Vampires

Vampires Ð'- A History

Fangs, dead, blood, and bats. Those are some things that come to peoples minds when they think about vampires. In Webster's International Dictionary vampires are defined as "a bloodsucking ghost or reanimated body of a dead person, believed to come from the grave and wander about by night sucking the blood of persons asleepÐ'..." Whatever people think of vampires, they are not really what they are believed to be.

There is much controversy about the vampire creation myth. The Myth of Lilith is one such myth. Lilith is said to be the first woman made for Adam, but when he would not treat her as an equal and only wanted to dominate her she left him. Therefore god had to make Eve for Adam. When Lilith went to the Red Sea she made a deal with the angels who had been sent to fetch her back for Adam. She was allowed to stay on her own, as a witch, a mother of all demons and allowed to kill infants up until their naming day. Only if they had a charm with the names of the angels she would not kill them. It is said this story explains SIDSÐ'--Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. She killed human children in retaliation for her demon children who were killed in the wars between good and evil.

The Myth of Cain is another Myth of the Vampire Creation. Cain was the first born of Adam and Eve. He was banished for killing his brother because of jealousy. It is said Cain wandered until he found Lilith and she took him in and showed him the power of blood. "From Cain and Lilith came a host of demons and vampires in the Vague Myths. Cain is mentioned in the Bible as having a number of legitimate children with an unnamed woman/wife." From what is presented in the Bible there is little evidence to go on the Myth of Lilith and Cain. ("Vampire" 1-3).

It is said that vampires originated with Judas Iscariot. Judas betrayed Jesus and sent him to his death. As a result of Judas's betrayal, he and his family were cursed. In guilt of what he did he tried to commit suicide. Suicides in vampire folklore were very likely to come back as a vampire, so they may have helped contribute to the belief that vampires originated from Judas. "Someone pointed out to me that the vampire's version to silver perhaps comes from this myth, as Judas betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver. When Judas tried to return the silver and couldn't