- Brutal bite leads to prosecutions
- Scientists have put forward several theories about the link between various diseases and vampires
- Social fright has become a companion to disease and political upheaval
Brutal bite leads to prosecutions
It's no secret that the vampire is a fairly common image in pop culture these days. It's known to come in many shapes and forms, from the over-the-top birth of Dracula in the PlayStation game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to the romantic and idealistic lover of Edward in Twilight. And yet, in many ways, today's vampire has ricocheted somewhere far from his roots in the backwaters of Eastern European folklore.
I have almost always been fascinated by the popularity of vampires, given their unique origins: as one of the most important demonic creatures, they are associated with the otherworld and the diseases that supposedly follow a brutal bite. In explaining the latter's history, the first known reference to vampires in written form appeared in Old Russian as early as 1047 AD, shortly after the spread of Orthodox Christianity to Eastern Europe.
The term for a vampire was "upper," the origin of which, in fact, is still unclear. However, a possible literal meaning is "an object at a festival or sacrifice", referring to a potentially dangerous spirit being that might appear, in the opinion of those around it, during certain rituals marking death. It was also a euphemism - a word used for ethical reasons in place of those considered frightening or revealing a secret - used to avoid analysing the creature's true name, whose roots were unknown even to historians even after versions of the vampire's existence emerged[1].
In any case, vampires had a very similar function to many other demonic creatures in folklore worldwide: they were blamed for all kinds of problems, but especially for diseases at a time when there was still no knowledge of bacteria and the different types of virus. Incidentally, as early as the 19th century, an engraving showed men in coats and massive hats shooting a vampire in a cemetery in Romania. And people who desecrated the graves of suspected vampires took home 'vampiric' tales.
Finally, it is interesting to note that the pale and sophisticated vampire that became common in the media did not even exist until the 19th century. Now, he is not only the star of horror tales but also a modern-day legend that fascinates adrenaline junkies.
Scientists have put forward several theories about the link between various diseases and vampires
No disease likely represents the "pure" origin of vampire myths, as beliefs about vampires have changed over time. However, a few do show substantial links to "human" diseases. One of these is rabies, which derives its name from the Latin term for 'madness'. This is known to be one of the oldest recognized diseases on the planet, transmitted from animals to humans and usually spread by bite - perhaps an obvious reference to the classic vampire trait.
There are other interesting connections. One of the main symptoms of the "vampire" disease is hydrophobia, an intense fear of water. Due to painful muscle contractions in the esophagus, rabies victims avoid eating, drinking, or even swallowing their saliva, which eventually leads to foaming at the mouth.
Interestingly, in some folklore motifs, vampires are also unable to cross running water unaided, which is a sort of continuation of the above symptom. Rabies, in turn, causes a fear of light, altered sleep patterns, and increased aggression—the dynamic elements described by vampires in various folk tales[2].
The symptoms of pellagra, a painfully rough skin caused by a deficiency of vitamin B3 or the amino acid tryptophan, should not be overlooked, which is caused by neglecting a key step in the preparation of maize: thorough washing, which reduces the risk of skin disease. The classic "4 Ds" side effects of advanced pellagra include dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death. Some sufferers also experience the extreme sensitivity to sunlight described in vampire stories, resulting in bluish skin - too much like a corpse.
Social fright has become a companion to disease and political upheaval
Diseases may indeed show some links to vampires, but they do not necessarily explain how the myths really started. For example, pellagra did not begin to exist in Eastern Europe until the 18th century, centuries after vampire beliefs began. However, the latter and rabies are important because they were thought to be at the heart of the vampire story[3].
During the so-called Great Vampire Epidemic, from around 1725 to 1755, myths 'multiplied' across the continent like wildfire. As diseases spread in Eastern Europe, supernatural causes were often blamed, and so vampire hysteria spread throughout the region. Many people believed vampires were immortal and could only be stopped by attacking their corpses. The "hostages" of such stories also performed "vampire burials", which involved sticking a stake through the corpse, covering the body with garlic and various other strange traditions that have existed for centuries in Slavic folklore.
Meanwhile, Austrian and German soldiers fighting the Ottomans in the region witnessed this mass desecration of graves and returned home to Western Europe with tales of immortals. The greatest hysteria was sown by disease, as vampirism became the culprit of specific symptoms, allegedly influencing the Great Vampire Epidemic, which also led to political and religious upheavals.
In the 18th century, Eastern Europe was also under pressure from within and without, as domestic and foreign powers controlled the region, and local cultures were often suppressed. For example, while Serbia struggled in Central Europe and Poland gradually fell into foreign hands, Russia underwent a dramatic cultural change due to Tsar Peter the Great's policies. This is somewhat similar to today, when the world is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, even during intense political change and absolute uncertainty, resulting in a foreseeable societal collapse, which will cause even more dramatic reactions.
