tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321339472666778123.post3348820090028388394..comments2024-02-03T13:09:38.313+00:00Comments on Mirabilis - Year of Wonders: Drinkers of vein-wineLeo Hartashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14417174942647091006noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321339472666778123.post-73649880895395304752010-11-03T10:30:26.347+00:002010-11-03T10:30:26.347+00:00Despite Bill Maxwell calling them Irish, as far as...Despite Bill Maxwell calling them Irish, as far as I can tell the baobhan sith is the Scottish version of the banshee (bean sidhe) which actually *is* Irish. In English folklore they're usually called White Women. A death harbinger by any other name...Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321339472666778123.post-5911602346698792852010-11-03T01:33:45.261+00:002010-11-03T01:33:45.261+00:00The Baobhan Sith? I think such a creature was feat...The Baobhan Sith? I think such a creature was featured in FF#38, Vault of the Vampire (Keith Martin). Interesting . . .asdasdsdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03818360109511670073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321339472666778123.post-83485178644978815802010-11-02T00:01:03.281+00:002010-11-02T00:01:03.281+00:00There's another variant on that, Sandy - this ...There's another variant on that, Sandy - this by Bill Maxwell writing on LinkedIn about a Native American vampire. The taboo is that a woman must not work when menstruating, and if she breaks the taboo she gets cursed. "She acquires a taste for blood," Bill wrote, "that forces her to sample her own blood, then nibble on her flesh, then devour herself until all that is left is a severed head, which then rolls after others trying to drink their blood." So that's nice.<br /><br />On a possibly lighter note, Bill added: " Want to know the fun ones though? Go for the Irish 'faeries'. The Baobhan Sith would dance you near to death and then feed on you."<br /><br />Don't go having any nightmares tonight, now :)Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321339472666778123.post-5714117932583853832010-11-01T01:45:18.358+00:002010-11-01T01:45:18.358+00:00Thanks for this, it was fascinating. I always enjo...Thanks for this, it was fascinating. I always enjoy learning about how different cultures approach a similar idea. <br /><br />I love the idea of the Opir, and their deformed offspring hunting them down - there's a great story in there. However I think the image of the floating disembodied head is the one that will stick with me the most after reading this. Quite disturbing!Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00599376696122828129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321339472666778123.post-27251411606908252822010-10-31T23:33:47.806+00:002010-10-31T23:33:47.806+00:00You're right, Hamza, I should have said *pre*-...You're right, Hamza, I should have said *pre*-Islamic vampires of Arabia. Though it seems that in modern folklore, those creatures are repelled by the piety of Islamic scholars just as European vampires are subject to the power of Christianity.<br /><br />I hadn't heard of the Brahmarakshas. I'm just embarking on an intensive study of Indian folklore as the next chapters of Mirabilis will see Jack travelling to the subcontinent. Can you suggest some books I should be looking at?<br /><br />The rokuro-kubi also share similarities with the penanggalan, though that again could just be coincidental. I do like the idea of malevolent heads flying about at night, so I'll work one or another of these critters into Mirabilis for sure!Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7321339472666778123.post-73783366125626243302010-10-31T02:03:47.976+00:002010-10-31T02:03:47.976+00:00Dave,
You mention Islamic vampires - but nowhere ...Dave,<br /><br />You mention Islamic vampires - but nowhere in any Islamic text have I found mention of them. Did you mean Arabian vampires (such creatures do exist in Arabian folklore)?<br /><br />Incidentally, have you heard of the Indian vampire Brahmarakshas? They are vaguely similar to the Japanese Rokuro-kubi. I suppose it's possible that legends from different parts of Asia influenced each other, although the similarities may be purely coincidental.asdasdsdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03818360109511670073noreply@blogger.com