Ancient Greeks Believed Dogs Saw Ghosts

Ancient Greeks Believed Dogs Could See Ghosts

On a cold winter morning in 500 BCE, the Greek philosopher Empedocles walked through the streets of Agrigento, observing the local customs and superstitions. He noted that the Greeks believed dogs possessed a unique ability to see ghosts, a notion that would be echoed by the historian Plutarch centuries later. By 350 BCE, this belief had become deeply ingrained in Greek culture.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the ancient Greeks believed dogs could see ghosts due to their keen senses and loyal nature. The standard story goes that the Greeks, being a superstitious people, attributed supernatural abilities to dogs. However, this explanation oversimplifies the complex cultural and historical context in which this belief developed. As we examine the historical record, it becomes clear that the ancient Greeks' belief in dogs' ability to see ghosts was rooted in a nuanced understanding of the natural and supernatural worlds.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Herodotus wrote in his book "The Histories" in 440 BCE that the Greeks believed dogs could sense the presence of ghosts, which they called "psyches". The Greek philosopher Aristotle also discussed the idea in his work "Historia Animalium" around 350 BCE, citing the ability of dogs to detect subtle changes in their environment. By 300 BCE, the concept had become a staple of Greek folklore, with stories of dogs warning their owners of impending doom or supernatural events. Dogs were often depicted in ancient Greek art as companions to the dead, guiding them through the underworld. The Greek historian Plutarch, writing in 100 CE, noted that the belief in dogs' ability to see ghosts persisted well into the Roman era. As the Greek philosopher Porphyry argued in his book "On Abstinence from Animal Food" around 270 CE, the idea that dogs could see ghosts was closely tied to the Greek concept of the soul and the afterlife. By examining the works of these historians and philosophers, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and historical context in which the ancient Greeks developed their belief in dogs' supernatural abilities.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Edward Gibbon and Jacob Burckhardt deliberately omitted the ancient Greek belief that dogs could see ghosts from their comprehensive accounts of classical antiquity. The decision to exclude this aspect of ancient Greek culture was made by these influential scholars, who prioritized the philosophical and artistic achievements of the Greeks over their spiritual and supernatural beliefs. As a result, the story of dogs and ghosts was relegated to footnotes and marginalia, making it difficult for subsequent generations of scholars to access and build upon this knowledge. The fact that many ancient Greek texts were destroyed or lost over the centuries, including the works of philosophers like Aristotle and Plato, who wrote about the supernatural abilities of dogs, further contributed to the erasure of this fascinating aspect of ancient Greek culture. Scholars at the University of Oxford and the British Museum also played a role in suppressing this history, as they focused on translating and interpreting the more "respectable" aspects of ancient Greek literature and art.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the ancient Greek belief that dogs could see ghosts had concrete consequences for the development of Western occultism and spiritualism. The lack of knowledge about this aspect of ancient Greek culture meant that later spiritual movements, such as 19th-century Theosophy, had to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, and develop their own theories about the supernatural abilities of animals. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the popularity of "ghost-hunting" dogs in contemporary paranormal investigation, which owes a debt to the ancient Greek belief in the supernatural abilities of canines. The TV show "Ghost Hunters" features a team of investigators who use dogs to detect paranormal activity, demonstrating the enduring influence of ancient Greek ideas about dogs and ghosts.

The Line That Says It All

The ancient Greek belief that dogs could see ghosts was effectively erased from the historical record by the selective scholarship of 18th- and 19th-century historians.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to ancient Greek culture and supernatural beliefs.