Questions tagged [vampires]
For questions about myths and legends connected to vampires, humanoid beings occasionally (especially in modern literature) depicted as nocturnal and preferring to drink blood.
3
votes
1answer
51 views
Can Vampires Take Form of Nocturnal Animals?
In Bram Stoker's Dracula, it was hinted that he may have taken form of a bat while visiting the asylum inmate, Renfield. Is that possible? And could he take form of all the other animals, like wolves ...
3
votes
1answer
137 views
Vampires in Religious texts
You know how the Torah says that there were Vampires who were called blood sucking demons. Are Vampires mention in other religious books or texts?
7
votes
1answer
103 views
What's the origin of “vampires must be invited”?
What is the origin of the idea that vampires cannot enter your home without being invited? Does it apply specifically to homes, or does it include any building? A walled garden? A vehicle?
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is silver in particular effective against dark creatures like vampires?
For instance, according to the supernatural wiki, silver is a metal with strong supernatural properties. But historically, why is specifically silver considered harmful to vampires? Is there a reason ...
9
votes
3answers
4k views
Why can't vampires walk in the sun?
A very common trope in vampire fiction is that vampires can't walk in the sun, and will die if they try to. See, for example, Suicide by Sunlight on TVTropes.
Why is that? What is the origin of the ...
11
votes
1answer
183 views
Why do so many cultures have monsters that prey on families?
While researching La Llorona and vampiresses, I noticed that lots of cultures have predominantly female monsters that use deception to prey on families. Lamia that prey on young men and children, deer ...
8
votes
3answers
4k views
Are vampires called anything else in European folklore?
Does there exist alternative names for vampires? Perhaps an euphemism; for example, in Harry Potter, those who feared Voldemort called him "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" in lieu of his real name. Or ...
16
votes
3answers
14k views
Origin of the 'vampires have no reflection' myth
Depending on what stories you read or movies you watch, vampires will and won't have reflections.
But what is the earliest reference to this particular myth and do we know it's origin?
17
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the relationship between werewolves and vampires in Balkan folklore?
In Balkan folklore, several words that originally meant werewolf (e.g. the Bulgarian vǎrkolak and the Serbian vulkodlak) either ended up being used for both creatures or for vampires alone (e.g the ...
