Aripa Satanai (AH-ray-pa SAY-ta-ni-eye)
Variations: Avestita, BABA COAJA (“Mother Bark”), Mama Padurii, Samca
This vampiric spirit from Romania is described as being half bear and half old woman and has been given the title “queen of the forest”. Particularly bloodthirsty, it has total control over the evil within the woods.
Source: Ankarloo, Witchcraft and Magic, 83; Cremene, Mythologie du Vampire; Dundes, Vampire Casebook, 12
Этот вампирический дух из Румынии описывается как наполовину медведь, наполовину старуха, которую называют «королевой леса». Чрезвычайно кровожадная, она она полностью контролирует всяческое зло леса.
Источники: Ankarloo, «Witchcraft and Magic», 83; Cremene, «Mythologie du Vampire»; Dundes, «Vampire Casebook», 12
The ardat-lile is a demonic vampire that preys on men. It is mentioned in Hebrew lore and that of ancient Babylon and Sumeria. The literal translation of its ancient Sumerian name is “young females of marrying age now evil wanton spirits”. What is most curious about this creature’s name is that there is no singular form of the word.
When it can, an ardat-lile will marry a man with the intent of wreaking havoc in his life. It is known for its ravenous sexual appetite and for the absolute delight it takes in doing harm to others. It also causes men to have nocturnal emissions. It does this in the hopes of being able to harvest some of the semen in order to give birth to demonic children.
The ardat-lile is no doubt an early predecessor of the LILITH myth — part SUCCUBUS and part storm goddess.
Source: Gettings, Dictionary of Demons, 37; Landman, Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, 63; Morgenstern, The Doctrine of Sin, 15-18; Spence, Encyclopædia of Occultism, 35
A demonic vampire from the mythology of Cambodia, the arakh takes possession of a person and causes them to kill themselves. Only by performing
a successful exorcism can the possessed person be saved.
Source: Bitard, Le Monde du Sorcier, 309-310, 321; Smith, Assyria from the Earliest Times, 8; Southern Illinois University, Southeast Asia, vol.1, 338
Арах
Варианты: Преай, то есть «вампир»
Арах — демонический вампир из мифологии Камбоджи, овладевает людьми и заставляет их совершать самоубийство. Одержимого человека можно спасти, только проведя успешный экзорцизм.
Источники: Bitard, «Le Monde du Sorcier», 309-310, 321; Smith, «Assyria from the Earliest Times», 8; Southern Illinois University, «Southeast Asia», vol.1, 338
There is little known about the aptrgongumenn (“walking dead”), a REVENANT vampire from Norse mythology, except for the very specific way it must be slain. First, its grave must be found and the body exhumed. Then, it must be beheaded. Next, one of its feet must be severed. The two parts are then put in each other’s place and the body reburied. Like many vampires from this region, the aptrgongumenn rises up from the grave due to the powerful magic of a sorcerer to do his bidding.
Source: Belanger, Sacred Hunger, 110; Flowers, Runes and Magic, 131
Аптргонгуменн
Об аптргонгуменне («ходячий мертвец») — вампирическом ревенанте нордической мифологии, мало что известно, за исключением весьма специфического способа, которым его следует убить. Во-первых, нужно найти его могилу и выкопать тело. Затем, затем тело должно быть обезглавлено. После чего, следует отрубить ему одну ногу. Потом две этих отрубленных части меняются местами, а тело вновь хоронят. Как и многие другие вампиры из этого региона аптргонгуменн поднимается из могилы благодаря мощной магии чародея, чтобы подчиняться его приказам.
Источники: Belanger, «Sacred Hunger», 110; Flowers, «Runes and Magic», 131
Similar to the ALP of German folklore, the apsaras of India are female vampiric celestial creatures. They were created when Vishnu used Mount Mandara as a churning rod in the “Churning of the Ocean of Milk” legend. As he did so, aside from the other fabulous treasures and creatures he created, 35 million apsaras came forth, making it no surprise that their name should translate to mean “from the water”.
They are known for their goddesslike beauty and charms, artistic talents, and excessive love of wine and dice, as well as their love of dance. Apsaras are sent to earth to defile virtuous men, particularly those seeking to become even more virtuous. The creature will seduce him off his path, thereby causing him to use up all the merit he had previously accumulated.
Apsaras have a wide array of talents and abilities to assist it in carrying out its tasks, such as the ability to cause insanity, having complete control over the animals of the forest, inspiring a warlike fury in a man, making frighteningly accurate predictions, shape- shifting into various forms, and sending inspiration to lovers. Although apsaras can also perform minor miracles, they do not have the power to grant a boon like the Devas or the gods.
Occasionally, an apsaras will enjoy the task it has been sent on. Should it succeed in breaking the man’s will and finds him to be a pleasurable lover, it may offer him the reward of immortality. However, if despite its best efforts the apsaras cannot make the man succumb, it will either cause him to go insane or have his body torn apart by the wild animals of the forest.
