DREAM LORE

BABYLONIANS :

The Babylonians divided dreams into two catagories.

They believed good dreams were sent by the Gods. Bad dreams were sent by Demons.

Their Goddess of dreams was Mamu.

ASSYRIANS :

The Assyrians belived in dreams as omens.

For example, if a person flied in their dreams it indicated all would be lost.

Egyptians :

The Egyptians believed that the Gods showed themselves in dreams.

The Egyptians believed dreams were based on real things. The recording of dreams in Egypt may be traced back to 2000 B.C. were the Egyptians wrote these dreams on paprus.

They belived there were three main types of dreams.

Those that happened as a result of ritual. Dreams that contained warnings. Dreams were the Gods were demanding some type of action.

GREEKS :

When a person was sick a Priest would interpret the dream and then give advice on healing.

They belived dreams were sent by the Gods. The Gods also sent prophecies to those who slept at shrines.

The Greeks thought that the people in their dreams lived near the underworld.

ROMANS : The Romans had strong views on dreams. They belived dreams were messages from the Gods.

Emporer Augustus ruled that anyone who had a dream about the state must proclaim it in the market place.

HEBREWS :

Hebrews believed their dreams were the voice of only one God.

However bad dreams were the work of Demons.

The Hebrews incubated dreams in order to recieve divine revelation.

HINDUS

The time when a prophetic dream occureed indicated when the event will take place.

JAPANESE :

The Emporers palace contained a dream hall with an incubation bed. Japanese Emporers also incubated their dreams at a Shinto Temple at Usa on the southern island of Kyusha.

MUSLIMS :

In Mohammeds sacred book a distinction is made between true dreams from God and false dreams. Rituals were used to create good dreams. Later on dream interpretation became associated with astrology.

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS :

Many Indian tribes believed that dreams revealed the hidden wishes of the soul.