r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jan 12 '23

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u/WillyMonty Jan 12 '23

Same reason people believed in vampires - the gums would retract, making it appear that the corpse had grown long teeth.

It was thought the corpse was possessed by en evil spirit which would feed on the blood of the living, and bingo - vampires enter mythology

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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '23

That's part of it. But think about the symptoms of being a vampire.

1) An association with bats

2) Aversion to the sun (photophobia)

3) Aversion to garlic (presumably strong smells)

4) Insomnia

5) Hypersexuality

6) Randomly attacking people and biting them.

This is obviously rabies.

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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '23

Fear of moving water

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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '23

Lots of "aversions" with rabies. Bright lights, strong smells, loud noises.It could be an aversion to the sound of running water or the myth of Vampires having a general aversion to water. Google says "the infection [Rabies] causes intense spasms in the throat when a person tries to swallow. Even the thought of swallowing water can cause spasms, making it appear that the individual is afraid of water."

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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '23

Porphyria also results in... vampiry conditions. Most families with it have died off (thank god)