Lamia

Lamia was, in ancient Greek and Roman mythology, a hideous creature who kidnapped and murdered children. She was originally a beautiful woman who was loved by the Greek god Zeus. A jealous Hera snatched away her children and turned her into the creature that she became.

The name 'Lamia' was gradually used to categorise a type of child-snatching daemon that ate the flesh of its victims. In modern mythology, the lamia is a type of female vampire.