The History of Dream Interpretation: From Ancient Cultures to Modern Psychology

"Now Allah has created the dream not only as a means of guidance and instruction, I refer to the dream, but he has made it a window on the World of the Unseen." - Mohammed, the Prophet

Dreams in Ancient Cultures

For millennia, ancient art and literature have referenced dreams, attributing them with supernatural or prophetic significance across various spiritual traditions. The Bible, for example, regards dreams as divine messages, a belief shared by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, who also recognized the healing powers of dreams. In these societies, dreams played a crucial role in communication with the divine.

Dreaming and Collective Memory

Many cultures, including the Australian Aborigines, African tribes, and Native American peoples, view dreams as a way to tap into the collective spirit memory. In these societies, dream sharing and interpretation are integral, helping individuals connect with ancestral wisdom. The Inuit of Hudson Bay in Canada believe that the soul embarks on a journey during sleep, highlighting a unique spiritual perspective on dreaming.

The Egyptian System of Dream Interpretation

The ancient Egyptians developed one of the earliest known systems of contrary dream interpretation, where positive dreams foretold misfortune, and nightmares signaled improvement in waking life. Their dream dictionary, the Chester Beatty Papyrus, dating back approximately 4,000 years, remains one of the earliest records of dream interpretation and is preserved in the British Museum.

Greek Contributions to Dream Theory

The ancient Greeks were pioneers in proposing that dreams were not external divine messages but internal communications. Plato suggested that dreams manifested hidden desires, while Aristotle theorized that dreams were not divine oracles but coincidences with common themes. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, believed that dream symbols reflected the dreamer’s physical state and could serve as diagnostic tools for health.

Artemidorus: The First Dream Researcher

Artemidorus, a Roman from Greek Asia Minor (AD 138-180), was one of the first dedicated dream researchers. He wrote a book on dream interpretation, still in print today. Artemidorus emphasized that while dream symbols had predefined meanings, their personal significance to the dreamer and their circumstances was paramount.

Christian Views on Dreams in Europe

In much of early Christian Europe, dreams were revered for their spiritual significance. However, the Roman Catholic Church’s influence stifled most dream interpretation efforts. By the fifteenth century, dreams were dismissed as insignificant, a view echoed by Shakespeare, who referred to them as “children of the idle brain.” This perspective persisted into the eighteenth century, where dreams were largely considered meaningless.

The Revival of Dream Interpretation in the Nineteenth Century

The early nineteenth century saw the decline of the Church’s influence and the rise of the German Romantic movement, which rediscovered the potential of dreams as tools for spontaneous expression. This revival led to the publication of popular dream dictionaries, such as Raphael’s Royal Book of Dreams (1830), paving the way for the groundbreaking work of Freud and Jung, whose theories continue to shape modern dream interpretation.