Traits Added to Vampire Mythology, Ranked Best to Worst
List Rules Vote up the best traits that have been added into vampire mythology, and down vote those that are just plain stupid.
Vampire legends have been passed around since people first learned to draw in caves. From Babylonian descriptions of Lilith's baby-eating descendants to Roman accounts of Hecate's man-drinking daughter, vampire tales spread around the world. As communication improved and people learned stories from other areas, regional vampire traits were combined and the semi-modern vampire was born.
In the nineteenth century, vampires were hunted almost as frequently as witches, and Europe was in a panic. Writers began elaborating on the legends and selling classic stories like Varney the Vampire and Carmilla. Then Bram Stoker wrote Dracula and the world never stopped wanting more.
The traits added to vampire mythology by Bram Stoker became the canon staples of vampire lore. Vampires became known as shadowless, reflectionless creatures synonymous with immortality, super strength, blood drinking, mind control, shapeshifting, and above all else, danger. Superstitious readers armed themselves with garlic, religious icons, and thresholds that could not be crossed without an invitation. Still, vampires were believable enough for the world to be scared.
Countless writers, actors, and directors put their own spins on classic literature and folklore, but most tried to keep the canonical vampire traits intact - except for the ones who didn't. With modern fiction like Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga, the creatures keep evolving. Some vampire traits are well-liked and others are seen as the dumbest traits in vampire mythology. Entertainment is subjective, so one person's fictional trash is another one's treasure.
Which traits added to vampire mythology are your favorites and which are just plain stupid? Vote up the vampire traits you love and vote down the ones you hate. And as always, if you have more to add, sound off in the comments section to rant, rave, or just talk about vampire traits you hate to love or love to hate!
In The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, vampires can compel people to do their bidding. It's a simple process, really. Vampires make eye contact, dilate their pupils, and tell people what to do. Then people obey without realizing anything happened, unless they have vervain (a TVD vampire repellent) in their systems, in which case they just wonder about the awkward eye contact.
Of course, vampires can just take people hostage until the vervain wears off if they really need to compel someone. Oh, and Original vampires can compel other vampires, too. Sometimes witches can help break the compulsion, but - never mind. It's not simple at all.
