Kisilova, a village near Gradisch (present-day Grocka, Serbia), was the site of an alleged vampire case in the 18th century. Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d’Argens, a French philosopher and writer, recounted the story in his Lettres juives (Jewish Letters). According to the account, a villager returned from the dead to torment his son and other villagers. Authorities investigated, exhumed the body, and found it to be consistent with contemporary descriptions of vampires. They drove a stake through the heart and burned the body. This case, though its veracity is debated, contributed to the spread of vampire beliefs in Europe.
Kisilova, Site of a Vampire Case
Creature Types: Undead
Mythological/Cultural Origins: Slavic
Roles/Functions in Lore: Source of Vampire Activity
Literary Sources/Traditions: Renaissance Literature
Historical/Legendary Time Periods: Other
Attributes/Powers: Vampirism
Alignments/Moral Standings: Malevolent
