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Vampire lore
It all started here…
The first recorded vampire story in Western literature is “The Vampyre” (1819) by John Polidori—a chilling tale that laid the foundation for the romantic, aristocratic vampire we know today (and heavily influenced Bram Stoker’s Dracula decades later). However, if you want the oldest known vampire tale in history, we have to go way further back to ancient Mesopotamian, Babylonian, and Assyrian mythology.
But first, here’s both for you:
1. The First Literary Vampire Story: The Vampyre by John Polidori (1819)
Backstory
John Polidori was Lord Byron’s physician. In 1816, during the infamous “Year Without a Summer” at Lake Geneva (with Byron, Mary Shelley, and Percy Shelley), a ghost story competition took place. Mary Shelley wrote the draft of Frankenstein, and Polidori wrote The Vampyre—the first modern vampire story.
Full Story Summary (With Details)
The tale centers on a mysterious aristocrat named Lord Ruthven, who is charming, pale, and distant—but has a dangerous, hidden appetite.
The protagonist, Aubrey, is a young English gentleman who meets Lord Ruthven in London. Ruthven quickly becomes the center of high society’s attention with his strange charisma. Aubrey, intrigued, befriends him and accompanies him on a journey through Europe.
During their travels, Aubrey notices odd behavior—Ruthven has no empathy, especially when dealing with the poor or the vulnerable. Aubrey begins to suspect Ruthven is evil. In Greece, Aubrey meets a beautiful, innocent girl named Ianthe, who shares stories of vampires and warns him of the undead.
Tragically, Ianthe is killed, and Aubrey suspects Lord Ruthven, but he cannot prove it. Soon after, Ruthven is mortally wounded by bandits, and on his deathbed, he makes Aubrey swear not to speak of his death for a year and a day.
Aubrey returns to England—only to discover Lord Ruthven alive and well, now going by a different identity. Even worse, Ruthven begins courting Aubrey’s sister, who is unaware of his true nature. Bound by his oath, Aubrey can say nothing.
As the year approaches its end, Aubrey becomes mentally unstable from the pressure and horror of what he knows. The moment the year and a day pass, he tries to warn his sister—but it’s too late. Lord Ruthven has married her and vanishes with her, presumably having killed her.
The story ends with Aubrey’s death, destroyed by guilt and powerlessness, while Ruthven disappears into the shadows, hunting for his next victim.
Legacy
• First aristocratic vampire
• Ruthven inspired Dracula, Lestat, Damon Salvatore, and more
• Introduced the vampire as seductive, wealthy, and coldly manipulative
2. The First Mythological Vampire Story: The Tale of Lilitu / Lilu (Ancient Mesopotamia)
Date: 4000–2000 BCE (older than any written vampire fiction)
Region: Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian mythology
The Vampire Entity: Lilitu / Lamashtu / Lilu
• Lilitu was a female demon who seduced men in their sleep and drank their blood and vitality.
• Her male counterpart, Lilu, attacked women at night and was blamed for seduction, miscarriage, and nocturnal death.
• These spirits were later merged into Lilith in Hebrew lore—believed to be Adam’s first wife, who became a vampiric demon after rebelling against him and God.
Myth Details
Lilitu wandered the earth at night, targeting men, particularly the young, healthy, and virile. She would charm them, ride them in their sleep, drain their life force, and sometimes become pregnant with demon spawn.
She was blamed for:
• Sleep paralysis
• Infertility
• Wet dreams and night terrors
• Death in infants or mothers
Protective amulets were worn by men and pregnant women to guard against her. In early Babylonian texts, these spirits were feared and invoked in necromancy and protection rites.
So, Which Is “The First Vampire Story”?
• Oldest myth: Lilitu and Lilu (Mesopotamia, 2000–4000 BCE)
• First fictional tale: The Vampyre by John Polidori (1819)
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Vampire lore
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