Vampire Beliefs: Sumerian
Sire Squire Amethyst
come from extremely ancient times. Although these civilizations had
many technological advances, they were no where near where we are today
(naturally) and so their people were more open minded to the
supernatural.
Sumer (started around 4000 B.C.E.)
Mesopotamia is often referred to as the "cradle of civilization" because
it fostered what is most likely the world's first organized nation,
Sumer. From the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers has come
the world's first epic tales, laws, methods of writing, agricultural
techniques, metallurgical advances, and beliefs in the undead.
The Sumerians dismissed no phenomena without trying to explain it in
some way. Although they may not have always been right, their
hypotheses has stood the test of time. They took the supernatural
extremely seriously, and this definitely includes vampires.
The priests and priestesses of the civilization were trained in dealing
with both blood sucking vampires as well as energy draining vampires.
the citizens felt a strong need for protection from them almost the same
way modern people look to the police for protection today. They
believed that evil was a very real force in the world.
Types of Vampires in Sumerian belief.
Ekimmu
The most well documented vampire-like creature from Sumer is the
EKIMMU. It was believed that an ekimmu was created when someone died a
violent death or was not buried properly. While not overtly called
vampires, the descriptions given make them appear as real, intentional
psychic vampires, nonetheless. That is because they were considered
demonic, phantom-like entities that roamed the earth, unable to rest, in
search of victims. When an ekimmu found a helpless individual, the
creature would seize the victim and torment him or her until a priest or
priestess could come and perform a ritual or exorcism to force the
vampire off.
Blood is not mentioned in connection with the creature, but descriptions
of the ekimmu often include mentions of "evil wind gusts" which was the
physical manifestation of the creature.
Uruku or Utukku (has been seen spelled both ways)
The URUKU is referred to in a cuneiform inscription as a "Vampire which
attacks man." Not much is known about this type of vampire.
The Seven Demons
THE SEVEN DEMONS were a vampiric entity which was very feared by
Sumerians. They have some of the attributes found in immortal blood
drinking vampires. Not only did they suck blood from the veins of their
victims, they were afraid of the images of the gods of Sumer, or where
those images were kept--in temples.
Lilith
She was a female demon who first appeared in a myth of Inanna and the
hullupu tree. In that legend, Lilith is called a "dark maid" who lives
in the trunk of the hullupu tree (a tree that the goddess Inanna wanted
to use to make her throne) and is little more than a nuisance to the
goddess. However, since the myth's introduction, Lilith was viewed as a
creature of evil, cast out by the gods. Although to Sumerians she
wasn't a vampire but a demon, she would later be considered a succubus
by other cultures (particularly the Hebrews).
Later, in more recent times (fifteenth century), the myths of the undead
changed. This time, the undead began to take on the guises of two
different creatures: ghouls and vampires. The term ghoul will be used
in reference to a creature that eats the remains of a dead body and, on
occasion, the body or blood (or both) of a living person. Ghouls can be
living or dead creatures. And, they can turn into vampires if killed.
I remember once finding reference to a zombie type of vampire that was
believed in Sumerian Culture, however the closest I have here is the
ghoul. If I find where I found it before I'll let you guys know
Reading lists:
Vampires: The Occult Truth, by Konstantinos (most of what here comes
from this book)
The Devils and Evil Spirits of Babylonia, by R. Campbell Thompson
mercedes
i hope that some how u can write this again and submit it to dusky, it
was very well written and i loved it. we can use some items like that.
pwease
Mer
Sire Squire Amethyst wrote in message <39F5C037...@home.com>...
Sire Squire Amethyst
copy of it anymore since my server only holds X amount of posts at a
time. I just wrote that...didn't have it already written or anything.
B J Kuehl
by Sire Squire Amethyst <amethy...@home.com>:
> You're more than welcome to use it if you want to Mer...I don't have a
> copy of it anymore since my server only holds X amount of posts at a
> time. I just wrote that...didn't have it already written or anything.
Just a precaution...
Be careful where you publish it and to whom you give credit. As
SSA says at the very bottom of the original post, most of it came
directly out of Konstantino's _The Occult Truth_.
