DID WE ALWAYS DREAM?

The Historical Significance of Dream Interpretation: From Ancient Times to Modern Day

Dream interpretation has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations. While we cannot definitively prove how early humans viewed dreams, we know that by the Roman era, dreams were considered important enough to be submitted to the Senate for analysis.

Ancient Dream Interpretations

Dream interpretations date back to 3000-4000 B.C., when they were documented on clay tablets. People in primal societies often saw no distinction between the dream world and reality. They believed that the dream realm was an even more powerful world.

In Greek and Roman times, dreams were often seen in a religious context, considered messages from the gods. Temples, known as Asclepieions, were built around the power of dreams. The sick believed that they could receive cures through their dreams if they slept in these temples.

In Egypt, priests acted as dream interpreters. Egyptians recorded their dreams in hieroglyphics, and individuals with significant dreams were believed to be blessed. Dream interpreters were highly respected and considered divinely gifted.

Dreams in Religion and Prophecy

Dreams were seen as prophetic and often believed to be omens from outside spirits. People would look to their dreams for warnings, advice from deities, or guidance from ancestors or the dead. This belief extended to military and political leaders, who relied on dream interpreters during significant events such as battles.

In the Bible, there are over seven hundred references to dreams, further emphasizing their importance in ancient cultures.

Dreaming as a Spiritual Journey

For many cultures, dreams represented a spiritual journey. In China, it was believed that the soul leaves the body during sleep to visit the dream world. Some Native American tribes and Mexican civilizations held similar beliefs, considering dreams a connection to ancestors, who often took on non-human forms like plants. Dreams were seen as a way to communicate with ancestors and uncover one’s life mission or role.

Middle Ages: Dreams as Evil Temptations

During the Middle Ages, dreams were often viewed as evil temptations from the devil. It was believed that in a vulnerable sleep state, the devil would fill the mind with poisonous thoughts and mislead humans down a sinful path.

Dreams in the 19th Century and Freud's Contributions

In the early 19th century, dreams were often dismissed as mere responses to anxiety, household noises, or indigestion. However, later in the century, Sigmund Freud revolutionized the study of dreams. He emphasized their significance and introduced a method of interpreting dreams to uncover hidden emotions and desires.

^[1]