Broucolaque, Ancient

(BROW-co-look)

Variations: Broncolakas, Broucolaca, Broucolacchi, Broucolacco, Broucolokas, Broucoloques, Broukolakes, Brukulaco, Brukolak, Burcolakas, Drakaena, Drakos, Mulo, TIMPANITA, Tumpaniaïoi, VRYKOLAKA

The stories of ancient Greece are a place alive with heroes and the tales of their adventures (see GREEK VAMPIRES). When a hero or brigand is so intent on staying alive, they will return as a vampiric REVENANT called a broucolaque. Condemned to wander the world as an undead being, this bloodthirsty creature is gluttonous in its blood-drinking needs and revels in its atrocities (see UNDEATH). For hundreds of years this belief was held as a steadfast truth. In fact, it was so ingrained in Greek society that even the Catholic Church did not try to dissuade its belief, but rather added onto the mythology. The Church promised protection to its followers if they made offerings to the Church and paid to have masses said for the broucolaque on the anniversary of his death. Over the centuries the broucolaque changed and evolved in order to remain culturally comprehensible to the people who feared it.

Source: Guiley, Complete Vampire Companion, 55; Masters, Natural History of the Vampire, 169; Stewart, Romantic Movement, 137; Voltaire, Philosophical Dictionary, 560­61