The Legend of Vampires in Ancient Greek Myths

The ancient Greeks, like many civilizations, harbored a deep fascination with death and the supernatural, and their myths are full with beings that bear a striking resemblance to the vampires of later folklore.

Vampire, a terrifying, macabre word with a long history. When you hear it, you think of a pool of human blood and a tall, lanky figure with a black cape, a pale, deathly face, and sharp fangs. This form of vampire was born from Bram Stoker’s Gothic novel “Dracula” in 1897. Though the term “vampire” was unknown to the ancient Greeks, their legends spoke of creatures that lurked in the shadows, feeding on the living and preying upon the weak. These early myths would go on to shape one of the most terrifying figures in Greek folklore: the Vrykolakas.

Bloodsucking entities in ancient Greece

While the ancient Greeks did not have a term directly equivalent to “vampire,” their mythology contained numerous creatures that exhibited vampire-like characteristics.

One of the most notorious of these creatures was Lamia. According to legend, Lamia was once a beautiful Libyan queen who became the lover of Zeus. In her jealousy, Hera cursed Lamia by either killing her children or making her unable to close her eyes, forcing her to be haunted by the loss of her offspring. Overcome with grief and rage, she transformed into a night-stalking monster that preyed on the blood of children. Over time, Lamia evolved into a more generalized figure of horror, depicted as a grotesque, serpent-like creature that lured unsuspecting victims to their doom.

Another terrifying figure in Greek mythology was Empusa, a demonic entity closely associated with the goddess Hecate. Empusa had the ability to shape-shift. She often appeared as a stunningly beautiful woman who seduced men before devouring them. Her true form was far more grotesque, with one brass leg and a monstrous visage that revealed her predatory nature. Empusa was believed to haunt travelers at night, preying on those who let their guard down. Her legend later influenced the broader folklore of blood-drinking demons.

The Striges were yet another fearsome brood that bore similarities to later vampire myths. These bird-like demons would feast on the blood of infants, striking terror into the hearts of ancient Greeks. Unlike Lamia and Empusa, who primarily targeted adults, the Striges were associated with the nighttime dangers that threatened young children. Their presence reinforced the ancient Greek belief that the night harbored malevolent forces.

The concept of blood as ”life”

The idea that blood was the bearer of life and of memories was universal in ancient civilizations. In the Bible God says that ”the life of every creature is its blood” (Leviticus 17). The ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles also shared that view as did the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, in his work ”Timaeus”.

The Odyssey (Book 11) of of the Greek epic poet Homer describes how the spirits of the dead require blood offerings to communicate with the living. This idea of the dead needing blood to regain strength closely mirrors later vampire legends. Necromancy was a significant aspect of Greek religious practices. The ancient Greeks dedicated shrines like the Necromanteion of Acheron to communicate with the dead. Greek thought deeply embraced the idea that the dead could rise and interact with the living.

According to the ancient Greek philosopher Plutarch, chthonic daemons related to the lower rank of the Gods required bloody sacrifices. The Gods themselves had no need of such blood sacrifices. He names Orthia Artemis in Sparta as being among those daemons. At this shrine Spartan young men would flog themselves to satisfy her spirit with blood.

Blood, vengeance and the restless dead: Chthonic fears in ancient Greek belief

In the ancient Greek tragedy “Eumenides” by the poet Aeschylus, the Erinyes, punitive daemons of Tartarus, pursue vengeance driven by the spilling of family blood. The Erinyes are quoted as saying:

“We drive matricides from their homes . . . Since a mother’s blood leads us, we will pursue our case against this man and we will hunt him down.”

At the same time, they threaten to punish Orestes by drinking his blood for committing the sin of matricide:

“Allow us in return to suck the red blood from your living limbs. May we feed on you—a gruesome drink! We will wither you alive and drag you down, so that you pay atonement for your murdered mother’s agony.” So there seems to be a direct connection between blood and the spirits of the dead as well as chtonic daemons in ancient Greece.

Beyond these mythical creatures, the ancient Greeks also harbored a deep fear of the restless dead. Many believed that improper burial could cause the deceased to return as a revenant, disturbing the living. This belief is evident in numerous myths and literary sources. In the tragic poem ”Antigone” of Sophocles, Antigone explains how it’s a divine law to bury the dead. This is a debt for the living, regardless of what crime the dead may have committed during their lives. Otherwise the living would face punishment.

The evolution into the Vrykolakas

While the term “Vrykolakas” did not appear until the Byzantine period, its origins lie in ancient Greek beliefs. The Byzantine Greeks believed the Vrykolakas, a revenant similar to the vampire, to be the result of improper burial, excommunication or a wicked life. Unlike Western European vampires, the Vrykolakas was not always a blood-drinker but could spread disease, torment families or knock on doors to curse those who answered.

With the spread of Christianity in Greece, older pagan beliefs merged with Christian doctrines. This led to the idea that excommunicated individuals or those who died suddenly were at risk of becoming undead. By the medieval period, the Vrykolakas had become a feared figure, and elaborate rituals evolved to prevent loved ones being transformed into one. These rituals included procedures such as burning or decapitating the body to prevent its return.