Strigoi

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In Romanian mythology, strigoi (same form singular or plural) are the evil souls of the dead rising from the tombs (or living) that transform into an animal or phantomatic apparition during the night to haunt the countryside, troubling whoever it encounters. A strigoaică (singular feminine form) is a witch. Strigoi are also known as "moroi" in some parts, especially rural areas. They are close relatives of the werewolves known as "pricolici" or "vârcolaci", the latest also meaning "goblin" at times.

These names are derived from strigă, which in Romanian meant "witch" or "barn owl", cognate with Italian strega, which means "witch", and descended from the Latin word strix, for a shrieking vampiric bird. Strigoi viu (plural: Strigoi vii) is a living vampiric witch. Strigoi mort (plural: Strigoi morţi) is a dead (undead) vampire. They are most often associated with vampires or zombies. According to Romanian mythology a strigoi has ginger hair, blue eyes and two hearts.

By Slovenian and Istrian mythology a "štriga" is most likely a woman but there are exceptions when she is a male. One of the ways for ending her powers is to expose her to public after witnessing her powers. Folklore superstitions also says she can't be killed unless killed while she is feasting on the life force of the prey. We can find this word also in Slovak as striga, whose meaning is witch.

[edit] References in popular culture:

The latest edition of the Warhammer Fantasy Battle game gives the name Strigoi to a bloodline of monstrous vampires, similar to Count Orlok.
Underground adventure game, Ben Jordan: Case 3 features a Strigoi who goes by the name of Zortherus
The term is used to describe vampires in general in the book series "The Hunt" by Susan Sizemore.
The term is used in a song from the black metal band Dark Funeral the song is called "Ravenna Strigoi Mortii" and is on the album Vobiscum Satanas.
The Strigoi play a central role in Graham Masterton's 2006 book, The Descendant.
The Strigoi play a central role in Dan Simmon's 1992 book, Children of the Night.
A group of strigoi appeared in the episode "Bite Father, Bite Son" of American Dragon: Jake Long.
In the Dracula (2000) movie, Count Dracula calls his wolf pet by the names of "strigoi" and "moroi".
One of the villains in the 30 Days of Night (2007) film is listed as "Strigoi" in the end credits.
Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series features Strigoi as villains.
The videogame Ace Combat 6 features an enemy squadron called "Strigon", which insignia & paintscheme contains death motifs.
The 2007 Video Game The Witcher based on the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, features a vampyric female creature known as a striga.
A Strigoi appears in "Philologos; or, A Murder in Bistritia" by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald in the February, 2008 Fantasy and Science Fiction
1999 The Strigoi are the featured enemy in the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys episode "Darkness Visible".