I.2 Vampires – Power and Basic Features

Hello, dear readers!

In the previous article posted yesterday about vampires, I told you about concepts and short history. Today I will write about the strengths and basic characteristics of the vampires.

As you well know, vampires are mythological beings who hunt / feed at night with mortal blood.

                                                The basic characteristics of vampires

1. Vampires feed on the blood of humans (adults or children), using their sharp teeth afterwards killing them or turning them into vampires.

2. Creating new vampires. The new vampires will automatically become the slaves of those who created them.

3. Vampires do not stand the light of day because they weaken their powers at the time. The vampire can not maintain its home unless it is covered by fear and shadow. The light itself offends him. He could still live, but his evil deeds are nothing.

4. Vampires have supernatural powers (the power of 10 people together) which makes them hard to defeat in battles.

5. Super-Speed ​​- Vampires have the ability to move faster than the human eye can perceive. It is also said that vampires have the ability to teleport.

6. Increased sensation. As predators, vampires have sharp senses: see, hear, smell. Vampires can see in the dark as well as ordinary mortals.

7. Hypnosis – One of the most powerful weapons of vampires, through hypnosis they can „plant” suggestions in the mind of anyone who meets their eyes. The power of the suggestion depends on the difference between the will of the vampire and the victim.

8. Resistance to injuries. Vampires are extremely resistant to bodily injury. Weapons like swords and guns can not hurt their physical shape. Only holy objects and weapons built of certain materials can affect the physical integrity of vampires.

9. Regeneration. Despite the fact that a vampire can be injured, his healing power is very high. Most wounds can heal on a rest night, while some wounds can heal by feeding fresh blood from the victims.

10. Control over animals. Vampires can control the minds of bats, mice and wolves in its vicinity. The animals in question will be subjected to vampires, even if this means their death.

11. Change of shape. Vampires can take the form of a bat or even a wolf. They also have the ability to disperse in the form of vapors, which allows them to squeeze under doors or cracks in the wall.

12. Walking on the ceiling / walls. Vampires can easily go to the walls or ceiling without the help of any special equipment.

13. Magical abilities. Vampires have limited control over the weather. Vampires can pick up the fog or summon a storm to cover their tracks. Older vampires possess powers such as necromancy or alchemy.

14. Immortality / Immortality. Vampires are immortal. They do not age as they age. Sometimes, lack of food can make them older, but once they feed on the blood of the victims they will become young as they were. Vampires are immune to human disease.

The passage below, extracted from the Galician folklore, says a lot about the powers of the vampires:

„The power of the vampire is very large and vast-
during his lifetime he can kill people and even eat while they are alive; can bring to life or eliminate various
diseases and epidemics, storms, rain, hail and the like;
he throws spells on cows and their milk, crops and
their growth in general; he knows all the secrets and
the future. In addition to this, he can be invisible
or to turn into various objects, in particular
in the form of animals. „

(Image Source – Pinterest)

I.2 Vampirii – Puteri si caracteristici de baza

Buna ziua, dragi cititori!

In articolul precedent postat ieri despre vampiri, v-am povestit despre conceptii si scurt istoric. Astazi voi scrie despre puterile si caracteristicile de baza ale vampirilor.

Dupa cum bine stiti, vampirii sunt fiinte mitologice ce vaneaza/ se hranesc pe timpul noptii cu sangele muritorilor.

