Vârcolac

The Vârcolac is a Romanian wolf monster believed to combine aspects of both vampire and werewolf. Vârcolaci cause lunar eclipses by leaping into the sky and devouring the moon, and can sometimes attack the sun as well.

They appear as wolves or dogs, often in pairs. A vârcolac may also take human form, but can be recognised by its pale skin, which is as dry as tinder. Some say they are the souls of suicides or unbaptised children; others, that they are created out of thin air when witches spin yarn at night, the thread itself acting as a pathway to the sky.

When the moon turns red during an eclipse, it means a vârcolac has bitten it. In Romanian villages, peasants would bang pots and pans, ring church bells, and fire rifles into the air to scare the creatures away from the moon.

The illustration is from the book The Undead.

This poster is available in three sizes — 30×40 cm / 12×16″, 50×70 cm / 20×28″, and 70×100 cm / 28×40″. Printed on semi-glossy, 170 gsm (65 lb) paper, FSC-certified or equivalent for sustainability.