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- May 15, 2021
- 2 min read
By Sam Hirschhorn
Have you ever woken up from a crazy dream and wondered what it meant? People have been asking this question since the ancient times. To this day, there exist many different theories about the meaning of dreams, ranging from dreams symbolizing your innermost, subconscious thoughts to dreams not meaning anything at all. One civilization that placed a large emphasis on dreams was Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians believed that their dreams were messages from the gods. What do you think about this theory?
The history of dreams in Ancient Egyptian society can be traced back to their creation of the first written account of dreams. In 1350 BC, Ancient Egyptian writers crafted the Chester Beatty Papyrus, the oldest dream book in the world. The Ancient Egyptians filled dream books like Chester Beatty with images describing what dreams meant. By reading these books, we have learned that some of the most common dreams in Ancient Egypt contained images of smashing stones, losing teeth and drowning in the Nile. All of these dreams seem pretty scary, but they did not necessarily have negative implications.
The Ancient Egyptians loved puns, so dream interpretations were frequently based on word meanings. If someone had a dream about eating donkey, for example, this symbolized good luck. This meaning was derived from the fact that the words for “donkey” and “great” had the same spelling and pronunciation despite their very different meanings.
While this particular interpretation might sound silly, dreams were an extremely important aspect of Ancient Egyptian society. The messages were so important to Ancient Egyptians that various gods had dream temples devoted to their individual dream interpretation. In fact, people in Ancient Egypt would often sleep in temples to be closer to the gods! Eventually, however, this trend became so popular that the temples became overcrowded and the priests were forced to put a halt to it. In place of sleeping in the temples, Ancient Egyptians began to report their dreams to oracles. Oracles were priests who specialized in reading dreams and communicating information from the gods to the dreamer.
The Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic, which means that they believed in many gods. Each Egyptian god and goddess had his or her own duty. The Egyptian god in charge of dreams was Bes. Tutu, another god important to dreaming, was responsible for protecting the Egyptians from bad dreams.
In addition to messages from the gods, Ancient Egyptians also believed that dreams could predict the future. A nightmare, for example, was believed to foreshadow that something bad was to happen soon. Don’t worry, though, because modern research suggests that nightmares do not predict bad events. Actually, some bad dreams might even represent positive changes in life, so don’t be too scared by the next nightmare you have!
The Ancient Egyptian focus on dream interpretation represents a unique aspect of their culture. Although their interpretation was closely tied to their religion, the concept of symbols within dreams have been studied and interpreted in fields such as psychology and neuroscience. Next time you have a dream and are wondering what it might mean, keep what you have learned about Ancient Egyptian dream interpretation in mind!
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As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the study of dream interpretation and the cultural significance of dreams, let me draw upon my extensive knowledge to shed light on the intriguing article titled "UnEarthed," written by Sam Hirschhorn.
The article delves into the age-old question of the meaning behind dreams, exploring various theories and highlighting the emphasis that Ancient Egyptian society placed on dreams. Drawing from my expertise, I can affirm that dreams have captivated human curiosity since ancient times, with interpretations ranging from reflections of subconscious thoughts to dismissals of any inherent meaning.
What makes this article particularly fascinating is its exploration of Ancient Egyptian beliefs about dreams. The author mentions the Chester Beatty Papyrus, crafted in 1350 BC, as the oldest dream book in the world. This is a crucial historical reference that attests to the profound significance the Ancient Egyptians attributed to dreams. The dream books, filled with symbolic images and interpretations, provide invaluable insights into the common dreams of the time, such as smashing stones, losing teeth, and drowning in the Nile.
Furthermore, the article highlights the unique approach the Ancient Egyptians took to dream interpretation. Their love for puns influenced the meanings attributed to dreams. For instance, the interpretation of eating donkey symbolizing good luck due to the similarity in spelling and pronunciation with the word for "great" showcases the intricate layers of meaning woven into their interpretations.
The article also touches upon the importance of dreams in Ancient Egyptian society, leading to the establishment of dream temples dedicated to individual gods and goddesses. People would sleep in these temples to be closer to the divine, underscoring the profound connection between dreams and spirituality.
The polytheistic nature of Ancient Egyptian beliefs is elucidated, with specific mention of gods like Bes and Tutu, who played key roles in dream-related matters. The idea that nightmares could predict the future adds another layer to the multifaceted nature of dream interpretation in Ancient Egypt.
The shift from sleeping in temples to reporting dreams to oracles is a crucial historical detail, signaling the evolving practices within Ancient Egyptian culture. Oracles, specialized priests, became intermediaries between the dreamer and the gods, further emphasizing the societal importance attributed to dreams.
The article concludes with a connection between Ancient Egyptian dream interpretation and modern perspectives on dreams. It notes that while the Egyptians believed nightmares could foreshadow negative events, contemporary research suggests a more nuanced view. Bad dreams may not necessarily predict negativity; instead, they might signify positive changes in life, a valuable insight for readers grappling with the meaning of their own dreams.
In essence, "UnEarthed" offers a comprehensive exploration of the historical, cultural, and psychological dimensions of dreams, weaving together insights from Ancient Egyptian beliefs and contemporary research. It serves as a captivating resource for anyone intrigued by the enigmatic realm of dreams and their diverse interpretations.
