They have been known by many names throughout history. Creatures that prey on the blood or life-force of the living have frightened millions into locking doors and windows at night. Cultures around the globe each have their own depictions of these monsters, but most have come to know them as Vampires. However, what led our ancestors to put so much faith in the creation of these beings?
1. Identification: vampires are undead
Prior to current biological understanding, a corpse could show signs of “life” after death. Many misunderstood blood from the mouth and nose as being signs of the creature feeding. The truth? Gases from decomposition cause remaining fluids in the body to be forced out through any available orifice.
2. Teeth: vampires have 2 longs canines to suck your blood
Elongated teeth after death were viewed as signs that the dead were rising from the grave to feed. The truth? Receding of the gum-line and lips is a common occurrence of decomposition, which makes the teeth look like they have grown longer. This is also a sign of some forms of porphyria.
3. Fingernails: vampires have long fingernails
Our ancestors viewed the growth of fingernails after death to be a sign of the dead manifesting claws. The truth? As in teeth, decomposition causes the skin to recede from fingernails as well giving the illusion that the nails are growing.
4. Hunger: vampires feed exclusively on blood
Cravings for blood in the early centuries could get one burned at the stake. However, cravings for a certain material is often a sign of a deficiency in our diets. The truth? Those suffering from Iron-deficiency Porphyria could experience cravings for iron-rich foods – such as meat and blood.
5. Combustible: vampires are burned by sunlight
As this has been embellished upon for hundreds of years, some are affected by sunlight, and this could cause severe irritations, rashes, and even burns. The truth? There are a variety of illnesses that affect people on a regular basis keeping them indoors at all times – such as forms of Porphyria.
6. Wooden Stakes: vampires can be killed with a wooden stake through the heart
It is well known that the only way to truly kill the vampire is a wooden stake through the heart. The truth? Anything piercing your heart has a good chance of killing you.
7. Crosses: vampires are sensitive to the crucifix
Prior to Christianity, crosses were unheard of which left humans without a means of deterring the vampire. The truth? After the creation of Christianity, vampires took on characteristics of the religion and were thus affected by a symbol of divine nature – such as the cross.
8. Shape-shifting: vampires can can change their shape
Some vampires have been able to change shape and species at will. Versions of Dracula could shape-shift into a bat. The truth? There has been no scientific documented evidence that anyone could shape-shift in this manner. Scientifically, you could not alter the mass of an object to be less than or greater than the current mass. At least, not without altering the density of the mass.
9. Reflections: vampires do not reflect in a mirror
Your mirror won’t show you if a vampire is coming up from behind you. The truth? The only way to hide something from view in a mirror is to bend the reflection of light around the object – are we saying vampires have cloaking technology?
So, do vampires really exist?
Although these truths are present and conclusive, many will still believe in the undead who come back to drain the blood from unsuspecting victims. As pure belief is a strong driving force, facts are not always accepted by the masses. Accepted or not, it is hard to refute the data collected throughout history.
However, could the information collected just be reasoning behind some shred of actual vampirism that has stayed under the radar for thousands of years? It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve placed an answer to a question we don’t understand…
Author Bio
Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny, www.enannysource.com/ etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.
i dont care at all..but i believe that vampire exists..everyone have their own thoughts…n in this world there r many things like ghosts..so y not vampires??God said that that He told things ..which he wanted to tell us but there r many things which we dont know…..so i things vampires exist…if not in this world then may be in another solar system
There’s no evidence to support god existing. And the idea of “vampires” were created by humans. So personally, no. I do not think vampires exist.
…the stake through the heart thing is a myth, it does not kill them. Vampires have become more and more immune to sunlight over the years (twilight is the worst movie series ever) the crucifix…they are not sensitive to it, but its their ONLY weakness, but the only thing that can really kill them is dem silver bullets and god enhanced weapons…
And yes I know that silver bullets also kill werewolves (myth)
Look you say vamps can’t be in the sun. I’m a fullblood. But I walk in the sun I got babtised in holy water. I go to church I feast on anything red get mega headaches when in the sun eyes sometimes chnge colour when I get angry. And when I’m mad I want to bite. Sonething. One tip don’t giv your adress out. Vamps are good at tracking
I do believe on vampires strongly and i would dieee to be one! Mystery, u say u r a vampire how can u prove this? How can we know u are not just fooling around??
your body might just be suffering from porphyria or some other crap human bodies get. my body cannot handle sun/fluorescent light heat , my body is even sensitive to normal light, smells and food. so, if you really are what humans call a vampyr why would you tell it so openly on the internet? ever checked out The Vampire/Donor Alliance’s Dreambook webside? i wrote something on there as well
I want to no more abt vampire
I’m a vampire the steak things a myth
I know :/
It is
I want to know if vampires exist where are they?
thats a big lie .all of you are stupid.if they exist where are they?
I do nt believe that vampires exist bt im open 2 any posibilities. If vampires exist then y don’t we know of any celebrity vampire who did not start as a myth? Also, really, how does one die n come back 2 life? Its crazy
I don’t belive in any thing I can’t see accept for our God all mighty. If they exist why not show them selfs. We live in a sosiaty that is open to anything. If someone told me that he or she was part of the supernatural world, it does not change who the persone is, and what i think about them…
I truly believe in vampire as their is no proof that they don’t exist. I would die to be on. And again vampires exists in people mind, fear, culture and maybe their identity who knows but TO BE VAMPIRES EXISTS AND NO ONE OR NO PROVES CAN CHANCE THAT TO ME…
Vampires exist in people mind, culture, religion, believes, fear and/or in identity. I truly believe in vampires as there is no prove that vampires don’t exist and even if there is was a proof they don’t exist then it wouldn’t affect me and
i think the proof wouldn’t affect vampire lovers mind also am i right or i am right
I DO BELIEVE IN VAMPS AND I ALSO READ MANY OF THE STORIES REGARDING DEM…..BT WHT CN WE DO BCUM A VAMP???
On my belief, vampires exist because I believe in them
bt how cn we bcom a vampire???is there any kind of mantras or anythng lik tht???tht if we spell it thn we’ll bcum vamp??hw cn we cal a vamp at our house?
If u believe the fact that there are witches and wizards,demons and evil spirit existing why not vampires. The problem is you can’nt be able to figure them out ,they live among us, they are supernatunal beings. The mind can only speak what it have seen or done.
There are also “psychic vampires” they live on the souls of others. A good example of a psychic vampire is an ugly old guy who calls himself “The Amazing Randi” he constantly needs new souls to suck the life out of.