Vrykolakas

Spiteful Crow · Post by **Spiteful Crow** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:11 pm

What are real life legend/myth/superstition/whatever are Vrykolakas based off of?

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:57 pm

I think the Vyrolakas are based off Greek legend. However, I can't give you any more details.

Nathan of the FoS · Post by **Nathan of the FoS** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:57 pm

I'm pretty sure they're based on Eastern European vampire traditions that are, well, more traditional than Dracula (much less Anne Rice's creations). I'm not quite sure where the tongue thing comes from, though.

Brandi · Post by **Brandi** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:25 pm

Nathan of the FoS wrote:I'm not quite sure where the tongue thing comes from, though.

The long spiky tongue reminds me a little of the penanggalan or aswang, though why there'd be elements of Malay or Filipino mythos in there is beyond me.

Scarycount · Post by **Scarycount** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:16 pm

You are quite right. It is Greek. The original term was Vorvolika. They were supposedly plague spreading spirits that drained life force from mortals that fell pray to thier illness.

Mangrum · Post by **Mangrum** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:35 pm

Vrykolakas are a freewheeling mix of traits from various folkloric vampires, which, yes, generally come from eastern and southeastern Europe. Likewise, the name is a mix of various revenant names. Check out Paul Barber's Vampires, Burial, and Death: Folklore and Reality for a treasure trove of lore.

Luke Fleeman · Post by **Luke Fleeman** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:02 pm

When in doubt, ask Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrykolakas

NeoTiamat · Post by **NeoTiamat** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:29 pm

God I love Wikipedia. I know I shouldn't, and it's rather weak on scholarship, but it has so much information, and so easy to access.

I personally always assumed they were classic Vamps like the Nosferatu of Lugosi fame. Guess not.

Ail · Post by **Ail** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 5:43 am

NeoTiamat wrote:God I love Wikipedia. I know I shouldn't, and it's rather weak on scholarship, but it has so much information, and so easy to access.

I personally always assumed they were classic Vamps like the Nosferatu of Lugosi fame. Guess not.

You can also read 'the vampire: his kith and kin' at this address
http://www.sacred-texts.com/goth/index.htm.

It describes traditional vampires and a lot of things of Greek tradition reminded me of the Vrykolakas. Even the name was not that far, though I don't quite remember (I read this 5 or 6 months ago).

Alex

Luke Fleeman · Post by **Luke Fleeman** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm

NeoTiamat wrote:God I love Wikipedia. I know I shouldn't, and it's rather weak on scholarship, but it has so much information, and so easy to access..

Actually, they did a recent study and determined that wikipedia contained less errors than the Encyclopedia Britannica. Not only that, but the information is better monitored.

And there are some very smart people on there; the group nature actually can help the scholarship.

Then again, never take anything at face value. Nothing shoudl ever be your only point of research.

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Vrykolakas

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