Vampires and Succubi

1. Vampires and Succubi By: Mary Claire Leonard

2. History of Vampires • Vampire myths occur in almost every culture around the world -Large variety of vampires in European countries • Split between Roman and Orthodox churches in 1054 AD caused a big difference in the development of vampire lore • Origin of Slavic vampire myths developed during 9th C • There were some traits that were believed to be signs of vampirism • Certain occurrences were seen as evidence that a vampire was at work • Several methods were believed to successfully destroy vampires

3. Female Vampires • It is possible that the earliest vampires were female. • Pam Keesey- Daughters of Darkness: Lesbian Vampire Stories “Female vampires were imaginative constructs developed out of a destructive side-blood, death, and dangerous sexuality-of the great mother goddess of prehistory”. • Origins of vampirism point to the ancient Indian goddess of death, Kali • Another possible source of the creation of the female vampire is the life of Elizabeth Bathory. “The goddess is not only the mysterious source of life, she is the very soil, all-creating and all consuming”.

4. Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) • Hungarian countess brought to trial in 1611 for the torture and murder of between 150 and 650 young women • Member of powerful aristocratic family and wife of Count Ferenz Nadasdy • Bathory castle in Transylvania raided late December 1610 -3 victims found dead • During her two trials, evidence was presented that she and two accomplices tortured and killed many young women from the surrounding countryside • It was reported that Bathory’s acts gave her erotic pleasure -drank and bathed in blood • She was spared execution but was imprisoned in her castle for life • Hungarian authorities sealed her records when she died in 1614 -Lazlo Turoczy found and published records

5. Dracula:The novel vs. the movie • 1931 film by Tod Browning • Critics analyze the bad acting in the film • There is some sexual tension, but scenes go much faster on screen than in the novel • 1897 novel by Irish Bram Stoker • Critics analyze the role of women in Victorian culture • Novel gives reference to changes in gender roles

6. Vampires in Film Today…

7. Clip from History Channel Special on Vampires • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZNxdSAb40M

8. Background of Succubi • Succubi is from Latin “succubare” meaning “to lie under” • In medieval legend, succubi were female demons that would sustain themselves by seducing men and taking their energy/soul by appearing in dreams or having actual intercourse. • Legend was used as an explanation for wet dreams and sleep paralysis. -Succubi left their victims exhausted, sometimes to the point of death • The most well known succubi are Lillith (Jewish), Belili (Sumerian) and Rusalka (Slavic)

9. Features of Succubi • Beautiful, alluring women -demonic bat-like wings -large breasts Other demonic features: -horns -cloven feet • Occasionally appear as an attractive woman in dreams that the victim cannot get off of his mind • Lure males in, and they seem to “fall in love” • Even after a dream, the succubus will remain in her victims mind, slowly draining energy from him until death by exhaustion • In some cases, the demon will steal her victim’s soul through intercourse.

10. Lilith • Mythological female Mesopotamian storm demon associated with wind and thought to be a bearer of disease, illness and death. • Figure of Lilith first appeared in 3000 BC • Scholars believe that the name “Lilith” originated around 700 BC • -Hebrew “Lilit” and Akkadian “Lilitu”are adjectives from the Proto-Semitic root LYL "night", literally translating to nocturnal "female night being/demon“. • Often portrayed as a child killer and a temptress • Myth that she was the first wife of Adam

11. Lilith in the Bible • Myth is that she was the first wife of Adam • The Book of Isaiah 34:14, describing the desolation of Edom • KJV: "The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest." ~Also recognized as: • night-owl (Young, 1898) • night monster (ASV, 1901; NASB, 1995) • vampires (Moffatt Translation, 1922) • night hag (RSV, 1947) • Lilith (Jerusalem Bible, 1966) • lilith (New American Bible, 1970) • night creature (NIV, 1978; NKJV, 1982; NLT, 1996) • nightjar (New World Translation, 1984).

12. Notes on the Incubus… • The Incubus is a demon in male form that "lies upon" sleeping women. • Nocturnal arousal or orgasm could be explained by the idea of creatures causing an otherwise guilt-producing and self-conscious behavior • Women said to be victims of incubi could have been the victims of sexual assault by a real person. • A succubus would be able to sleep with a man and collect his sperm, and then transform into an incubus and use that seed on women. • -offspring were thought to be supernatural The Nightmare is a 1781 oil painting by British artist Henry Fuseli (1741–1825). Incubus, 1870

13. Works Cited • http://www.online-literature.com/view.php/dracula/1?term=lips • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula • http://www.cyodine.com/succubus/History.html • http://www.unexplainable.net/artman/publish/article_2866.shtml • http://books.google.com/books?isbn=0313292159