Demons drinking human blood - Strzyga
Added 2025-01-18 18:03:16 +0000 UTCEveryone feared the night, as darkness concealed all the demons that lay in wait for lonely people. One such demon was the Strzyga, also known as the Wąpierz, Upiór, or the living dead. This demon was particularly dangerous because it would bite and suck the blood from humans and livestock.
Even while alive, it was possible to recognize who would return as a Strzyga after death. These were people with red faces and two hearts or two souls, of which only one would die. Those suspected of vampirism had a mad look in their eyes and a mocking smile. Their bodies would not stiffen after death, and their eyes would not close even under the weight of coins. It was even believed that Strzygi were born with a full set of teeth.
There were many ways to prevent the dead from returning to life. Some of the most common methods included piercing the hearts of suspected vampires with an aspen or iron stake, placing a piece of iron in their mouths, burying the deceased face down, or cutting off their heads and placing them at their feet. Sometimes sharp objects were placed in graves to wound the deceased before they could rise from the grave.
Beliefs in the Upiór still persist in some villages. This is where the custom of burying the body at least three days after death originated (to ensure the person does not wake up), as well as leaving water for the soul on the third day after the burial, so it could wash itself one last time.
I did a few Vampire inspired photoshoots but which one is your favourite photo that illustrate Strzyga the best?
Love, Erinthul.
Comments
Happy you like it ☺️
Erinthul
2025-09-01 19:36:10 +0000 UTCThe colors though ❤️
Searchin
2025-09-01 19:31:48 +0000 UTCI am really happy you like it!
Erinthul
2025-01-22 19:59:47 +0000 UTCThis series is so epic and original
Sun Sachs
2025-01-22 17:27:47 +0000 UTCThank you so much for your kind words. I would love to create a book when I finish this series. I really appreciate your input !
Erinthul
2025-01-20 10:58:41 +0000 UTCThank you :)
Erinthul
2025-01-20 10:57:23 +0000 UTCThank you so much. I really appreciate that!
Erinthul
2025-01-20 10:57:17 +0000 UTCThank you kindly!
Erinthul
2025-01-20 10:57:05 +0000 UTCThank you kindly for your feedback! I love them as well
Erinthul
2025-01-20 10:56:57 +0000 UTC2,6,8 were the most perfect
Steven Niehaus
2025-01-18 20:59:55 +0000 UTCAmazing work
MovieFanobi
2025-01-18 19:15:54 +0000 UTCAlways a great storytelling that you do.
Jerbil Konai
2025-01-18 18:57:06 +0000 UTCBeautiful❣️
Magnus Börjesson
2025-01-18 18:21:55 +0000 UTCI love the color you did for your eyes in the first picture, and the expression / pose in the fifth picture. The expression to me feels like dangerous hunger, so I think it’s perfect for this subject. But for the overall package I still love the looking back with the bloody footprints. There’s a lot of storytelling in that shot that I feel matches the legends perfectly. Honestly I’m really hoping to have a book of all of these someday. The folklore is so interesting and I feel like your art really brings it to life.
Shane R Smith
2025-01-18 18:10:21 +0000 UTC
