A ~ H  of   VAMPIREs

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Adze

A vampire spirit that dwells in tribal sources among the Ewe, a people inhabiting parts of southeastern Ghana and southern Togo in Africa. The Adze flies around in the form of firefly but, if caught, changes into a human. It drinks blood, palm oil and coconut water and preys on children, especially handsome ones.

Algul

An arabic vampire, which translated means horse leech, or a bloodsucking jinn. This form of vampire is traditionally a female demon that feasted upon dead babies and inhabited cemeteries.

Alp

A German vampire spirit associated with the boogeyman and the incubus, normally tormenting the nights and dreams of women. The creatures physical manifestations can be very dangerous. Long connected with the nightmare, the alp is considered male, sometimes the spirit of a recently deceased relative, most often an actual demon. Children can become an Alp when a mother uses a horse collar to ease childbirth. During the middle ages the alp was said to appear as a cat, pig, bird or other animal, including a lecherous demon dog scene in Cologne, thus linking the werewolf in with this legend. In all its manifestations the Alp is known to wear a hat. The spirit can fly like a bird, can ride like a horse and is credited with a certain gallant attitude, rarely forcing itself on its prey. The Alp drinks blood from the nipples of men and children but prefers the milk of women. Because it is so involved in terrors of the mind and sleep the Alp is virtually impossible to kill.

Andros

Supposed residents of Andros, the second largest and most northerly of the Cyyclades group in the Aegean Sea. There the belief in vampires remained firm well into the twentieth century. The Greek vampire species, the vrykolakas, was considered quite common, and the local clergy often opened graves to seek out possible revenants. The local custom of Andros required that a corpse suspected of vampire infection be exhumed, chopped into pieces, and burned.

Asanbosam

A vampire found in Africa, known among the Ashanti of southern Ghana and by people in areas of the Ivory Coast and Togo. The Asanbosam is believed to reside in deep forests, most often encountered there by hunters. It is of general human shape, with two exceptions: its teeth are made out of iron and its leg have hook like appendages. Anyone walking by the tree in which it resides will be scooped up and killed.

Assyria

 The ancient Mesopotamian empire that is believed by some to be the birthplace (along with Babylon) of the original vampire traditions. The Assyrian was considerable, stemming in part from the complex system that was in place concerning their hierarchy of spirits, particularly evil ones. There were several classes of Assyrian vampires, including the feared Seven Spirits, the ekimmu, and the utukku. The latter two were intertwined to some degree, their characteristics overlapping. It was in Assyria that the earliest writings on the undead were uncovered, including incantations and exorcisms.

Aswang

A vampire from the Philippines, believed to be a beautiful female by day and a fearsome flying fiend by night. The Aswang can live a normal life during daylight hours. At night however the creature is led to the houses of its victims by night birds. Its nourishment is always blood, and it prefers to feed on children. The creature is recognized by its swollen form after feeding, it looks almost pregnant. If the Aswang licks a persons shadow it is believed that the person will die soon afterwards.

Babylonia

 An ancient Mesopotamian empire centered on Babylon that overshadowed Assyria and flourished during the third millennium B.C. The Babylonians possessed a complex vampire tradition stemming from their multifaceted demonic and spirit hierarchies. The Sumerians, Babylon's earliest inhabitants, believed in three spirit classes: ghosts, semi- or half demons, and devils of the most fearsome nature. The Babylonians added to this gallery several types of vampires, the utukku and ekimmu, which, like their Assyrian counterparts, were intermingled and linked in legend. The ekimmu was greatly to be feared, however, for it was the spirit of an unburied person or someone who had died violently. It hunted mercilessly and was dislodged only by exorcism, usually in the form of threats. Babylonia is also notable for having produced the earliest depiction of vampires, found on a cylinder seal.

Bajang

A Malaysian vampire, assumed to be male, appearing as a cat and normally threatening children. The Bajang can be enslaved and turned into a demon servant and is often handed down from one generation to the next within a family. It is kept in a tabong(bamboo vessel) which is protected by various charms. While imprisoned it is fed with eggs and will turn on its owner if not enough food is provided. The master of such a demon can send it out to inflict harm on his/her enemy, the enemy usually dying soon after of a mysterious disease. According to traditions the Bajang came from the body of a stillborn child, coaxed out of it by various incantations.

Baobhan-sith

A Scottish vampire that normally disguised itself as a beautiful maiden and lured its victims to there deaths. In fairy lore the Baobhan-sith usually appeared dressed in green.

Bataks 

 Known also as Battas, kind of witch doctor found in Sumatra, especially helpful in fighting the local species of vampire. They worked to reclaim the souls of those who had fallen under attack. As the soul departed a body threatened by a vampire, the person fell ill and wasted away. To return the soul to its rightful place, the Batak used garlic, a soul-compelling herb, in certain prescribed supernatural rituals.

Bebarlangs

A tribe found in the Philippines that had members that practiced a form of psychic vampirism. They apparently sent out there astral body's and fed on the life forces and vitality of individuals.

