The Firstborn, The Myths That Linger.
Before the castles, before the masquerades, before the masquerades, there were The Legends. These are the origins—the first whispers of creatures that drank blood, the spirits of the night that haunted the dreams of ancient civilizations. The ones who existed before there was even a word for vampire.
Some are said to be immortal gods, ancient beings who fed upon the living long before mankind knew fear. Others blurred the line between history and myth- their real-life atrocities birthing the very stories we now tell.
The Legends are revered, feared, and in some cases, still alive. Their bloodlines run through the veins of younger vampires, their names whispered with reverence and dread. They are the original architects of darkness, and in their shadow, all other vampires are mere children.
"You are but a spark in the eternal night. We were here before you, and we will be here long after."
-
Lilith
In various traditions, Lilith is considered a primordial night creature associated with vampirism. In Jewish folklore, she is depicted as Adam's first wife who became a demon, while in other cultures, she is portrayed as a night demon or vampire. -
Camazotz
The Mayan bat god of night, sacrifice, and blood-drinking. In Mayan mythology, Camazotz is a bat-like deity associated with death, night, and sacrifice, often depicted as a monstrous bat that feeds on blood. -
Jiangshi
The terrifying Chinese "hopping" vampire that drains life energy. Jiangshi are reanimated corpses that move by hopping and are known to suck the life force from the living, often depicted with greenish skin and long, unkempt hair. -
Empusa
A demonic servant of Hecate that seduces travelers before devouring their flesh and drinking their blood. -
Vetala
An undead spirit from Indian folklore that possesses corpses and drinks blood. Vetalas are known to inhabit dead bodies, animating them and feeding on the life force of the living. -
Pontianak
A vampiric spirit, appearing as a woman before revealing its monstrous form. In Southeast Asian folklore, the Pontianak is the spirit of a woman who died during childbirth and returns as a vengeful spirit, often depicted as a beautiful woman who transforms into a terrifying creature. -
Penanggalan
A Malaysian vampire whose detached, floating head hunts victims. The Penanggalan is a woman who can detach her head, which dangles from her neck by its entrails, and flies through the night to feed on blood. -
Asanbosam
A West African vampire with iron teeth that lurks in trees, attacking at night. The Asanbosam is a vampire from West African folklore, known for its iron teeth and hooks for feet, which it uses to capture and feed on victims. -
Baobhan Sith
A Scottish vampire fairy that lures and kills hunters. In Scottish folklore, the Baobhan Sith is a female vampire that appears as a beautiful woman to lure men, especially hunters, before revealing her true nature and feeding on their blood. -
Ekimmu
One of the oldest recorded vampiric spirits from Mesopotamian lore. In ancient Mesopotamian mythology, the Ekimmu is a restless spirit of the dead that returns to feed on the living, often associated with disease and misfortune. -
Lamia
A Greek vampiric entity known for preying on children. In Greek mythology, Lamia was a queen of Libya who became a child-eating demon after her own children were killed by Hera. -
Jure Grando
Jure Grando, a 17th-century villager from Kringa, Croatia, was said to rise from his grave for 16 years, bringing death to those he visited. When a priest and villagers failed to kill him with a stake, they exhumed his body. After an exorcism, Stipan Milašić sawed off his head, causing him to scream and bleed. Only then did the village find peace. -
Vlad III Tepes (Vlad the Impaler)
The real-life inspiration for countless vampire myths, Vlad III Tepes, known as Vlad the Impaler, was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia. His brutal tactics and impaling of enemies earned him a fearsome reputation, leading to his association with the Dracula legend. -
Elizabeth Báthory
Known as the "Blood Countess," Elizabeth Báthory was a Hungarian noblewoman in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. She was accused of torturing and killing young girls, with rumors suggesting she bathed in their blood to maintain her youth, though these claims are debated. -
Jacques St. Germain
Jacques St. Germain, a wealthy Frenchman who arrived in New Orleans in the early 20th century, was known for his eccentric lifestyle, hosting extravagant parties while never eating in public. His reputation as a vampire grew after a woman fled his home, claiming he attempted to drink her blood, later inspiring Anne Rice’s character Louis in Interview with the Vampire. -
Mercy Brown (Rhode Island)
Mercy Brown, one of history’s most infamous “vampires,” was a real person from Exeter, Rhode Island, whose family fell victim to a tuberculosis outbreak in the late 1800s. When her body showed little decay after being exhumed in winter, locals blamed her for the deaths, cutting out her heart, burning it, and giving the ashes to her sick brother—who soon died as well.