> The vampire in myth is always thought of as Count Dracula. Male, with fangs, and a suave manner. However, in different cultures around the world, the legend and the form of the vampire is as different as night and day. > And it was not often in the form of a bat. It was as different as different ethnic groups and countries have representations of them in myths in their culture. > For instance, in some Ancient Greek myths, the vampire is often a woman who has died, and is named Lamai/lamiai. She is a vampiric woman, being half woman, half serpent, and also lives in caves, where she gets sustenance from drinking the blood of children. > However, she also isn't picky, sometimes she also transforms into a very beautiful maiden and seduces young men, for their blood, which she drinks. > And the vampire itself is not sometimes a woman. In Africa, among members of the Ashanti tribe in Ghana, the vampire is known as an Asasabonsam. > It was described as a humanoid monster, living in a forest, and was very rarely seen. It was also very dangerous, living in the forest, and was very rarely seen. > It also happened to possess iron teeth, and survived by catching and destroying unwary passers-by by letting its hook shaped feet dangle from the treetops where it was sitting, and catching them with them. > The vampire also did not necessarily live in a castle as well. In Malaysia the vampire creature itself was called a Maneden and it lived in a wild panadus plant. If a human attacked the plant, the creature, angry and retaliative, would strike by attaching itself to a man's elbow, (or a womans nipple), where it sucked the person's blood untill that person gave it a substitution item, such as a nut. > The vampire legend was not unknown or lost to ancient Meso-American cultures, such as the Maya and Aztec. The vampire of the Maya, known as Camazotz, was a full fledged god, and was central for the Maya agriculture, but was not respected. > Instead he was feared for his blood drinking tendencies, and very fearsome appearance, which included large teeth and claws. He also dwelled in caves, where he would attack people, his victims, for their blood as well. > Among the Aztec people, the Cihuateteo was a vampire as well. This demi god and vampiric woman was often depicted like her kin in other parts of the world killing and surviving on the blood of infants. > However, they also share some characteristics with the vampires of the west. They are said to meet at crossroads, and also to wander at night. They also can't stand the sunlight, as it will kill them. > And among the gypses there are vampire myths as well. The gypsy vampire is reffered to as a mullo one who is dead. This vampire is believed to return, do malicious things, and suck the blood of a person. > It was often a relative that caused their death, or didn't observe burial ceremonies. They also would be attacked if they kept the deceased's possessions instead of destroying them. > Female vampires were not to be kept in the coffin sometimes. > They could return, lead a normal life, and also marry, but they would exhaust their husband. > Among the Gypsies,if there was anyone who was missing a finger, had a hideous appearance, or even had animal appendages, etc. they were thought of being vampires. > And there were cases in history where there were persons who were like vampires. Elizabeth Bathory was born in the year 1560. She was from a family that had lands throughout Transylvania, and was also one of the most powerful families in the country after she was married to a very powerful count. > After sometime, she started to kill young girls in her area, so that she could preserve her youth and beauty by bathing in their blood. The rumored number that had been killed was 600. > She however could not have done this alone at all. She and her cohorts were found, tried, and all but her were killed in various ways. She was sealed alive in a chamber and could only get food and water through a slot in the door. She died there as well. > The vampire itself in myths sometimes didnt even require the sustenance of people. In Japan, the vampires called Kappas would dwell in water. They also attacked livestock such as cows and horses, dragging them into the water, and devouring them. So you see, even if the culture is somewhat different than the western one, there are myths that pertain to the Vampire in different cultures. > And the vampire can be as different in one form, as well as another. Which may be rather odd, but the myths themselves are as different, as night and day. And are also very unique as well too.