A Visual History of Vampires
Vampires are one of the most popular folklore characters of all time. From beginnings in traditional tales across the globe that told of monsters who sucked blood from humans, they now carry a reputation of untouchable coolness, sensuality, and allure. Though their rise in popularity has been documented, their visual development from grotesque monsters to shimmering young adults is less often discussed. To track this dramatic shift in portrayal, let us start with one of the earliest mentions of vampire-esque beings.
“Empusa.” Image via
Greco-Roman Mythology
One of the earliest portrayals of vampires comes from Ancient Greece and Rome. Both cultures described deities and figures with vampiric traits.
One was Empusa, daughter of the Goddess Hecate, who seduced men and then drank their blood while they slept. She was described as being tall and having the legs of an ox or other animals, but she shape-shifted into an attractive young woman in order to seduce her victims.
There were also the striges, described as having the bodies of crows and fed on the flesh and blood of adults and children.
“The Striges”. Image via
Medieval Europe
During the 1100’s, English historians Walter Map and William of Newburgh recorded the earliest European accounts of vampire-like creatures, which they called revenants.
Revenants are corpses that become animated and come back to life to haunt the living. These early folklores vampires were depicted as repulsive and corpse-like monsters, and bore little resemblance to the vampires we know and love today.
Revenant. Image via
Peter Blagojevic
Early Modern Europe
The 18th century saw a mass vampire-hysteria take over Europe after a series of vampire sightings in Eastern Europe, specifically in Tranyslvania. Even government officials were involved in hunting and staking those accused of being vampires.
The first two officially recorded vampire cases occurred in Serbia during thi time, furthering the vampire frenzy. which is now called the “18th-Century Vampire Controversy.” One of these cases involved Petar Blagojevic (pictured above), who was thought to have become a vampire after his death. His case was widely published and was one of the most sensationalized remnants of this vampire hysteria.
Though they were still portrayed as monsters, this age saw the beginning of the transition to the our current-day idea of vampires, as they were depicted with more human-like qualities.
Carmilla. Image via
The 1800’s
This period saw an explosion of vampires in popular culture, with some of the most famous works of vampire literature published during these years. These works included The Vampyre by Polidori, Carmilla by Sheridan le Feu and perhaps the most famous work of vampire fiction of all time, Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
This new image of the vampire—refined, of high status, alluring, sensual— was partly the work of the period’s Gothic authors, who found the vampire to be an effective and now well-received character.
Pictured is Actor Sir Henry Irving, a friend of Bram Stoker and one of his inspirations for the character of Dracula.
These works began to establish the modern image of the vampire. Dracula was described as being exceedingly pale and thin, dressed in all black, and having sharp teeth and ears. Carmilla was described as being unearthly beautiful and seductive, and having the ability to shapeshifter similarly to Dracula.
The 1900’s
Over the course of the 20th century, vampires remained a central focus of literature, as well as cinema. The first half of the 20th century saw a rise of vampires in science fiction, while the second half saw a shift in vampires being portrayed as more heroic, tragic, and romantic protagonists.
Early notable examples of vampire-centric media include the 1922 film Nosferatu and the 1960 Italian Gothic film Black Sunday.
In the late 1900’s, two films came out that left a significant impact on the present-day image of vampires: Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Interview With the Vampire.
A shot from the 1994 film, Interview With the Vampire. Image via
The 21st Century
The most recent depiction of vampires have retained many of the characteristics of those from the late 1900’s; they are mysterious, alluring, seductive, pale, and refined.
Over the past few years, vampires have been favored in media for young adults, which has affected their visual portrayal. Vampires in hit series such as The Twilight Saga and The Vampire Diaries have a distinctly youthful feel compared to those of the 20th century. Along with their refinement is a dominating sense of angst and rebelliousness, which has made these characters even more beloved than ever before.
Whether you’re more of a fan of Dracula or Edward, there’s no denying that vampires are here to stay. What will come next in their aesthetic development? Only time will tell.
