Strigoi
Also known as: Romanian Vampire, Strigoi Viu, Strigoi Mort
The original Romanian undead predates Dracula by centuries and is still feared enough that corpses are occasionally exhumed and staked in rural villages.
Ancient oral tradition, written accounts from 1600s
Romania, particularly rural Wallachia and Transylvania
Human-sized
Predatory, targets family members
Active folklore tradition, rituals still performed
The Lore
The Strigoi is a central figure in Romanian folklore, distinct from the literary vampire. There are two types: the strigoi viu, a living person cursed with vampiric tendencies, and the strigoi mort, a corpse that has risen from the grave. Strigoi are said to drain the life force of family members and livestock. As recently as 2004, villagers in Marotinu de Sus exhumed a body, removed the heart, burned it, and drank the ashes mixed with water. Romanian belief in the strigoi remains remarkably persistent.
Body Type
Folklore Origin
Notable Witnesses
- Villagers of Marotinu de Sus (2004 exhumation)
Media Appearances
- The Strain (TV series inspiration)
- Strigoi (2009 film)
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