Vampires
From Tolkien Gateway
File:Vampire.jpg
Vampire by Liz Danforth
"A vampire shape with pinions vast
screeching leaped from the ground, and passed,
its dark blood dripping on the trees"[1]
Vampires were mysterious bat-like creatures in the service of Morgoth and of Sauron. The only vampire that J.R.R. Tolkien names is Sauron's servant Thuringwethil, but Sauron himself took the form of a vampire on at least one occasion, to flee Huan.[2]
Portrayal in adaptations
- Vampires are described as former Maia patrons of normal bats, but corrupted by Morgoth and transformed into demons appearing as man-sized bats with "the faces of hideous Men or Women", having the ability to change shape.[3] A related creature is also envisioned, the Blood-wight, which is an undead Mannish shapechanger, draining blood from living beings.[4]
External links
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto IX (The defeat of Thû)", line 2820, p. 254
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
- ↑ Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012), p. 91
- ↑ Jeffery McKeage (1989), Dark Mage of Rhudaur (#8013)
