2006-06-20 10:41:08 · 5 answers · asked by Mike R 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
That's a very debatable question. Astrology dates back as far as the ancient Babylonians, while there is evidence of fertility amulets and charms as far back as the bronze age. there are well-documented spells and charms from the Greek and Roman empires, including enchantresses named in the Homeric epics.
Divination has roots in ancient Norse tradition with the runes, and the Greeks and Romans used to use sacrificial animal intestines to tell the future as well as prophets they believed had divine knowledge, just as the Jews did.
However, witchcraft as it is commonly known now is a combination of these older sources and the myths and rumours created by the Catholic church during the Inquisition and even before.
2006-06-20 19:01:06 · answer #1 · answered by Aingeal 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It depends what you perceive witchcraft as. Old style shamanism, healing with herbs and calling upon ghosts and other "pagan" and "witchy" practices were practiced by Native Americans for thousands of years when they lived remotely and practiced their own faiths.
2006-06-20 17:44:56 · answer #2 · answered by Maggie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you read the Odyssey (Homer), you will read about Circe, who was a witch. The date of creation of The Odyssey is not clear, but it was probably around 800 BC.
2006-06-22 02:38:58 · answer #3 · answered by Dr Mom 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i would assume the middle ages, with all the talk of witch craft, and wizards during that time. prob before then though.
2006-06-20 18:26:48 · answer #4 · answered by Rebecca K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it goes as far back as biblical times its mentioned in the bible
2006-06-20 18:30:19 · answer #5 · answered by longhunter17692002 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