Unearthing History: The World’s Oldest Ghost Drawing
In a remarkable discovery, the British Museum has unveiled what is believed to be the world’s earliest known drawing of a ghost. This ancient artifact, hidden away in the museum’s vaults, offers a fascinating glimpse into our ancestors’ beliefs about the afterlife and the supernatural.
A Ghostly Love Story Etched in Clay
The drawing, etched onto a Babylonian clay tablet approximately 3,500 years ago, depicts a poignant scene:
- A male ghost, his hands bound by rope
- A woman leading the spirit, pulling the rope
- The tablet suggests a lonely bearded spirit being guided to eternal bliss by a lover
Exorcism and Ancient Rituals
The reverse side of the tablet provides intriguing insights into ancient exorcism practices:
- Instructions for dealing with persistent ghosts
- Directions for creating figurines of a man and woman
- A ceremony designed to send spirits happily to the underworld
The Detective Work of Dr. Irving Finkel
Dr. Irving Finkel, curator of the Middle East section at the British Museum, played a crucial role in this discovery:
- He noticed the tablet had been incorrectly interpreted previously
- The ghost image only becomes visible when viewed from above under proper lighting
- Dr. Finkel describes it as an “absolutely spectacular object from antiquity”
A Glimpse into Ancient Magic
This tablet likely belonged to an exorcist’s library or a temple, offering a rare window into the magical practices and beliefs of ancient Babylonian culture.
As we continue to uncover and decipher such artifacts, we gain invaluable insights into how our ancestors viewed the world beyond death, and the enduring human desire to understand and connect with the afterlife.
