a bloated corpse with longer teeth and blood on the mouth made the corpse appear full from drinking blood. Gas escaping through the throat made the corpse groan. Therefore, scientific ignorance regarding decomposition gave birth to the Vampire mythology.

The Vampire mythology has evolved from those early days in Eastern Europe to the modern Vampire mythology through art.

Vampires in Books

The Vampyre by John Polidoir published in 1819 provided greatly to the modern Vampire mythology. The best known early novel about a Vampire is Dracula by Bram Stoker, which was published in 1897.

Anne Rice dazzled readers with her novels about Vampires in The Vampire Chronicles. That series debuted with Interview with the Vampire (1976), which was later made into a movie.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer has impacted the Vampire legacy. The Twilight series includes Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.

Vampires in Film

Nosferatu was a 1922 German Expressionist film about a Vampire directed by F.W. Murnau. The film was an unauthorized adaptation of Dracula by Bram Stoker. This film features Count Orlok played my Max Schreck. Film students at any university will view this film. This black and white silent film has influenced the modern Horror genre. This film is well worth taking the time to watch.

From Dusk Till Dawn was a 1996 cult film favorite about two criminals and their hostages finding refuge in a Mexican establishment which is populated by Vampires.

Vampires on Television

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was originally a 1992 film starring Kristy Swanson. The television series, which ran from 1997 to 2003, has delighted audiences and has become a cult favorite. A spinoff show called Angel ran for five seasons from 1999 to 2004.

Vampires in Video Games

Vampire: The Masquerade is a popular video games series, which was first released in 1991.

Vampire stories will continue to delight and entertain. Therefore, when writer’s block hits take time to write a Vampire story. Create a Vampire. Give a Vampire a name, a job, and a place to live in your local city. The process can be fun and just might generate some great story ideas.