The first vampire before Dracula was believed to be a figure in Hungarian and Romanian folklore known as Lugat or Vampir blood-sucker. He was described as a corpse-like being, rising from the grave at dusk to drink the blood of the living.
It was believed that he had the power to shape-shift into the form of animals such as wolves and bats, and could fly in the form of a cloud of darkness. He was seemingly invulnerable to most weapons, and could only be killed if he was driven away or killed by a stake through the heart.
He was also believed to be able to transform humans into vampires by drinking their blood. The legend of Lugat had spread throughout Europe by the early 15th century, and an early version of him appeared in a 15th-century German book called ‘The Book of Vampires’.
His influence can still be seen in modern vampire tropes, particularly regarding his shapeshifting and invulnerability.
What is the oldest vampire story?
The oldest vampire story known to date is the iconic Dracula, written by Bram Stoker in 1897. The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a Transylvanian vampire who pursues Jonathan Harker and his fiancée Mina Murray to England.
While there, he preys on the couple and their friends, with the intent of creating a legion of vampires. Although other vampire tales existed before Stoker’s novel, such as John William Polidori’s short story, The Vampyre (1819), they did not have the same worldwide impact that Dracula had.
Who invented vampire?
The origin of the vampire myth can be traced back many centuries, with the first known legends appearing in ancient Mesopotamian and Sumerian cultures. It’s believed that the earliest vampires were more like ghouls than the creatures we have come to know and love, with reports of vampires being more akin to zombies and sirens.
One of the earliest vampires, and the one most associated with the vampire myth, was Lilith. Lilith first appears in the Bible in ancient Hebrew texts and is said to have been Adam’s first wife. According to Hebrew folklore, Lilith was a demon and was cursed by God to wander the earth and prey on human blood.
She was one of the first creatures to be associated with the vampire myth.
Vampires, as we know them today, were largely shaped in the 18th century through literature and pop culture. In 1897, Irish author Bram Stoker published the novel “Dracula”, featuring the famous vampire Count Dracula.
Since then, the character has been adapted into countless films, TV shows, and even video games, crafting the modern idea of what a vampire is supposed to look and act like.
Was Carmilla the first vampire?
No, Carmilla was not the first vampire. The concept of vampires has been around for centuries, with various folklore from cultures around the globe featuring creatures similar to the modern-day idea of vampires.
In some tales, the vampires are blood-sucking creatures that can switch between human and monster forms, and in others, they are an undead creature of some sort that can exist without limbs and feed off the life force of their victims.
The first recorded stories to feature elements of what we now know as vampires appeared in 1813 with the publication of John William Polidori’s novel The Vampyre. While Polidori’s creation, Lord Ruthven, closely resembled a Nosferatu-style monster, other authors of the Gothic horror movement added details of modern vampires with their own works.
The character of Carmilla was introduced by Sheridan Le Fanu in the novella of the same name, published in 1872. While this would make Carmilla the earliest documented vampire, the character is widely considered to be part of the Gothic tradition, rather than being the source for the modern concept.
Le Fanu was influenced by previous authors, and Carmilla is widely considered to have been inspired by Polidori’s Lord Ruthven.
Was Carmilla written by a woman?
Yes, Carmilla was written by a woman—the Irish writer Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. While Le Fanu wrote several works of horror and fantasy fiction throughout his lifetime, Carmilla is one of his most famous and enduring works.
Published in 1872, Carmilla is a Gothic novella that tells the story of a young woman named Laura and her unexpected friendship with a vampire-like creature named Carmilla. Though the story is considered a pre-cursor to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Le Fanu’s story has an undeniable feminine touch to it—focusing heavily on female characters and the relationships between them—which has established it as an important work for feminist writers.