Caracteristicile de baza ale vampirilor

1. Vampirii se hranesc cu sangele oamenilor (adulti sau copii), folosindu-se de dintii ascutiti ulterior ucigandu-i sau transformandu-i in vampiri.
2. Crearea de noi vampiri. Noii vampiri vor deveni automat sclavii celor ce i-au creat.
3. Vampirii nu suporta lumina zilei deoarece in acel moment le slabesc puterile. Vampirul nu isi poate menține domiciliul daca nu este acoperit de teama si umbre. Lumina insasi il jigneste. El inca mai putea trăi, dar faptele lui rele nu mai sunt nimic.
4. Vampirii au puteri supranaturale (puterea a 10 oameni impreuna) ceea ce ii face greu de infrant in lupte.
5. Super – viteza – vampirii au abilitatea de a se misca mai repede decat ochiul uman poate percepe. De asemenea, se spune ca vampirii au abilitatea de a se teleporta.
6. Simturi crescute. In calitate de predatori, vampirii au simturi ascutite: vaz, auz, miros. Vampirii pot vedea in intuneric la fel de bine ca si muritorii de rand.
7. Hipnoza – Una dintre cele mai puternice arme ale vampirilor, prin intermediul hipnozei acestia pot „planta” sugestii in mintea oricui le intalneste privirea. Puterea sugestiei depinde de diferenta dintre vointa vampirului si a victimei.
8. Rezistenta la vatamari. Vampirii sunt extrem de rezistenti la vatamari corporale. Arme precum sabii si pistoale nu pot rani forma lor fizica. Doar obiectele sfinte si arme construite din anumite materiale pot afecta integritatea fizica a vampirilor.
9. Regenerarea. In ciuda faptului ca un vampir poate fi ranit, puterea acestuia de vindecare este foarte ridicata. Majoritatea ranilor se pot vindeca intr-o noapte de odihna, in timp ce unele rani se pot vindeca prin hranirea cu sange proaspat de la victime.
10. Controlul asupra animalelor. Vampirii pot controla mintea liliecilor, soarecilor si a lupilor din vecinatatea sa. Animalele in cauza se vor supune vampirilor, chiar daca acest lucru inseamna moartea lor.
11. Schimbarea formei. Vampirii pot lua forma unui liliac sau chiar a unui lup. De asemenea au abilitatea de a se dispersa sub forma de vapori, fapt ce le permite sa se strecoare pe sub usi sau crapaturi de perete.
12. Mersul pe tavan/ pereti. Vampirii pot merge cu usurinta pe pereti sau tavan fara ajutorul vreo unui echipament special.
13. Abilitati magice. Vampirii au control limitat asupra vremii. Vampirii pot ridica ceata sau convoca o furtuna pentru a acoperi urmele lor. Vampirii mai in varsta poseda puteri precum: necromanta sau alchimie.
14. Imortalitatea/ Nemurirea. Vampirii sunt nemuritori. Ei nu imbatranesc odata cu inaintarea in varsta. Uneori, lipsa de hrana ii poate face sa para in varsta, insa odata ce se hranesc cu sangele victimelor vor intineri. Vampirii sunt imuni la bolile omenesti.

Pasajul de mai jos, extras din folclorul galician, spune multe despre puterile vampirilor:

„Puterea vampirului este foarte mare si vasta-
in timpul vieții sale poate ucide oameni si chiar manca in timp ce sunt in viață; poate aduce la viata sau elimina diverse
boli și epidemii, furtuni, ploi, grindina și altele asemanatoare;
el arunca vraji pe vaci si laptele lor, culturile si
cresterea acestora in general; el stie toate secretele si
viitorul. Pe langa aceastea, el se poate face invizibil
sau sa se transforme in diverse obiecte, in special
in forma de animale.”

(Sursa Imaginii – Pinterest)

I.1 Vampires – conceptions and short history

I was thinking today that I did not post anything about vampires. A strange thing because in high school, vampire books and movies of the same category were among my passions. So the article today will be with vampires.

What are vampires?

Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who survive by feeding blood from living creatures, whether they are undead or living. Monsters who hunt without mercy, in the night hidden under a black mantle.

Where did the initial vampire come from?

The first sources date back 4,000 years ago, to the Assyrians and to the Babylonians in Mesopotamia.

Lamastu. It translates into „the one that wipes”, the children and the adults, and brings illness, sterility and nightmares. In the Assyrian legends, Lamastu, the daughter of Anu, was sneaking into people’s homes at night and stealing or killing babies, either in their cradles or in the mother’s womb. Those who believed these legends attributed the syndrome of sudden child death or spontaneous abortion to this monster.

It is often described with wings and claws like birds, and sometimes with a lion’s head. To protect themselves from Lamastu, pregnant women wore amulets with Pazuzu, another evil god who once defeated Lamastu.

Lilith, a prominent figure in some Jewish texts. Writings about Lilith vary considerably, but the most common version of stories is that she was the first woman. God created Adam and Lilith from Earth, but soon problems arose between them. Lilith refused to obey Adam because they are both made of the earth.

