Mykonos, Greece’s most famous island, is well-known for its luxurious amenities, party atmosphere, and the Hollywood celebrities who visit the island each year. However, little is known about the vampire who haunted the island. According to Greek folklore, there was a ferocious vampire, known as “Vrykolakas” in Greek, that terrorized the residents of the Greek island of Mykonos in the 18th century. The Greek vampire is an undead, fearsome creature that becomes more powerful the longer it is allowed to feed. Belief in the Vrykolakas was widespread in Greece, particularly in rural regions, up until the mid-twentieth century, but many still believe in the creature to this day. Both the term “Vrykolakas” and the figure itself likely come from neighboring Slavic countries, where vampire legends are widespread and are featured prominently in folklore. The Slavic word “varkolak” is the root of many terms for vampire-like figures throughout Eastern Europe and the Balkans; actually meaning “werewolf,” it came to represent vampires in most Slavic countries… (READ MORE)

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