From Egypt to Atlantis: How Vampires Explain Their Origins

Vampires are creatures of folklore. So why do some writers feel the need to create their own origin stories for how the first vampires came to be? Do we really need to know, especially if it involves reptilian creatures that live in long-lost, technologically-advanced cities (no names)? Are they tying themselves in knots trying to answer a chicken–egg question nobody asked? In this episode, Rebecca, Hannah, and very special guest Jay Martin explore the gamut of vampire mythologies, from the slightly-more-sensical origins in magic and religion to those that appropriate real-world cultures and give them a vampiric spin. They encounter #1 frenemy of the pod, Lord Byron; shout out monster-f*ckers everywhere; try to unpack Anne Rice’s most questionable choices; and travel from the cradle of civilization to Virginia, USA, as fast as Damon Salvatore in a sports car.Come vamps, join us around the campfire.Content warnings: mention of suicide in fictionMajor Spoilers:* Ganja & Hess, directed by Bill Gunn, 1973* The Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice, 1988* My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due, 1997* Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis by Anne Rice, 2016Other media mentioned in this episode:Fiction* “The Vampyre” by John William Polidori, 1819* Dracula by Bram Stoker, 1897* The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas, 1980* Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice, 1995* Pandora by Anne Rice, 1998* Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz, 2006* Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith, 2010* Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout, 2020- (series)* Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma, 2024* Argeneau by Lynsay Sands, 2003-2025 (series)Poetry* “The Bride of Corinth” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1797* “The Giaour: Fragment of a Turkish Tale” by Lord Byron, 1813Film* The Hunger, directed by Tony Scott, 1983* Vampire in Brooklyn, directed by Wes Craven, 1995* From Dusk till Dawn, directed by Robert Rodriguez, 1996* Dracula 2000, directed by Patrick Lussier, 2000* Atlantis: The Lost Empire, directed Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, 2001* Queen of the Damned, directed by Michael Rymer, 2002* Dark Shadows, directed by Tim Burton, 2012* Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, directed by Timue Bekmambetov, 2012* Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, directed by Spike Lee, 2014* Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers, 2024* Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, 2025TV* Dark Shadows, 1966-1971* Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 1997-2003* True Blood, 2008-2014* The Vampire Diaries, 2009-2027* The Originals, 2013-2018* From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, 2014-2016* What We Do in the Shadows, 2019-2024* First Kill, 2022* Interview with the Vampire, 2022-* Dimension 20: City Council of Darkness, 2026Games* Vampire: The Masquerade, 1991Liked this episode? You’ll also like…Schools & RulesAn Episode of Fangs & FateUnholy Communion: Vampires and the ChurchWant more vampire content in all your feeds?Check out our Pinterest @vampirecampfirepod to capture the aesthetic of this episode.Follow us @vampirecampfirepod on Instagram and TikTok for podcast updates & vampire memes.Find us on Letterboxd and Goodreads for a peek at what we’re consuming next.Consider becoming a paid member of our Substack to get bonus episodes — available now!This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Rebecca Glazer & Hannah SpiegelmanNote: We’re an affiliate of Bookshop.org and earn a small commission if you purchase through our links — allowing you to support indie bookstores and an indie podcast at the same time! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit vampirecampfirepod.substack.com/subscribe