Pricolici: Vampire or a Werewolf

Pricolici is a vampire and a werewolf in Rome. This creature is closely related to varcolac. Nonetheless, varcolac seems to be more associated with goblins unlike pricolici who has a strong characteristic of a werewolf.

 

Pricolici: A Werewolf Who Has a Characteristic 

of a Vampire

Werewolf |Wikimedia Commons

Pricolici are undead creatures who rise up from their grave to torment the people just like the strigoi. However, compared to strigoi who usually maintains its human appearance, the creature takes the form of a ravenous wolf. People who have lived a life of sin are likely to become a pricolici as a curse. This story seems to be popular in Europe. There are a lot of stories about a sinner who returned from their grave.

The Romanian Folklore

In other Romanian legends, they are known to be werewolves when they are alive. Once they die, they will transform into a vampire. This is supposedly where the idea of a vampire taking the form of other animals originated. Pricolici as a vampire can take the form of a wolf, owl, cat or bats. It seems like this creature only takes the image of those nocturnal species.

The belief on this creature is still alive up to this day. There was an account in some areas on Romania claiming that they have been attack by a vicious and large wolf. The attacks came unnoticed and only target certain types of people. The targets who managed to survive on the said attack claimed that they were attacked by a Pricolici and not just the usual wolf. They claimed that the creatures went back to the land of the living to continue their life of sin.

How to Determine a Pricolici

A corpse which is believed to be a Pricolici can only be determined upon the exhumation of his corpse. Apparently the corpse should be facing down and there should also be some blood presence on their lips. The blood of the corpse should be fed to those people who were believed to be attacked by the vampire to regain their health. Like the Doppelsauger, an infant who thumb sucked would have a chance of being this creature if he dies.

Rare Magical Being

Pricolici is known as a rare mysterious being. They are known to be a Dhampir that was infected by Lycanthropy. They are Dhampir that were bitten by the werewolf. This is surprising since vampire won’t be able to survive when they are infected with Lycanthropy. Fortunately, Dhapmir has enough resistance to handle it. If they survive it, they will go through transformation that is more painful compared to the normal werewolf.

Pricolici is a term use to separate them from the average werewolf. They are faster and stronger than the standard type. There are also stories that they can retain their sanity even after transforming.