Vampyre: Histories Recurring Legend

The Vampire or Vampyre as the spellings of the old have it, have long been a interest among hundreds of different cultures around the world. In this I will answer questions such as what different types are mentioned throughout history, who was said to be the first in history, and who were some actual recorded "Vampires" in history. I hope to learn many things such as their origins, their nature, and most certainly more. If any readers are interested in the sources used for this, you should check your local library. I read and picked apart the books of Matthew Bunson (the Vampire Encyclopedia) and J.M Dixon (the Weisers Field Guide to Vampires)

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Stories of Vampiric creatures date all the way back to the Celtic ages. These stories tell of beings called Sidhe, or as we know them today, Fairies. Although they were said to be very shy by nature and in result would often flee from humans, there were a few instances where people reported that was not the case. Some recalled going into a very deep and extremely seductive trance in which they would lose consciousness. When they awoke they felt drained of all energy. But that wasn't all. Many found well-bled cuts along their wrist and various other blood tender places on their body. These cuts would vary from icy to touch or even to the extreme of smouldering underneath the flesh. It was believed that the degree of pain was dependent upon the amount of feeding the Sidhe did upon their flesh and blood. Indeed the Sidhe were Vampiric in nature, but they don't quite make the cut with what we know as a Vampire today. Later in history, in Romania, there were the Strigio Vii. Mainly talked about in legends surrounding the reign of the Vlad bloodline (Vlad Dracul, Dracul meaning"Dragon" and his son Vlad Dracula, Dracula meaning "Impaler") these were the first "Humanoid Blood Drinkers". Both Dracul and Dracula belonged to a society that believed they were direct descendants of the Strigio Vii. In his least sane of years, near his end, Vlad Dracula believed he had inherited the ability to not only gain strength and years of life through the drinking of blood, but by manipulating the dreams of those around him. Soldiers would often talk about the horrifying nightmares they had at night, some so extreme that all sanity and humanity they once had would disappear. Throughout history there have been those who were prosecuted by the general public through the fear they were a Vampire. One such person being an English woman by the name of Elizabeth Bathory, accused to practice Sadism and Vampirism. Or "Gilles De Rais, accused of sorcery, necrophilia, sadism, Vampirism, and cannibalism." (the Encyclopedia of Vampires) Many more as well. Some names such as Peter Kurten, John Haigh, and Fritz Haarman. All in all there are many different views, arguments, and legends surrounding the world of Vampires. One could spend hours digging through myths and legends.

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In conclusion, after searching through numerous books, I find myself fascinated by the deep roots and factual back bone of vampires. It's scary how the things that are recorded throughout history go through a pattern of similar recurrence. Do I think Vampires are real? It's plausible. I thought it was a bunch of hoo-ah before I read the history. Now? My mind is definitely open to the idea. So if you have an open mind and want to put your nose into something intriguing. Pick up a book on their history and origins. You may find yourself second guessing.