The tombstones of Giles Corey, Elizabeth Howe, Rebecca Nurse, and Sarah Good.
What caused the Salem Witch Trials?
In January of 1692, in the village of Salem, Massachusetts, nine year-old and eleven year-old cousins Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams started to behave strangely, so their parents consulted a doctor, William Griggs, who said the girls were being tortured by witches, or bewitched. It was a capital crime to be a witch punishable by hang in New England. The New English villagers found out about it, and since they were Christians, and witches are supposed to be followers of the devil, they got scared and thought that witches were in the community. Betty and Abigail then started to accuse random people of being witches. Other children got into the act and started accusing people of being witches too.
History of Witches: Short Timeline
560 B.C.E.: The Bible condemns witches (Exodus 22:18: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live; Leviticus 20:27: A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them)
The Bible
The Bible
420 C.E.: Saint Augustine argues that witchcraft is impossible. He argued that only God, and
God alone can suspend the laws of the universe.
Saint Augustine
God alone can suspend the laws of the universe.
Saint Augustine
1208: Satan becomes sinister following Pope Innocent III's attack on Cathar heretics. He believed in a world where God and Satan, both having supernatural powers, were at war.
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
1275: The first "witch" is burned to death in Toulouse, France. Her name was Hugues de Baniol and she confessed to having given birth to a monster after having intercourse with an evil spirit and to having nourished it with babies' flesh which she procured in her nocturnal expeditions.
Hugues de Baniol
Hugues de Baniol
1300-30: Witch trials begin in Europe. Accused "witches" were hanged, burned, pressed, drowned, and more. But during the Salem Witch Trials, only the hanging and pressing methods were used.
Witches being Hanged
Witches being Hanged
What are Witches?
Witches, or wizards, as male witches are called, are people who practice witchcraft, or a form of magic. Many people say witches are worshippers of the devil and do his biddings, so people are scared of them, especially Christians.
Does Witchcraft Exist?
Witchcraft is a total mystery to many. Today, several well-educated scientists are starting to believe in the existence of witches. In fact, some are even starting to study about their spiritual powers and
mysteries. But many people say witchcraft is just illusion, myth, and folklore.
mysteries. But many people say witchcraft is just illusion, myth, and folklore.