Through the ages, the vampire has stalked from the shadows of folklore to the spotlight of pop culture and has cast an irresistible spell on audiences worldwide. Cloaked in mystery and danger, vampires embody the delicate dance between life and death, seduction and horror. Their tales are interwoven in time through ancient Slavic villages, where fearful whispers spoke of bloodthirsty phantoms, to the candle-lit chambers of Victorian Europe, where aristocratic fiends preyed on the unsuspecting.
These undead legends evolved with each passing century, transforming from spectral menaces into complex figures that reflect humanity’s deepest fears and desires, and have even become beloved Halloween costumes. But where does the myth actually come from? Click through this gallery to find out.