We know all about the vampires from Anne Rice, Stephanie
Meyer and Bram Stoker, who based his literary villain Dracula on the historical
figure Vlad Dracul. But, did you know vampire stories have been told for thousands of years? The legend of
vampires have captured the imagination and horror of countless since the dawn
of civilization. Let me share a few…
Ancient Mesopotamia
The first vampire-like demons could be found in Ancient
Mesopotamia, also known as the ‘cradle of civilization’. Mesopotamia during the
Bronze Age (3300-1200 BCE) included the Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian and
Sumerian empires. This area is part of the Tigris-Euphrates river system and encompasses
present-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and southwestern
Iran.
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| Lilitu |
The goddess Lamashtu (daughter of the sky god Anu) was a
wicked, blood-sucking being, who menaced women during childbirth and kidnapped
babies. She drank their young, fresh blood and gnawed on their bones. She
caused nightmares, infested rivers and lakes, and spread illness and death.
Lamashtu is described as having the head of a lion and the feet of a bird.
Parents often used amulets and statues to protect against Lamashtu’s
malevolence.
If you died a violent death or were not buried properly,
Sumerians believed you would come back as an edimmu which was a type of spirit or demon. They terrorized the
living by walking through walls to suck the life from their sleeping victims. They
also caused disease and criminal behavior.
Assyrian demons called Lilitu were described as beautiful
women who used their beauty to beguile and trap their victims. They sexually
victimized men. They roamed during the night, hunting and killing pregnant
women and drinking the blood of babies. They are associated with lions, storms,
desert and disease. They are depicted having wings and bird talons for feet. Some
believe the Jewish demoness Lilith was a part of this group of Assyrian demons.
