Vampires have haunted human imagination for centuries. But where did the myth begin? The earliest vampire legends trace back to Slavic and Balkan folklore, particularly in Bulgaria and Serbia.

In these early tales, vampires were not suave aristocrats but bloated, ruddy corpses. They were believed to rise from the grave to spread disease and terror. The word “vampire” likely comes from the Slavic term vampir, meaning “ghost monster” or “devil.” These creatures were blamed for plagues and unexplained deaths in villages. Locals would exhume bodies, stake them, or burn them to stop the curse.

The myth spread westward through the Holy Roman Empire. By the 18th century, vampire hysteria reached Austria and Germany. This led to the first documented vampire trials and exhumations. In 1819, John Polidori’s The Vampyre introduced the modern vampire archetype: elegant, seductive, and deadly. Bram Stoker’s Dracula later cemented this image in 1897.

The vampire myth reflects humanity’s fear of death, disease, and the unknown. From ancient graves to modern pop culture, the legend continues to evolve. But its roots lie in the dark soil of forgotten villages, where the first vampire was born in whispers and fear.