In ancient Roman mythology there was a type of vampiric spirit known as a larva. It was created when a person died in some violent fashion or while bearing a burden of guilt. The larvae (the plural form of the word) were the evil, feminine version of the Lares, the protective, male ancestral spirits that safeguarded families and their homes. Larvae (“hungry ghosts”) attack nightly, frightening and tormenting the living. They cause erotic and explicit dreams that generate nocturnal emissions, which they carry back to their nests, incubate like an egg, and hatch out horrific monsters.
The ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of the Lemuria on May 9, 11, and 13. The Vestal Virgins made offerings of black beans and of a sacred SALT made into cakes. The food was offered to the larvae at midnight in the hopes that they would accept the gifts and leave their family alone. Loud noises were made throughout the celebration, oftentimes scaring the larvae away before the offerings were made. During this festival all other temples were closed, no legal action could be taken, marriages were forbidden to take place, and voting was not allowed.
Source: Bulfinch, Bulfinch’s Greek and Roman Mythology, 9; Leach, Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, 196, 605; Steuding, Greek and Roman Mythology, 145
In the Balkans, Serbia, and Ukraine there is a type of vampire called a lapir. It is completely covered with HAIR, has long sharp teeth, and red eyes. It
feeds on both animal and human blood each night. Its presence can be sensed by horses and oxen, causing them to act anxiously.
Source: Georgieva, Bulgarian Mythology, 100; Khanam, Demonology, 251; Perkowski, Vampires of the Slavs, 196; Pócs, Fairies and Witches, 56
На Балканах, в Сербии и на Украине есть вид вампира, называемый лапир. Он полностью покрыт волосами, у него длинные острые зубы и красные глаза. Каждую ночь он питается и кровью животных, и кровью людей. Его присутствие могут ощущать волы и лошади, что заставляет их вести себя беспокойно.
Источники: Georgieva, «Bulgarian Mythology», 100; Khanam, «Demonology», 251; Perkowski, «Vampires of the Slavs», 196; Pócs, «Fairies and Witches», 56
Lap (LAP)
Variations: Opji, Oupire (“bloodsucker”)
In Kashubia, Poland, the word lap translates to mean “vampire.”
Source: Calmet, Treatise on Vampires and Revenants, 59; Canadian Centre for Folk Culture, Paper, 25; Pacific Northwest Conference, Proceedings, vol.18-25, 253; Perkowski, Vampires of the Slavs, 186
Вап
Варианты: Опьи, Оупире («кровосос»)
С кашубского языка (северо-запад Польши) слово вап переводится как «вампир».
Источники: Calmet, «Treatise on Vampires and Revenants», 59; Canadian Centre for Folk Culture, «Paper», 25; Pacific Northwest Conference, «Proceedings», vol.18-25, 253; Perkowski, «Vampires of the Slavs», 186
There is a vampiric REVENANT in Malaysia that is created when a woman dies giving birth. Forty days after the death, the dead will rise up as a langsuir. If the child died with her, then it too will come back in UNDEATH as a type of vampire — a PONTIANAK. To prevent a woman from rising as this type of undead creature (see UNDEATH), glass beads must be placed in the corpse’s mouth, a chicken egg put in each armpit, and needles stuck into the palm of each hand.
The langsuir does not have fangs like nearly all other types of vampires; rather, it drains the blood it wants from its victims through a hole in the back of its neck, which its ankle- length black HAIR hides. It also has very long fingernails and commonly wears a GREEN robe. By night, the vampire shape-shifts into an owl and then flies out seeking its favorite prey, children. As it flies, it occasionally lets loose with a powerful wail known as an ngilai. By day it can be found sitting in trees or by a river catching and eating fish.
Unlike many other vampires, the langsuir can be captured and domesticated. Once tamed, it makes for a wonderful wife and a good mother, living a happy and full life doing nothing other than caring for its family. However, if the langsuir is allowed to dance or show any signs of its happiness, it will quickly revert to its wild and murderous ways. Once this happens, it must be captured, and then its HAIR and fingernails cut off and stuffed into the hole in the back of its neck. This will force it to change back into a mortal woman.
In Bosnia, Montenegro, and Serbia there is the belief that the first person who dies from an epidemic or a plague will rise from the grave and become
a vampiric REVENANT known as a lampir. It lies motionless in its grave by day, but at night it will return to those it knew in life and attack them, draining their blood through a small hole it bites in its victims’ chests. The lampir looks exactly as it did in life, except that now its skin has a red cast to it and its body looks to be somewhat bloated, a condition that is more noticeable after it has fed. The only other change to its physical aspect is that it now has seven fangs in its mouth, four on the top row of teeth and three on the bottom. Anyone who survives an attack from a lampir will become this sort of vampire himself. If someone were inclined to become this sort of vampire, it is possible — by eating the flesh of a person who has been executed. To destroy a lampir, its body must be exhumed during the day and burned to ashes.
Source: Durham, Some Tribal Origins, 260; MacDermott, Bulgarian Folk Customs, 67; Perkowski, The Darkling, 37; Royal Anthropological Institute, Man, 189-190
In the lore of the Balkan Gypsies, a lampijerovic (“little vampire”) is the child of a human woman and a type of vampire known as a MULLO. Born a natural enemy to vampires, this fated hunter can see a vampire for what it is, even if the vampire is invisible. Sometimes this is an innate ability of the person; other times he must first perform a ritual to temporarily gain the ability.
Other vampire hunters that are similar to the lampijerovic are the DHAMPIRE, DJADADJII, KRSNIK, STREGONI BENEFICI, VAMPIJEROVIC, and the VAMPIRDZHIA.
Source: Bunson, Vampire Encyclopedia, 169; Indiana University, Journal of Slavic Linguistics, 66; Masters, Natural History of the Vampire, 143
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