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The '''Lamia''' is a [[Vampire|vampiric]] [[demon]] appearing in half-human, half-animal forms. Lamias drink the blood of their victims, who are usually children. | |||
==Description== | |||
Lamias are exclusively female vampires or childbirth vampiric demons. They are described as having the upper body of a woman, but lower lower limbs, often depicted as snakes. Lamias are nocturnal and prey on innocent children, drinking their blood and eating their flesh. | |||
===Etymology=== | |||
Greek, ''Lamia'': "female vampire," "swallower, lecher," (from ''laimos'': "throat, gullet".) | |||
The word was used in early translations of the [[Bible]] for screech owls and sea monsters. | |||
===History=== | |||
The Lamia is a multi-cultural mythological creature. | |||
#In Greek mythology she was the mortal lover of the god [[Zeus]]. When his wife [[Hera]] found out she made her so insane that she ate all of her offspring. When Lamia understood what she had done, she became a furious monster and swore to kill the children of others. | |||
#[[:Category:Roman mythology|Roman mythology]] had its own version of Lamia, known as the [[Strix]] | |||
#[[Lamme]] was a destroyer deity in Assyrian and Babylonian [[folklore]]. After her [[Lamiae]], monstrous childbirth demons, were named. | |||
===Weaknesses=== | |||
Lamias can be attacked and killed with normal weapons. | |||
==External links== | |||
*[http://vampires.monstrous.com/universal_vampire.htm Monstrous Vampires] | |||
==References== | |||
*Guiley, Rosemary E. ''The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters'' (2004,Checkmark Books) ISBN 0-816-04684-0 | |||
[[Category:Vampires]] [[Category:Angels and demons]] | |||
Revision as of 09:37, 29 August 2006
The Lamia is a vampiric demon appearing in half-human, half-animal forms. Lamias drink the blood of their victims, who are usually children.
Description
Lamias are exclusively female vampires or childbirth vampiric demons. They are described as having the upper body of a woman, but lower lower limbs, often depicted as snakes. Lamias are nocturnal and prey on innocent children, drinking their blood and eating their flesh.
Etymology
Greek, Lamia: "female vampire," "swallower, lecher," (from laimos: "throat, gullet".) The word was used in early translations of the Bible for screech owls and sea monsters.
History
The Lamia is a multi-cultural mythological creature.
- In Greek mythology she was the mortal lover of the god Zeus. When his wife Hera found out she made her so insane that she ate all of her offspring. When Lamia understood what she had done, she became a furious monster and swore to kill the children of others.
- Roman mythology had its own version of Lamia, known as the Strix
- Lamme was a destroyer deity in Assyrian and Babylonian folklore. After her Lamiae, monstrous childbirth demons, were named.
Weaknesses
Lamias can be attacked and killed with normal weapons.
External links
References
- Guiley, Rosemary E. The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters (2004,Checkmark Books) ISBN 0-816-04684-0