Akasha - the former Queen of the Damned

Akasha

Place of origin
Uruk, Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq)
Fledglings
Enkil, Khayman
Books she appears in
The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned

Character description
'Her skin was hard and white and opaque as it had always been. Her cheek shone like pearl as she smiled, her dark eyes moist and enlivened as the flesh around them puckered ever so slightly. They positively glistened with vitality.'
'With our queen there has always been a purpose. She could not do the smallest thing without a grand purpose.'
(The Queen of the Damned)

Here are some interesting Akasha pictures from the Innovation graphic novels. Please click on the thumbnails for the full size image.

I found an interesting web site which explains the meaning behind names. I was shocked to discover they have most of the vampire's names there! It may not be an accurate meaning but why not look anyway, if only for fun.
Click here for the meaning of the name Akasha.

height=224 width=168 src="Akasha_drawing1.jpg" border=0 >

This is a drawing of Akasha made by my friend Christina.

- My opinion of Akasha -
I know that some people think Akasha was not evil just misunderstood. I have a different opinion. I am not saying she was totally evil - she was much more complicated than that but I dislike the way she wouldn't listen to anyone. She didn't give a damn about the twins or the pain she put them through. That's why I don't like her. You are entitled to your own opinion of course. Here is a scene which illustrates my point.
'Understand it was not a shallowness we perceived in this woman. It was a youthful belief that she could make the light shine if she tried; and it was also a lack of interest in the pain of others. She knew other people felt pain but well, she could not really dwell on it.'
(The Queen of the Damned)
Do you recall the scene when she meets Khayman in Athens? Interesting...
'Suddenly, in a great withering flash he felt the full force of her undisguised power. The heat struck him in the chest and he felt himself staggering backwards.
Ye gods, you will kill me too! But she could not hear his thoughts! He was knocked against the whitewashed wall. A fierce pain collected in his head.'
(The Queen of the Damned)
Oh yes one fact - Akasha ws not Egyptian. Please note her place of origin. I just wanted to get the facts right...

- Status of Akasha in the film The Queen of the Damned -
The R&B singer Aaliyah will play Akasha in the film. I have several actresses in mind for Akasha, unfortunately Aaliyah wasn't one of them. I am mainly concerned because I do not know if she can act or not. This is only her second film after all. Well we shall see....visit the news section for more information.

I found this picture in a magazine years ago and for reason it reminds me of Akasha. Perhaps during the scene at the end of the Queen of the Damned when she is pleading with Lestat and the others to join her and she realises they will not. It could also be in the scene where the rebel vampires who Khayman made rise up against her and Enkil and imprison them. There is a picture of this scene from the graphic novel below, please click on it for a larger version.

If you like Akasha vote for her and then visit

Akasha Unofficial Home Page
Although I admire the webmaster of this site for being original and creating some great pictures of Akasha, I feel I must comment. He states that Akasha was 'the coolest of the cool' and that the twins should have kept their mouths shut. Let's just say I disagree...
Akasha's Vamp Haven
This site is not really about Akasha, it is more generally about vampires. However she does appear in it.
The First Brood
Excellent, well made site with pages on the five most ancient vampires.

Photo sources - qotd movie site, the celeb base, innovation comics, Jonathan's bar