Atlas Obscura posted a short article about Greece’s “Vrykolakonisia,” or vampire islands, located off the coast of Skyros.
At first I was upset that I’d never heard about these islands. Then I was upset that the “vampires” who were allegedly abandoned on the islands to die of exposure were supposedly plague victims.
I know Ancient Greece has a bit of a reputation for coldhearted treatment of the sick and weak–most infamously the story about Spartans throwing “ill-born” infants off a cliff (for which there’s no actual evidence), but abandoning suffering people to die horribly seems far-fetched.
There’s no evidence for this, either, beyond local stories. Apparently a “…1918 account says that the citizens of the nearby Skyros heard howls and screams coming from the islet, believing that the dead from the plague buried there many years ago had risen.”
Or it could have been the wind, which seems a lot more likely.
Do you know of any other places (besides Transylvania) connected with vampires? Share in the comments…
You can read my post about lesser-known vampires, including the Vrykolakas here.
Want more vampires? Don’t forget to download my books!
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Bleeding Heart is also available in paperback at Amazon. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Love Lies Bleeding‘s readers know that main character Mara is both a vampire and a botanist. Trained when she was still human, she continues to study plants and have a garden. This post is sixteenth in a series exploring Mara’s plants. Are you interested in botany, gardening, or plant lore? So are some vampires…
Please note: Medicinal uses are given for informational purposes only. Always consult a medical professional before diagnosing or treating yourself or anyone else.
Common Names: Dragon blood tree, Socotra dragon tree, Dragon tree, ribbon plant, Dam al–Akhawain, cinnabar (not to be confused with the toxic mineral of the same name),
History: The national tree of Yemen, it’s native to the Socotra archipelago. It earned its name because it “bleeds” dark red sap when cut. This resin was once thought to be actual dragon’s blood and was used in magic and alchemy. It was also used medicinally by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs, for everything from healing wounds, treating diarrhea, lowering fevers, and treating ulcers. Due to increasing development and other human activities in its habitat, as well as climate change, dragon blood tree is listed as a Vulnerable species. Fortunately the entire area, and the tree specifically, are the focus of conservation efforts.
Victorian Language of Flowers Meaning: Inner power
Cultivation: (Seeds and plants available to gardeners are usually Dracaena draco, but are very similar to D. cinnabarri.) Zones 9 to 12. Can be grown outdoors or as a houseplant (note: it is toxic to pets, especially cats). Full sun to part shade (indoor plants need 10 hours of bright but indirect light). Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil (a cactus or succulent soil will work well). Saplings needs to be nurtured with regular watering and protection from hungry animals. Don’t let the plants sit in water because they’re prone to root rot (but don’t let them get too dry, either). Indoor plants benefit from having a humidifier nearby, especially in winter. Use slow release fertilizer every six months. The trees are very slow growing–only about 2.65 cm (1 inch) every five years, taking decades to mature. Once it matures it will flower and begin taking its umbrella shape. A dragon tree grown outdoors will grow to 4.5 to 15 metres (15 to 50 feet). Indoor trees tend to stay around a metre (3 to 4 feet) tall. Can be propagated by cuttings or seeds.
Uses:
Medicinal: The resin has antimicrobial properties and has been used medicinally since ancient times. It’s used as a stimulant and breath freshener. The residents of Socotra use it as a heal all. The root produces a “gum-resin” that is used as a stimulant and for rheumatism. The root resin is also used as a mouthwash. The leaves are used to prevent/treat gas.
Caution: While Dragon’s Blood is generally regarded as safe, there isn’t enough data to be completely sure. Do not give to children or pets. Anyone pregnant or breastfeeding should consult their doctor before using Dragon’s Blood (generally good advice for everyone).
Crafts: The resin has been used a varnish for violins since the 18th century. It’s also used as a pottery glue and glaze and in photoengraving. Historically it was used as a paint pigment, but it was eventually discontinued for that purpose. The flames over the Apostles’ heads in “Pentecost” by Giotto di Bondone are thought to have been painted with dragon’s blood.
Dye: The resin is used to dye wool and colour cosmetics.
Incense and perfumes: The resin has a spicy vanilla-like scent that’s said to have a calming effect.
Wildlife: The dragon blood tree produces berries that are eaten by birds and some other animals (who then disperse the seeds). Like the tree itself, the berries produce red resin.
Environmental: The dragon’s blood tree helps support dozens of other plant and animal species, from geckos and snakes to flowering plants, making it what’s known as an “Umbrella Species.” One of the biggest benefits of the tree to the local environment is its ability to pull moisture from the air and direct it down into the soil.
Mara’s Uses: The resin would be a key ingredient in her experimental plant-based blood substitute.
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
I thought I’d take a minute between Bloganuary posts to get back to vampires. This article originally appeared on Atlas Obscura…
When thinking of the origins of Vampire literature in the Western world, chances are you think of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This chef-d’oeuvre has defined the genre ever since it was published more than a hundred years ago.
But years before Stoker was obsessively researching for his book, another vampire story was written in Ireland. Carmilla, a novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, could be called the original vampire novel of modern Europe. [Read more…]
Have you read Carmilla? What did you think of it? Share in the comments…
Read about another female vampire–download my books!
