What is the Greek equivalent of a revenant, often associated with vampiric lore?

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Prepare for UCF ANT3026 Mummies, Zombies, and Vampires: Anthropology of the Undead Exam 2. Practice with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and detailed explanations. Excel in your test!

The Greek equivalent of a revenant, often associated with vampiric lore, is the Vrykolakas. This figure is rooted in folklore and is characterized as a being that returns from the dead to haunt or torment the living. The Vrykolakas typically embodies characteristics associated with both the undead and the vampiric, such as blood-sucking tendencies and a connection to the grave.

The lore surrounding the Vrykolakas often involves themes of curses and improper burials, linking it to societal fears surrounding death and the afterlife. This supernatural entity plays a significant role in the traditional beliefs of the Greek people regarding death, the afterlife, and the repercussions of one’s actions in life.

Other options do not fit this description. For instance, witches, while often tied to dark magic and folklore, do not specifically represent the undead or revenants. Similarly, "vampir" may seem related but does not have the same cultural specificity or historical context as the Vrykolakas in Greek folklore. The term zombie typically refers to a different concept related to reanimated corpses without the vampiric associations present in the idea of a revenant. Therefore, the Vrykolakas stands out as the correct answer due to its