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Mongolia: A chotgor or vampire-like creature painted on the ceiling of the Choijin Lama Temple, Ulan Bator, c. 1904-1908

Mongolia: A <i>chotgor</i> or vampire-like creature painted on the ceiling of the Choijin Lama Temple, Ulan Bator, c. 1904-1908

Chotgor are a general class of Mongolian demon, ghost, evil spirit or goblin, but among the Buryat Mongols they have taken on a vampiric aspect, feeding on livestock, and eventually human flesh. They resemble people who 'have been interred in the grave', have long nails, dishevelled hair, and eyes that are either missing or glow red.

They are around 20 cm high and between 4 and 15 cm high, and tend to hide in closets, cupboards, milking pails, and hats. They raid pantries at night, consume a family’s herd animals, and 'once a household’s livestock runs out, the imps go after human meat'.

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