A vampire hunting kit complete with stakes, crosses and “holy water” has been found in a violin case.
The kits were popular among budding vampire slayers in the first half of the 20th century.
They included heart piercing stakes, nails, exorcism accessories, and other items used for combating the forces of darkness.
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One such extermination pack was found in a violin case.
The eerie collection has been on display at the Museum of Forensic Medicine at Wroclaw Medical University, Poland, since earlier this month.
Vampire-related paraphernalia became increasingly popular in Europe after the publication of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ in 1897.
A second wave of popularity occurred in the 1950s, largely due to the development of horror filmmaking.
The majority of anti-vampire kits, made from pre-war artefacts, originate from this period.
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The kit on display was produced in Poland in the 1950s.
Museum spokesperson Dr. Jędrzej Siuta said: “Peak interest in vampire folklore occurred between 1900 and 1920, and again in the 1950s – although the vampire theme is experiencing yet another revival in contemporary cinema.
“Portable anti-vampire kits were particularly popular at the time.
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“They were sold in suitcases, chests, or – as in our case – violin cases, allowing easy transport and rapid action wherever a body was located.
“Most of these items were produced in Germany.
“The set acquired for our museum, however, is of Polish origin and therefore unique.
“While the vast majority of such kits were never used in practice, what matters most to us is that its contents perfectly capture the spirit of the era and reflect the most widespread folk beliefs about beings thought to feed on human blood after death.”
The set includes a collection of crosses, a prayer book, a candlestick, silver-plated knives, a mirror, wooden stakes with metal tips used to pierce the heart or skull, and nails likely intended to secure coffin lids.
There are also two bottles, one for holy water and the other with the residue of an unspecified liquid, which museum experts intend to examine.
A medallion found in the case also requires scientific analysis, as reported by What’s The Jam.
The kit also contains deer antlers as the animal once symbolised the forces of good.
Dr. Siuta said: “Silver was commonly used in the fight against vampires, as folk belief held that evil forces feared it.
“Interestingly, this has a kind of medical justification due to silver’s antibacterial properties.
“Vampires were blamed for spreading plagues, and when a particular household escaped an epidemic, people searched for explanations.
“Silver objects and garlic, which acts like a natural antibiotic – were thought to offer protection.”
Unusual events following a person’s death, such as epidemics or mass livestock deaths, were sometimes interpreted as proof of vampirism.
Graves were reopened and a ‘professional’ was called in.
“Sometimes, opening the grave revealed what was considered irrefutable evidence of vampirism: a lack of decomposition,” said Dr Siuta.
“In reality, this can occur under specific natural conditions, entirely unrelated to supernatural forces.
“All of these phenomena have scientific explanations.”
He added: “Our set, which has enriched the collections of the Forensic Medicine Museum at the Medical University of Warsaw, will serve as a starting point for stories about ancient folk beliefs, vampire burials, and other topics related to forensic medicine.
“It will also be the subject of scientific research as it holds many secrets.”
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