In an ancient version of the legend, Lilith left Eden and gave birth to his own children. God sent three angels to bring her back, and when she refused, they promised to kill 100 of her children every day until she returned. Lilith instead vowed to destroy the children of men.

Lilith’s image as a child killer seems to have been taken directly from the legend of Lamatsu. She is often described as a waxed demon and sharp claws, which comes at night especially to steal newborn or stillborn babies.

The ancient Greeks were afraid of similar creatures, especially Lamia, a woman with a head and a trunk but with the bottom of the snake body. In a version of the legend, Lamia was one of Zeus’ mortal miracles. Full of jealousy and rage, Zeus’s wife, the goddess Hera, made Lamia crazy, so she ate all the kids.

After realizing what she did, Lamia became so angry that she turned into an immortal monster that sucks the blood of young children from jealousy to their mothers.
Like Lilith and Lamastu, Lamia is described as half woman – half animal.

Empusal, the evil daughter of Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft. Empusai, who could change shape, came the night of Hades (the underworld) as a beautiful woman. Then she was seduce pastors from the field and devoured them. A similar creature, baobhan sith, appears in Celtic folklore.

Vampire-like creatures also appear in the long history and Asian mythology. Indian folklore describes several nightmare characters, including rakshasa, a creature like a gargle that can change shape and eat children, demons who enter and take control of dead bodies recently and attack the living. In Chinese folklore, the corpses could sometimes rise from the grave and walk again.

Vampires from Moldova, Walachia and Transylvania (the territories now forming our country, Romania) are called undead. These undefended are almost always human spirits who have returned from the dead. Unlike the vampire or the vrykolakas, the strigoes pass through several stages before leaving the grave.

Initially, he becomes an invisible poltergeist, who tortures his family members by moving furniture and stealing food. After some time it becomes visible, showing just like when it was a living person. Again, the poltergeist returns to his family, steals their cattle, takes food and brings illnesses. poltergeist feed on people, first family members, and then anyone who comes in their way. In some descriptions the poltergeist sucks the victim’s blood directly from the heart.

Besides dead dead, people were afraid of live vampires, or live vagabonds. Live shouts were called cursed men to become dead undead after their death. Children born with malformations were usually considered vicious. If a dead poltergeist lives among people and has children, these children are cursed to become dead (dead) after death. If a person considered a living virgin dies, the family destroyed the body to be sure it would not return from the grave.

In other parts of Eastern Europe, creatures like the poltergeist were known as the vampire or vampyr, probably a variation of the Russian uprising. Later, English adopted this name, becoming „vampire”.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, vampire hysteria spread to Eastern Europe. People said they were seeing their deceased relatives hanging around, attacking the living. Authorities have opened dozens of graves, burning and tapping into bodies. Vampire-related panic news has also reached Western Europe, leading to many academic speculation about these creatures, as well as poems and vampire paintings.

Throughout history, there were more people who had vampire behavior. The most famous vampire was Elisabeth of Bathory, a nobleman from Transylvania who lived between 1560-1614. Elizabeth, who was horrified by the thought of aging, was convinced that bathing (and perhaps consuming) blood is the secret of a young look.

For this, he tortured and killed hundreds of people, most young girls. At the end, she was judged for her crimes and jailed in her castle, where she died.

Contemporary vampires

In 1927, „Dracula”, and in the film that followed in 1931, Bela Lugosi adopted this notion of artist, acting as a suave and sophisticated man. This piece also introduced Dracula’s familiar costume – black clothes and a mantle. In the novel „Dracula,” the count is described as an old man. But the image of Dracula’s suave caught on to the audience and remained so in dozens of movies, series and drawings.

The image of the vampire continued to evolve over the years with the reinterpretation of the filmmakers and filmmakers. In the popular short stories of Anne Rice, she takes the vampires to the next „level” and gives them a conscience. In her world, vampires are not necessarily bad – they are portrayed as real people with feelings and emotions. For example, in the television series „Buffy, Vampire Killer”, creator Joss Whedon adopted similar ideas of soul vampires. Also, Stephenie Meyer creator of the Twilight series describing a tumultuous love story between a common man and a vampire.

