What Inspired the Look of Vampires?
Sharp teeth, Pale skin. Pointy fingers. Widows Peak. Easily recognizable as vampires. But what inspired the iconic look? We'll take a look back in history, to 19th Century, England.
It is there that Poet, Lord George Gordon Byron was fantasizing about undead being who traveled to nearby towns to feed their thirst for human blood. It was his therapist, John Polidori, who upon hearing about these thoughts, decided to translate them onto paper. In 1819 he published The Vampyre, the first english version of the creature published in a novel. In it, he featured a character by the name of Lord Strongmore, a seductive man who lures attractive women into his home only to feast on their blood.
Another strong influence behind the name Dracula tie to 15th Century Romanian Prince Vlad Dracula, AKA Vlad the Impaler. He was a blood thirsty ruler who tortured innocents.
Surprisingly, an even more gruesome inspiration to vampires come from a separate royal family.
In Hungary, Elizabeth Bathory was a countess who would come to be known as one of the first vampires in history. She believed drinking and bathing in the blood of young girls would keep her looking youthful. Her beliefs led the countesses on a bloody rampage, which resulted in the deaths of over 650 young women. Her brutality knew no bounds, as she would slice, prod, burn, and beat her victims while they remained alive in order to collect their blood.
Around the 1800's-1900's, the widow's peak was looked down on as a recessive trait and associated as a sinister look. This helped enhance the symbolism into Dracula's appearance on film.
The paleness of skin is attributed to the sensitivity vampires have to light, as they stay inside all day, yet it also gives overtones of another supernatural being, such as a ghost.
A formerly common piece of clothing that Dracula would sport was a cape, as it signified nobility and wealth.
Over time, the Vampire has been modernized, but the themes of seduction remain, tracing all the way back to the roots of Lord Byron and John Polidori.
It is there that Poet, Lord George Gordon Byron was fantasizing about undead being who traveled to nearby towns to feed their thirst for human blood. It was his therapist, John Polidori, who upon hearing about these thoughts, decided to translate them onto paper. In 1819 he published The Vampyre, the first english version of the creature published in a novel. In it, he featured a character by the name of Lord Strongmore, a seductive man who lures attractive women into his home only to feast on their blood.
Another strong influence behind the name Dracula tie to 15th Century Romanian Prince Vlad Dracula, AKA Vlad the Impaler. He was a blood thirsty ruler who tortured innocents.
Surprisingly, an even more gruesome inspiration to vampires come from a separate royal family.
In Hungary, Elizabeth Bathory was a countess who would come to be known as one of the first vampires in history. She believed drinking and bathing in the blood of young girls would keep her looking youthful. Her beliefs led the countesses on a bloody rampage, which resulted in the deaths of over 650 young women. Her brutality knew no bounds, as she would slice, prod, burn, and beat her victims while they remained alive in order to collect their blood.
Around the 1800's-1900's, the widow's peak was looked down on as a recessive trait and associated as a sinister look. This helped enhance the symbolism into Dracula's appearance on film.
The paleness of skin is attributed to the sensitivity vampires have to light, as they stay inside all day, yet it also gives overtones of another supernatural being, such as a ghost.
A formerly common piece of clothing that Dracula would sport was a cape, as it signified nobility and wealth.
Over time, the Vampire has been modernized, but the themes of seduction remain, tracing all the way back to the roots of Lord Byron and John Polidori.
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