When are the earliest ghost sightings you know of?

Question

What I really want to know is if anyone knows of any reports of ghost sightings before the 19th Century.

Answer 1

As someone pointed out, the ancient authors wrote about ghosts. Pliny has a good story of a house he bought in Athens. No one else would buy it because of the ghost, so he got it cheap. One night, while he was working, he heard chains and saw the ghost, which gestured for him to follow it. The ghost took him outside and disappeared in a certain spot. The next day, Pliny got someone to dig it up, and they found the bones of someone who hadn't received a proper burial. He buried the bones, and enjoyed his inexpensive house.

Also, "Mostellaria," one of the plays by a Roman named Plautus is a comedy that involves a clever slave pretending like a house is haunted in order to keep people out of it.

Plato, Pliny, and Petronius also wrote about werewolves, so clearly this kind of thing goes back a long time.

Answer 2

Mr. Shakespeare's plots involved Ghosts. If it had never been thought of or experienced he would not have used the device.

Plato and Phiny the Younger wrote of apparitions long before our present calendar was devised.

Poltergeists are mentioned in ancient writings throughout the world.

Answer 3

There have been ghosts sightings as long as there have men dying. I can't prove it no, but I know enough about the spirit world to know that just because it was recorded, doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Answer 4

My guess it has been around since the beginning of time, ya think maybe....? Read your archives and I am sure there is some recordings before the 19 th century.,,,,peace and God bless:-)

Answer 5

Since who knows when! They have been here since Shakespeare's plays and earlier!

Answer 6

right after the first person died

Answer 7

The earliest sighting that I know of was by cavemen.. and their drawing on the walls of their cave of what they seen.........................................