Bhandara

Small shrines found in parts of India for the worship of a number of vampire species, particularly the bhuta, which are revered as virtual gods. The Bhandara are intended to be places where the vampires can dwell and where sacrifices or oblations can be made to keep them placated. While varying markedly in shape, the shrines are designed to allow the creatures to rest without touching the ground, which they are forbidden to do because the earth is sacred. Flowers are placed at the shrine once a month. Some have cradles, perhaps hanging from ropes or chains, many with bell, knife, and a bowl of water placed within them.

Bhuta

A vampire from India, normally created due to the violent death of an individual. The Bhuta are found in cemeteries or in dark desolate places, eating excrement or intestines. An attack by one of these creatures usually resulted in severe sickness or death.

Brahmaparush

A vampire from India that enjoys consuming human beings. This creature would drink a victims blood through its skull, than eat the brain from the skull and finally proceed to wrap the victims intestines around its body and perform a ritual dance.

Bruxsa

A female vampire from Portugal. The Bruxsa is normally transformed into vampire form by witchcraft. She leaves her home at night in the form of a bird and her most frequent activity is tormenting weary lost travelers. She is said to appear as a beautiful maiden and leads a normal human life by day, bearing children which in general become her regular form of food. She is said to be impossible to kill.

Callicantzaro

A terrible creature found in Greece, linked to vampires and recorded by the sixteenth-century writer Leo Allatius. The Callicantzaro is the child born during the time of holiness between Christmas and Epiphany, who must leave his or her family to live most of the year in the underworld. From Christmas to New Year's Day, however, the creature comes back to earth to terrorize people, especially hoping to devour its brothers and sisters. Its exact nature varies from region to region, changing according to village lore. It can be large or small, appearing most often with a black face, red eyes, ears like a donkey, and sharp fangs. Little relief is found in death, for it is known to return as a vampire. One method of saving a child from Callicantzaro is to singe the toes and the feet.

Chordewa

A witch found among the Oraons, cable of turning her soul into a form of vampire cat. It is said that if the cat licks a persons lips that they will die soon after.

Churel

A vengeful ghostlike vampire found in India, normally a woman that died while pregnant during the Dewali Festival. She is said to hate life with her greatest spite being kept for her relatives. The Churel is said to be vile in appearance, possessing pendant breasts, thick ugly lips, a black tongue and unkempt hair.

Civatateo

A witch-vampire found among the Aztecs. Said to be a servant of various moon deities, and assumed to be noble women who died in child birth. Children were there favorite victims, dying soon after attack of a wasting disease. These vampires were said to appear with white faces, there hands covered in white chalk, and with crossbones drawn on there clothing.

Danag

A Filipino vampire held to be very ancient as a species, responsible for having planted taro on the islands long ago. The Danag worked with humans for many years but the partnership ended one day when a woman cut her finger and a Danag sucked her wound, enjoying the taste so much that it drained her body completely of blood.

Dearg-due

A dreaded creature of Ireland, whose name means "Red Blood Sucker." An ancient vampire that dates back to celtic times, it is still feared. The only way to curb its predations is to pile stones upon any grave suspected of housing such a beast. The most famous tale of the Dearg-due is the story of a beautiful woman supposedly buried in Waterford, in a small church yard near Strongbows Tree. Several times a year she rises from her grave, using her stunning appearance to lure man to there doom.

Doppelsauger

A German vampire found in northern regions, among the Wends (a Slavic race). The idea was that a child once weaned would become a vampire if s/he should nurse again. On its passing into a vampire the Doppelsauger will eat the fleshy parts of its breast and in so doing will draw out the life's essence from a living relative.

Ekimmu

One of the most feared of ancient vampires, found among the Assyrians and Babylonians. It is said to be a departed spirit, the soul of a dead person unable to find peace. The creature wondered over the earth waiting to attack. There were many ways in which a person could become an Ekimmu, among these were violent/premature death, unfulfilled love and improper burial.

Empusas

A vampire creature from Greek mythology, usually said to be in attendance to the goddess Hecate. They are described as demons which can from time to time take human form. There most common incarnation seems to have been in the form of a Phoenician woman.

Eretica

A Russian vampire, usually considered to be a heretic who has returned from the dead. It was in general said to be a woman who sold her soul in life and then returns in the form of a ragged old woman. At nightfall a group of Ereticy would gather in ravines and perform a form of sabbat. Said to be active only in spring and autumn, it was believed that seeing the eyes of such a creature would result in a slow withering death.

Estrie

A Hebrew spirit, always female and invariably assuming the shape of a vampire. The Estrie is considered to be an incorporeal spirit of evil that has taken the form of flesh and blood, and lives among humanity to satisfy its need for blood. Its favorite prey is said to be children, although no one is considered safe when it needs to feed.

Gayal

A vampire spirit from India. Usually created due to the death of a man who has no one to properly perform the burial rites at his funeral. When he returns the Gayal reeks his revenge upon the sons of others and upon his on relatives. The threat of a relative returning as a Gayal usually ensures that the proper funeral rites are preformed.