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop (Bleeding Heart is coming soon). A portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Note: This is a repost. Please check out Vampire’s Garden to see more posts on plants.
Love Lies Bleeding‘s readers know that main character Mara is both a vampire and a botanist. Trained when she was still human, she continues to study plants and have a garden. This post is second in a series exploring Mara’s plants. Are you interested in botany, gardening, or plant lore? So are some vampires…
Please note: Medicinal uses are given for informational purposes only. Always consult a medical professional before diagnosing or treating yourself or anyone else.
Latin Name:Symphytum officinale
Common Names: Boneset, Bruisewort, Knitbone, Slippery Root
History: Native to Europe and parts of Asia, comfrey has a long history (at least 2000 years) in healing. It has been used to treat coughs and lung ailments, stop excessive bleeding, treat stomach problems, and to ease joint pain and inflammation. Its most common use, however, has been to heal wounds, bruises, and broken bones; in fact, almost every name (in all languages) for comfrey refer to knitting or mending bones or healing cuts and contusions. “Comfrey” comes from a Latin word meaning “to grow together,” and the botanical name “Symphytum” comes from the Greek, meaning plant that knits bones together. It was once also used as food for both people and animals.
Caution: Comfrey has been found to be toxic to the liver when taken internally in large amounts. It’s generally safe to use externally, but is best avoided by pregnant and nursing women, infants, and by people with liver, kidney, or vascular disease. It’s also toxic to animals, so be sure not to let them eat it.
Victorian Language of Flowers Meaning: Home sweet home
Cultivation: Perennial in zones 4 to 9. Easy to grow from seed, comfrey prefers full to part sun and rich, well-drained soil. It’s quite adaptable and can survive less-than-ideal conditions, including drought. Sow early indoors or outside as soon as soil can be worked. Sow just below surface of soil and tamp down–keep seeds moist (not wet). Sow seeds or seedlings with 2 feet (60 cm) of space around them as the plants get fairly large. Once plants are established in a spot they can live for decades and be difficult to remove, so take care when selecting a site. Comfrey is generally non-invasive, although it can self sow.
Uses: Comfrey is still used externally to treat inflammation, joint pain, and closed wounds and bruises. You can crush fresh leaves to make a poultice, apply fresh leaves to the affected area, use a salve, or apply oil that has had comfrey steeped in it. Treat poison ivy blisters by rubbing a fresh leaf on them. You can also use the chopped roots to make salves, ointments, and oils (or use a combination of leaves and roots). Leaves are best used before the plant blooms; roots are best harvested in late autumn or early winter.
In the garden, nitrogen- and potassium-rich comfrey leaves are used as fertilizer, in compost, and as mulch. Avoid using stems as they can take root and spread the plant where you don’t want it. You can also make a compost tea with the chopped leaves by steeping them in water for several weeks and then straining and diluting the resulting dark liquid 12:1 before applying to the garden.
Mara’s Uses: She makes a poultice of comfrey leaves to help speed up healing of a particularly bad injury. Comfrey would be one of the herbs used to make salves and oils for her apothecary business.
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Note: For my readers who don’t know, I’ve written a series of posts called “Vampire’s Garden” about plants and their history and uses. This is the first post in the series, about Love Lies Bleeding, the plant that gave my book its title. Let me know what you think, and feel free to suggest plants for future posts…
If you’ve read Love Lies Bleeding, you’ll know that main character Mara is both a vampire and a botanist. Trained when she was still human, she continues to study plants and have a garden. This post will be the first in a series exploring Mara’s plants. Are you interested in botany, gardening, or plant lore? So are some vampires…
Please note: Medicinal uses are given for historical interest only. Always consult a medical professional before diagnosing or treating yourself or anyone else.
Latin name:Amaranthus caudatus
Common names: Love-Lies-Bleeding, Pendant Amaranth, Tassel Flower, Velvet Flower, Foxtail Amaranth
History: Native to South America, this and other varieties of Amaranthus were grown for their edible, protein-rich seeds. The Aztecs also used it in religious ceremonies, which led to the Spanish conquerors making its cultivation a capital offense (they still never managed to wipe it out). Some varieties were used to make a red dye, and betacyanins, which give Amaranthus their red colour, are still used to produce non-toxic food dyes. Medicinally, it has been used to treat swelling, ulcers, and diarrhea.
Victorian Language of Flowers Meaning: hopeless love or hopelessness
Cultivation: Annual. Easy to grow from seed, Love-Lies-Bleeding prefers full sun and is both drought and moisture tolerant. It grows to be 3 to 8 feet (1 to 2.5 metres) tall. Seeds can be started indoors and transplanted outside after the last frost (start in April to transplant in May). Sow or thin to 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm). Can self sow but generally isn’t weedy.
Uses: Ornamental, cut flowers, edible (seeds and leaves). You might be familiar with amaranth, a gluten-free “grain” made from the seeds, which can also be ground into flour.
Wildlife: Birds love the seeds–leave plants in the garden over winter for the birds.
Mara’s Uses: Following the Doctrine of Signatures, Mara considers Love-Lies-Bleeding to be a potential ingredient in her theoretical blood substitute.
Bonus: Mara’s full name is Amarantha, which shares a root and meaning with Amaranthus: “unwilting” or “unfading.”
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Aspasía S. Bissas 