In ancient Greece, the aoroi is a vampiric ghost, as the word translates to mean “untimely dead”, created when a person dies prematurely. Like the aoroi of the British Isles, it can be captured and its magical abilities tapped into and used in the casting of spells. Also, like its fairy cousin to the north, the magic that the ghost possesses will last only until the day that its natural death would have occurred, had it lived.
В древней Греции аорой — вампирический призрак, возникающий когда человек умирает раньше срока, поскольку это слово переводится как «безвременно умерший». Подобно аорою с Британских островов, его можно поймать, получить доступ к его магическим способностям и использовать при заклятьях. Кроме того, волшебство, которым владеет призрак, как и у его кузена-фейри продлится только до того дня, когда наступила бы его естественная смерть.
In the British Isles the aoroi is a species of vampiric fay. They are created whenever a man dies in battle before his proper time or when a woman dies in childbirth. The babies who are born to dead mothers are immediately turned into this type of fay, as well as those babies who die before they can be named. Historically, these children were seen as bad omens and their bodies were usually taken outside of the town’s limits and left to the elements as soon as the events of the birth were duly noted and recorded. Lore has it that these children cannot be intentionally slain or buried once deceased or else they will return to haunt the living as vengeful and angry aoroi. However, this vampiric fay can be captured and its magical properties tapped into and used in the casting of spells. The magic that it possesses will last until the day that its natural death would have occurred, had it lived.
Source: Collins, Magic in the Ancient Greek World, 70-72; Johnston, Restless Dead, 71; Meyer, Mythologie der Germanen, 94
Annis (AN-eez)
Variations: Agnes, Ana, Annan, Annowre, Ano, Anoniredi, Anu, Befind, Benie, Bheur, Black Annis, Blue Hag, Bric, Cailleach, Caillech, Cethlann, Cethlionn, Danu, Don, Donu, Gray Hag, Gry, Gyre Carlin, Hag of Beare, St. Anna
A singular being, this vampiric sorceress (whose name is said to mean “pure, as in virginal”) has legends dating back to the founding of not only Ireland but also Scotland as well, a country that had been named in her honor. The name Scota from where Scotland originates, was originally called Caledonia, which means “lands given by Caillech”, as she was then called. Annis is known in Arthurian lore as Annowre. Indeed, so ingrained is she in the minds of her people that she has even been preserved and converted into Christendom as St. Anna, the daughter of St. Joseph of Arimathea. In fact, Annis has had so many names throughout history and in different regions that it would be impossible to list them all.
Annis is reported to have shape- shifting abilities, most notably an owl. There are also stories in which she has the ability to control the weather, heal the wounded, conduct initiation ceremonies, and dispense wisdom to those who seek her out. She has in the past been worshipped as a goddess, revered as a saint, and cursed as a demon. Hills, rivers, and even countries have been named in her honor, but despite her long and varied history, she has always had one common thread — she regularly consumed the blood of children.
Source: Barber, Dictionary of Fabulous Beasts, 33; Briggs, Nine Lives, 57; Spence, Minor Traditions, 29, 93-94, 133, 173; Spence, Mysteries of Celtic Britain, 174; Turner, Dictionary of Ancient Deities, 55
This vampiric creature has more in common with the CHUPACABRA of Mexico than the undead shaman of Mongolia, who shares its name with (see UNDEATH). This vampiric animal was first sighted in Siberia immediately after World War II. Numerous members of the Jewish community claimed to have seen a small woodland animal ranging in size from a large grasshopper to a small rabbit. Although it ran on all four legs, it would also stand erect and was able to leap with the skill and grace of a cat. Its body had plated skin and intermittent patches of thick, brown fur; huge, black eyes; pointed ears; and a short snout housing a mouth full of short, jagged, little teeth. As odd as this creature is described as being, it it has no extraordinary physical capabilities; rather, it had to use its cleverness and acts of trickery to snare its prey — small children and the elderly. Luckily for us, the aniukha is one of a dozen historical vampires that are reported to be repelled by GARLIC. By smearing some on one’s chest or even along the doorways of one’s home, garlic’s presence will keep the aniukha at bay. The only way to completely destroy this creature is to cremate it, rendering it to nothing but ashes.
Source: Hastings, Encyclopædia of Religion, 8; Lopatin, Cult of the Dead, 60; Maberry, Vampire Universe, 19
In Mongolia, the shaman is a respected and feared member of his community. Part of the process of his becoming a shaman is to take part in a ritual death ceremony that will allow him to walk between the worlds of life and death. The shaman is expected to be able to use his powers responsibly and for working only good, but if he is selfish and uses his powers to pursue his own goals, he does so with dire consequences. Should he use his powers to return from the dead, he will come back as a type of vampire called an aniukha. In order to sustain its UNDEATH, the vampire will feed upon the blood of infants. Only staking it and burning the body to ash will destroy it.
Source: Hastings, Encyclopædia of Religion, 8; Keith, Sanskrit Drama, 328, 340; Lopatin, Cult of the Dead, 60
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