In this article I introduced vampires in history, folklore concepts. Ultimately, our fascination with the supernatural defines the extent to which we manifest our fears through these unknown, mysterious and paranormal events.

(Image Source – Unsplash)

Vampirii – conceptii si scurt istoric

Ma gandeam astazi, ca nu am apucat sa postez nimic despre vampiri. Un lucru ciudat deoarece in liceu, cartile cu vampiri si filmele din aceeasi categorie se enumerau printre pasiunele mele. Asadar, articolul de astazi va fi cu si despre vampiri.

Ce sunt vampirii?

Vampirii sunt fiinte mitologice sau folclorice, care supravietuiesc prin hranirea cu sange de la creaturi vii, indiferent daca sunt strigoi sau persoane in viata. Monstri ce vaneaza fara mila, noaptea ascunsi sub o manta neagra.

De unde a aparut conceptia de vampir initial?

Primele surse dateaza de acum 4000 de ani, la asirieni si la babilonienii din Mesopotamia.

Lamastu. Se traduce prin „cea care sterge”, vana copii si adulti si aducea boli, sterilitate si cosmaruri. In legendele asiriene, Lamastu, fiica zeului Anu, se furisa in casele oamenilor noaptea si fura sau ucidea bebelusii, fie in leaganele lor sau in pantecele mamei. Cei care credeau aceste legende atribuiau sindromul mortii subite a copiilor sau avorturile spontane acestui monstru.

Este deseori descrisa cu aripi si gheare ca de pasari, si uneori cu cap de leu. Pentru a se proteja de Lamastu, femeile insarcinate purtau amulete cu Pazuzu, alt zeu rau care a infrant-o candva pe Lamastu.

Lilith, o figura proeminenta in unele texte iudaice. Scrierile despre Lilith variaza considerabil, dar cea mai des intalnita versiune a povesti, este ca ea a fost prima femeie. Dumnezeu i-a creat pe Adam si pe Lilith din Pamant, dar curand au aparut probleme intre ei. Lilith a refuzat sa se supuna lui Adam, pentru ca amandoi sunt facuti din pamant.

Intr-o versiune antica a legendei, Lilith a plecat din Eden si si-a nascut proprii copii. Dumnezeu a trimis trei ingeri sa o aduca inapoi, iar cand ea a refuzat, ei au promis ca ii vor ucide 100 dintre copiii ei zilnic, pana cand se va intoarce. Lilith in schimb a jurat sa distruga copiii oamenilor.

Imaginea lui Lilith ca si ucigasa de copii se pare ca a fost luata direct din legenda Lamatsu. Ea este deseori descrisa ca si o demonita cu aripi si gheare ascutite, care vine noaptea in special pentru a fura copii nou nascuti sau inca ne-nascuti.

Grecii antici se temeau de niste creaturi similare, in special de Lamia, o demonita cu cap si trunchi de femeie dar cu partea de jos a corpului de sarpe. Intr-o versiune a legendei, Lamia a fost una dintre amantele muritoare ale lui Zeus. Plina de gelozie si furie, sotia lui Zeus, zeita Hera, a facut-o nebuna pe Lamia asa incat ea si-a mancat toti copiii.

Dupa ce si-a dat seama ce-a facut, Lamia a devenit asa de furioasa incat s-a transformat intr-un monstru nemuritor, care suge sangele copiilor mici, din gelozie fata de mamele lor.
Precum Lilith si Lamastu, Lamia este descrisa ca si jumate femeie – jumate animal.

Empusal, fiica malefica a lui Hecate, zeita vrajitoriei. Empusai, care isi putea schimba forma, venea noaptea din Hades (lumea de dedesubt) sub forma unei femei frumoase. Dupa aceea seducea pastorii de pe camp si ii devora. O creatura similara, baobhan sith, apare in folclorul celtic.

Creaturi asemanatoare vampirilor apar si in istoria lunga si in mitologia Asiei. Folclorul indian descrie mai multe personaje de cosmar, inclusiv rakshasa, o creatura asemanatoare cu un garguil care isi poate schimba forma si mananca copii, demoni care intrau si preluau controlul corpurilor mortilor recent si atacau pe cei vii. In folclorul chinez, cadavrele puteau uneori sa se ridice din mormant si sa umble din nou.

