THE VAMPIRES IN THE ALBANIAN FOLKLORE

The purpose of this paper is to briefly define the phenomenon of the folklore vampire in the Balkans, to offer an etymological explanation of the name itself, but above all to focus on the existence of this demon in the Albanian folk tradition. Namely, the several forms in which he is found will be considered, in relation to all aspects that are built or arise from his character: the iconography and the ability to metamorphose; the time, the space and the way of action; the apotropaic means, that is, the way of dealing by the community and the role of the vampire hunter.