Incredible facts
According to the Daily Mail, Bulgarian archaeologists have recently discovered the remains of two men. It is noteworthy that iron bars were hammered into the chest of the skeletons. This led archaeologists to believe that the bones found belonged to “vampires”. It is known that in ancient times, people who were considered to be these creatures were dealt with in this way. Driving an aspen stake or iron bars was the norm when burying a vampire. It was believed that this was the only way to save people.
This interesting discovery was made near the city of Sozopol, located in the south-east of the country. Experts have determined the age of the remains found. Skeletons are about 800 years old. Bozhidar Dimitrov, head of the Bulgarian National Historical Museum, said that bodies with a stake in their chest prove events that took place until the beginning of the last century. Killing “vampires” was a common activity in Bulgarian villages. People really believed that they existed and took various measures to get rid of them.
According to pagan beliefs, people who sinned too much during their lifetime, and their sins were especially serious, could become vampires after death. To prevent this from happening, just before burial, an iron rod or a wooden stake was stuck in their chest, and a special prayer was read out to expel evil spirits from the body of the deceased. The priest would prepare a special sermon for the day of burial if it became known that the deceased was a vampire.
According to Dimitrov, in recent years, archaeologists have discovered more than a hundred bodies with colas in their breasts. According to Bulgaria's chief archaeologist, this quite common find has become so popular because of the mystery of the word “vampire”. Moreover, the “vampire” theme and the theme of ghouls are on everyone's lips thanks to various films and programs.
The Bulgarian historian argues that aristocrats and priests, in general, those who were considered to be the top of society, often became “vampires”. Dimitrov says that it is very interesting that there are no women among those buried. The remains belong exclusively to men.
This proves that villagers weren't afraid of witches. Only vampires were the danger. Experts find it difficult to answer why this is so. After all, there were previously assumptions that witches were burned at the stake, no less often than vampires were expelled. Like banishing evil spirits, burning a witch also became a ritual.
Earlier, TV channels reported that last month scientists at an Italian research center discovered the remains of a woman who was not completely buried in present-day Venice usually: she had a rock in her mouth. Experts have suggested that in this way superstitious residents of villages and some cities wanted to prevent the “vampire” from devouring the bodies of victims of a dangerous disease after death. Recall that in the 16th century, a terrible plague epidemic hit the city, which took thousands of lives.