Vampirii din Moldova, Valahia si Transilvania (teritoriile care acum formeaza tara noastra, Romania) sunt numiti strigoi. Acesti strigoi sunt aproape intotdeauna spirite umane care s-au intors din morti. Spre deosebire de upir sau vrykolakas, strigoii trec prin mai multe etape inainte de a iesi din mormant.

Initial devine un poltergeist invizibil, care ii chinuie pe membrii familiei sale miscand mobila si furand mancare. Dupa ceva timp devine vizibil, aratand exact ca si atunci cand era o persoana vie. Din nou, strigoiul se intoarce la familia sa, le fura vitele, cerseste de mancare si aduce boli. Strigoii se hranesc cu oameni, mai intai membrii familiei si dupa aceea pe oricine le iese in cale. In unele descrieri strigoiul suge sangele victimei direct din inima.

Pe langa strigoi mort, oamenii se temeau de vampiri vii, sau strigoi viu. Strigoi viu erau numiti oamenii blestemati ca sa devina strigoi mort dupa moartea lor. Copii nascuti cu malformatii erau de obicei considerati strigoi vii. Daca un strigoi mort traieste intre oameni si are copii, acesti copii sunt blestemati sa devina strigoi (morti vii) dupa moarte. Daca o persoana considerata strigoi viu moare, familia distrugea cadavrul pentru a fi siguri ca nu va reveni din mormant.

In alte parti din Europa de est, creaturi asemanatoare cu strigoii erau cunoscute sub numele de vampir sau vampyr, probabil fiind o variatie a upirului rus. Ulterior, limba engleza a adoptat acest nume, devenit „vampire”.

In secolele 17 si 18, isteria vampirilor s-a raspandit in Europa de est. Oamenii spuneau ca isi vad rudele decedate umbland, atacand pe cei vii. Autoritatile au deschis zeci de morminte, arzand si infigand tepuse in cadavre. Stirile despre panica legata de vampiri a ajuns si in vestul Europei, conducand la multe speculatii academice cu privire la aceste creaturi, si de asemenea la poeme si picturi cu vampiri.

De-a lungul istoriei, au existat mai multi oameni care aveau un comportament vampiric. Cel mai faimos vampir a fost Elisabeta de Bathory, o nobila din Transilvania care a trait intre 1560-1614. Elisabeta, care era ingrozita de gandul ca imbatraneste, era convinsa ca imbaierea (si poate consumarea) sangelui este secretul unei infatisari tinere.

Pentru asta, a torturat si ucis sute te oameni, majoritatea tinere fete. La sfarsit, a fost judecata pentru crimele ei si inchisa in castelul ei, unde a murit.

Vampirii in contemporan

In piesa „Dracula” din 1927, si in filmul care a urmat in 1931, Bela Lugosi a adoptat acesta notiune de artistocrat, luand rolul unui conte suav si sofisticat. Aceasta piesa a introdus de asemenea costumul familiar al lui Dracula – haine negre si o manta. In romanul „Dracula”, contele este descris ca si un om batran. Dar imaginea suava a lui Dracula a prins la public si a ramas asa in zeci de filme, seriale si desene.

Imaginea vampirului a continuat sa evolueze de-a lungul anilor cu reinterpretarea novelistilor si cinefililor. In nuvelele populare ale Anne Rice, ea duce vampirii la urmatorul „nivel” si le da o constiinta. In lumea ei, vampirii nu sunt neaparat rai – sunt prezentati ca si oameni adevarati cu sentimente si emotii. Spre exemplu, in serialul de televiziune „Buffy, ucigasa de vampiri”, creatorul Joss Whedon a adoptat idei asemanatoare, a vampirilor cu suflet. De asemenea, Stephenie Meyer creatoarea seriei Twilight ce descrie o poveste tumultumoasa de dragoste dintre un om de rand si un vampir.

In acest articol v-am prezentat vampiri aparuti de-a lungul istoriei, conceptii din folclor. La final fascinatia noastra legata de supranatural, defineste in ce masura ne manifestam temerile prin acest necunoscute, misterioase si paranormale evenimente.

(Sursa Imaginii – Unsplash)