Lamias
The lamias ( Greek λάμιες) are said to have been named after a monster in Greek mythology called Lamia . In the Greek popular belief (to this day) they are themselves demonic , vampire-like beasts. Other names for them are Empusen , Mormolycien or Striges . The lamia theme has also entered modern vampire literature.
They should be constantly eager for young human blood. Mostly handsome young men who dazzle them with their bewitching beauty are preferred. But it can also be pretty young men who belong to the immortal lamias.
To what extent the figure of the lamias contributed to the emergence of the modern vampire belief in Greece is controversial, since they were demons, i.e. non-human beings, while the Wrukolakas , the vampire, was a human being and in his grave in an in-between existence between lives and death persists.
Etymologically , the word lamie is said to be derived from the Greek word λαιμός (lämós) for throat, throat . But it is also suspected of originating from the Arabic lahama for mangle , tear up .
See also
literature
- Peter M. Kreuter: The vampire belief in Southeast Europe . Weidler, Berlin 2001, ISBN 978-3-89693-709-4 (basic).
- John Cuthbert Lawson: Modern Greek Folklore and Ancient Greek Religion . London 1910.
- Bernhard Schmidt: The popular life of the modern Greeks and the Hellenic antiquity . Leipzig 1871.
