The word antediluvian literally means “before the flood”. Outside of religious or historical contexts, it is primarily used in fantasy lore (most notably Vampire: The Masquerade) to describe the legendary, original vampires who survived the Great Deluge. [1, 2, 3]

On By Surfman374

What the Word Means

  • Literally: Derived from Latin (ante- meaning “before” and diluvium meaning “deluge”), it historically refers to any time period or living thing before the great biblical flood of Noah’s Ark. Generally, it is just a dramatic or humorous way to describe something incredibly old. [1, 2]
  • In Vampire Lore: In roleplaying games like Vampire: The Masquerade, the “Antediluvians” are the god-like, 3rd-generation vampires. They are the original founders of the 13 vampire clans who are rumored to have survived the biblical flood. [1, 2, 3]

Do they have “original blood”?

Yes, in the context of vampire mythology. Because they are only two generations removed from the very first vampire (Caine), their blood (or vitae) is considered the purest and most potent source of vampiric power. Every younger vampire is a descendant of these original 13 survivors, meaning their blood carries a diluted form of the Antediluvians’ power. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Would you like to explore the origins of the original 13 clans, or are you looking for the usage of the word in a different context?

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