^BJ^
Sire Squire Amethyst
Very true...although I wrote most of it the information was taken from
Vampires: The Occult Truth, by Konstantios.
Vorsuc
> Vampires: The Occult Truth, by Konstantios.
From what I remember of it, you seem to have just simply copied the first
few pages.. with the odd bit of your own info in it...
hence, be VERY careful about copyright, make it PLAINLY clear it's directly
lifted from that god-awful piece of shit.
V.
Sire Squire Amethyst
Actually, I tried to write it as much with my own words but with the
information in the book. And, it was from the entire section on Summer
which was about 3 pages long. I even stated that it was the only source
information I had, with the inclusion of the other book which was made
reference to in his book. (I tried to search the net even, but couldn't
find anything on such beliefs. Everything I found on Summer was a
little more into the gods they worshiped and their way of life, etc.
Nothing on superstitions that *I* could find...)
While I don't agree with everything that's written in Konstantinos'
book, the "modern vampires" seem to be little more than blood fetishes
and he makes psi vamps look more harmful than they are (even
'unintentional' ones), it's still good for historical purposes. He goes
into detail about the different myths and even more so into "famous
vampires" such as Elizabeth Bathory and Dracula.
It's the only book I've seen that even attempts to explain real
vampirism as the people on this NG know it. If anyone knows of any
others then let me know. My husband bought me this one a while ago for
me but I've never seen another.
Blessings!
Amethyst
http://www.enchanteddoorway.com
Vorsuc
> information in the book. And, it was from the entire section on Summer
> which was about 3 pages long.
My point. It LOOKS like it's come straight from the book, and it has,
alright it's "in your own words" but if someone posts that, gives you
credit, then you just KNOW someone is gonna dive all over you for it.
>it's still good for historical purposes.
No it's good as a doorstep, or perhaps (as I used it for a while) as a
weight in my bag to stop it sliding from my shoulder when it's empty. It's
the most ill concieved piece of trite I have ever had the misfortune of
reading.
> He goes
> into detail about the different myths and even more so into "famous
> vampires" such as Elizabeth Bathory and Dracula.
Where ? he mentions a myth, gives a little background and then moves on, or
explains that it's better covered in some other book and we should go read
that instead. He rarely goes into adding his own explanations or
impressions, leaving the reader with a sense of "so why are you mentioning
that then ?". The first half just smacks completely of Konstantinos trying
to impress us with his in-depth knowledge of the vampire myths, by name
dropping, yet never going into detail. The second half is then him "telling
it as it is" a complete contrast to the distant "nothing to do with me or my
opinion" style of the first half, and the lack of research done shines right
though.
Goto alt.vampyres, ask about mythical vamps, chuck in a few letters from
blood vamps and right it up. Voila ! "Vampires : the occult truth"... it's a
turd, a steaming turd.. I 'm just glad I got it second hand and only paid
four pounds for it.
> It's the only book I've seen that even attempts to explain real
> vampirism as the people on this NG know it.
explain ? no, Konstantinos just TELLS us about it. No room for thought at
all. S'nasty. Now while I don't know them personally there are apparently
books which explain real vampirism in greater detail and with a lot less
bullshit than Konstantinos.
>If anyone knows of any
> others then let me know.
I heard good reviews of Montague Summer's work, and I've been petitioning my
library to obtain a copy for me.
V.
Sire Squire Amethyst
have NOTHING to compare it to other than my own beliefs and views. He
did put a few pages on different areas of the world and the myths, and
did put a few pages on "famous vampires." But, it was only a little bit
on them. Point there.
I call it an "attempt" because that's what it is to me. I don't take
what he says as fact, I don't even agree with 90% of his psychic vampire
part. I'm not very good at history and my head swims whenever I try to
put the myths together myself in my own research...but oh well.
As for a.v...been there, done that, got the T-shirt for my husband to
shine his boots with. I like to stay out of there thank you.
Blessings!
Amethyst
http://www.enchanteddoorway.com
*need sleep...must have sleep....cat's running all around making noise,
roommate's snoring so loud I'm waiting for the neighbors to
complain...baby kicks so hard....guess I'll have to do without....need
sleep*