Vampires, vampires everywhere! What’s a cryptid lover supposed to do – vampires keep stealing my attention! This time they’re Greek, and they’re female! Curious? Read on as CryptoVille investigates …
While I prefer the handsome male version of the vampire realm complete with smoldering eyes, sexy smile, tasteful clothes, and (it has to be said) fresh breath – these female members of the tribe certainly give the fellows something to think about.
It all starts in the Slavic countries of Europe with their tales of vampires, or Vrykolakas, as they called them. It’s believed the legend of these creatures seeped down to Greece which is located south of the Slavic countries.
How They Differ
Over time, the Greek version of the vampire developed its own characteristics, a bit different from the rest.
For example:
- Greek vampires are undead creatures who become more powerful with every “feeding”
- They feast on the flesh and liver of its victims, as opposed to draining them of their blood.
- Instead of being gaunt, pale creatures of the night, Greek vampires never decayed and put on some weight instead, while sporting a ruddy complexion.
- People with red hair and blue eyes were first to be blamed for vampirism because they closely resembled the Slavic people up North.
- Victims are killed not by the sucking of their blood, but by being sat on until they could no longer breathe, or crushing them in some other way.
- These creatures roam the Greek villages, knocking on the doors of its citizens, calling out to the inhabitants. To get around this, the residents will only answer a door after the second knock.
Becoming a Vampire
The Greeks imagined there were quite a few ways to become a vampire, but among the more popular versions we have:
- Committing sacrilegious behavior of some sort causing you to be excommunicated from the Orthodox church.
- Being buried in unconsecrated ground.
- Eating the meat from a sheep that had been bitten by a wolf or were wolf
- Opening your front door after the first knock and finding the vampire standing there. You will die in a few days and join the ranks of the undead.
Greek vampires caused a lot of destruction to the small villages around the country by bringing disease and epidemics causing to their doors. So the villagers left nothing to chance. If someone was suspected of being a vampire, their body was either impaled, beheaded, or cremated while they slept in their grave, and according to one article I read, this could only happen on a Saturday.
The people believed once the vampire “curse” was lifted, the person would be free to rest in peace.
Forerunners of Greek Vampires
The Greeks didn’t have to rely on the Slavs to give them legends of the undead wanting to feast on humans in one way or another. No, there were several that date back to ancient times in Greek legend:
Lamia: Beautiful woman torso with serpent bottom. They waited by lonely roads to entrance a traveler with their hypnotic gaze. As he drew near, it would rear up and devour him.
Strix: A bat-like creature with an owl’s head. It stunk and had a piercing shriek and insatiable thirst for blood. They hunted at night, swooping down on unwary wayfarers as well as children sleeping too near open windows. They reportedly favored feasting on human infants. Garlic repulsed them.
Empousa: Described as serpent-like or grotesque hybrids with one leg made of brass. It could transform into any shape but preferred a beautiful woman so it could prey upon young men.
The Empousa were more like ghosts while the Lamia and Strix were living creatures.
Here are a couple examples from ancient Greek literature featuring these dreadful creatures.
Famous Stories from Ancient Greece
The Student and the Vampire
Menippas, of Corinth, was a student of philosophy. One day, while strolling by the harbor, he encountered a beautiful woman who approached him. She asked him to escort her home, out to a vast mansion. Troops of servants led him to a courtyard of flowers.
Wine made him feel woozy. Next day he returned to town and his class. He asked his learned colleague to attend the wedding the next day whereupon the learned colleague announced, “Menippas, you have been enchanted! This lady is a vampire!” The lady hissed at the learned colleague.
He picked up a gold goblet and dropped it on the floor where it disappeared into a mist. Then he picked up a plate that dissolved. He told Menippas – all these things are illusions.
Menippas’ eyes were opened and everything dissolved around them. The lady transformed into a snake-like creature and disappeared. The colleague said, “She’s a vampire and would have drained you of your blood that night.”
The Bride of Corinth Tale
Late one night, a beautiful woman appeared in a man’s bedroom saying she needed him, and then she slipped into his bed. She came two more nights the same way until his wife became aware of their meetings.
The wife found a ring and a breast band the other woman had left behind. She began to weep inconsolably. The woman told her husband that these tokens had belonged to her daughter who had been dead for six months.
The couple laid in wait that night, lamps burned low, until their eyes became heavy. In the darkest hour the door swung open and there was the daughter, looking very pale. The mother ran to embrace her daughter but just then the daughter collapsed into a rotting corpse.
Confused and terrified, the parents ran to the family tomb and rolled back the stone. They saw their daughter’s burial couch which was empty except for an iron ring that belonged to the husband. The girl’s body was taken outside the city and burned. Next day the air was purified with the sweet scent of sacrifices.
Crazy stuff, isn’t it? I think it’s time for a gyro! 
Til the next time!
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References:
https://sententiaeantiquae.com/2021/10/24/ancient-greek-vampires-1-empousa-4/