Ghost
The English word ghost emerges from Old English gāst, a term meaning breath, spirit, soul, or ghost. This root traces back to Proto-Germanic gaistaz, which meant spirit or ghost. Linguists reconstruct this form as stemming from pre-Germanic ghois-t-oz, translating to fury or anger. The connection extends to Sanskrit hīd-, meaning to be angry, and Avestan zōižda-, meaning terrible. The common Proto-Indo-European form is posited as g'hoy-s-d-os, a dental suffix derivative of the root g'hey-s-. This root also appears in Proto-Germanic gaistjan, meaning to terrify. In Old Norse, the related form geiski implies fear. The Old English word could denote any good or evil spirit, such as angels and demons. By the 9th century, it was used as a synonym for Latin spīritus, referring to the breath of God or a god. The now-prevailing sense of the soul of a deceased person appearing in visible form only emerged in Middle English during the 14th century.
In pre-literate folk religions, beliefs about ghosts are often summarized under animism and ancestor worship. Some people believe the ghost never leaves Earth until no one remains to remember the one who died. Malignant, restless ghosts are distinguished from benign spirits involved in ancestor worship. Ancestor worship typically involves rites intended to prevent revenants, imagined as starving and envious of the living. Strategies for preventing revenants may include sacrifice, giving food and drink to pacify them, or magical banishment. Ritual feeding of the dead occurs in traditions like the Chinese Ghost Festival or Western All Souls Day. Magical banishment persists in many burial customs. Bodies found in tumuli were ritually bound before burial, such as in graves of the Irish Bronze Age. In rural Anatolia, the jaw is bound up and feet tied together after death. Nineteenth-century anthropologist James Frazer stated souls were seen as creatures within that animated the body. He described this as a little man or animal inside moving the larger being. Sleep or trance was explained by its temporary absence, while death was permanent absence. The soul was sometimes symbolically depicted as a bird or other animal in ancient cultures. It appeared widely held that the soul was an exact reproduction of the body in every feature.
Ancient Mesopotamian religions included many references to ghosts in Sumer, Babylon, and Assyria. Ghosts were thought to be created at time of death, taking on memory and personality. They traveled to the netherworld where they led existence similar to the living. Relatives expected to make offerings of food and drink to ease conditions for these spirits. If not done, ghosts could inflict misfortune and illness. Ancient Egyptian culture held widespread belief in ghosts. The Hebrew Bible contains few references, associating spiritism with forbidden occult activities. King Saul had the Witch of Endor summon the spirit of Samuel in the First Book of Samuel. Over 2,500 years, Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife evolved constantly. Homer's Odyssey and Iliad featured ghosts vanishing as vapor gibbering into earth. By the 5th century BC, Greek ghosts became haunting creatures working to good or evil purposes. Pliny the Younger described the haunting of a house in Athens by Athenodorus around 100 years before his writing. A ghost bound in chains indicated a spot where a shackled skeleton was unearthed. In medieval Europe, ghosts fell into two categories: souls of dead or demons. Souls returned for specific purpose while demonic ghosts existed only to torment. Most reported sightings were male. An apparition recorded from 1211 involved Guilhem, a boy murdered near Avignon during the Albigensian Crusade.
Jewish mythology describes dybbuks as malicious possessing spirits believed to be dislocated soul of dead person. Christianity teaches that some Christians reject intermediate state and hold theological disbelief in ghosts. Some denominations consider ghosts beings tied to earth lingering before journey to heaven. The Seventh-Day Adventist view holds all spirits except Holy Spirit are demons in disguise. Islam defines rūh as immortal essential self or spirit dwelling in barzakh. Only barrier in Quran refers to intermediary world between living and afterlife. Pure souls like saints commonly addressed as rūh while impure seeking revenge often called afarit. Hinduism identifies bhoota as ghost of deceased being usually perturbed due to factor preventing moving on. Violent death or failure to perform proper funerals causes unrest. Buddhism includes realm of hungry ghosts with tiny throat and huge stomach never satisfied. Thai folklore features Krasue, female ghost known as Ap in Khmer. Tibetan culture recognizes ghosts explicitly in Buddhist religion occupying distinct but overlapping world. Polynesian legends show ghosts actively involved in affairs of living causing sickness or invading bodies.
Physician John Ferriar wrote An Essay Towards a Theory of Apparitions in 1813 arguing sightings resulted from optical illusions. French physician Alexandre Jacques François Brière de Boismont published On Hallucinations in 1845 claiming sightings were hallucinations. David Turner suggested ball lightning could cause objects to move erratically. Joe Nickell stated no credible evidence any location inhabited by spirits of dead. Air pressure changes causing doors slam or humidity making boards creak account for ordinary physical explanations. Pareidolia is innate tendency recognizing patterns in random perceptions. Peripheral vision sensitivity may mislead especially late at night when brain tired. Carbon monoxide poisoning speculated since 1921 as possible explanation for haunted houses. Sleep paralysis often reports seeing ghosts during experiences. Neuroscientists Baland Jalal and V.S. Ramachandran proposed neurological theories emphasizing parietal lobe role. Changes in geomagnetic fields created by tectonic stresses could stimulate temporal lobes producing hauntings. Infrasound causes humans experiencing bizarre feelings like anxiety or chills. Research indicates people report unusual experiences in haunted areas due to environmental factors differing across locations.
Igbo people view man simultaneously physical and spiritual entity with spirited dimension eternal. Humr people of southwestern Kordofan consume Umm Nyolokh drink prepared from giraffe liver and bone marrow. This beverage said cause hallucinations of giraffes believed ghosts of giraffes. Scandinavian gjenganger appear corporeal form given away by behavior rather appearance. British folklore notable numerous haunted locations. Bengali culture considers bhoots integral part socio-cultural beliefs Muslim and Hindu communities. Churel mythical spirit woman died pregnancy childbirth demoniacal revenant popular India Bangladesh Nepal Pakistan. Feet turned other way so toes face direction back. Thai folklore includes Phi Tai Hong ghost person died suddenly violent death most feared spirit. Chinese belief nearly 87 percent office workers believe ghosts according poll. Mexican Day of Dead incorporates pre-Columbian beliefs combined Spanish colonist elements. Filipino culture references ancient legendary creatures Manananggal Tiyanak modern urban legends horror films. Polynesian legends show ghosts actively involved affairs living causing sickness invading bodies driven strong medicines.
Homer's Odyssey features journey underworld hero encountering ghosts dead. Shakespeare's The Tragical History of Hamlet Prince Denmark presents shade murdered father demanding investigation murder foul. Renaissance theater depicted ghosts garb living even armor sense antiquity. Sheeted ghost gained ground stage 19th century clanking armor objects ridicule clichéd stage elements. Victorian period classic ghost story included authors M.R. James Sheridan Le Fanu Violet Hunt Henry James. Horace Walpole Castle Otranto 1764 considered first gothic novel. Ebenezer Scrooge helped see error ways by Jacob Marley ghost Christmas Past Present Yet to Come. Professional parapsychologists Harry Price Peter Underwood active 1920s 1930s published accounts true ghost stories Borley Rectory. Casper Friendly Ghost created 1930s appearing comics animated cartoons feature film 1995. Screen depictions diverge romantic genre benign guide unfinished business Field of Dreams 1989 Ghost 1990 Heart Souls 1993. Horror genre notable examples Fog 1980 Nightmare Elm Street series 1980s 1990s. Reality television series Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunters Ghost Lab Most Haunted A Haunting popularized hobby.
Common questions
What is the origin of the English word ghost?
The English word ghost emerges from Old English gāst, a term meaning breath, spirit, soul, or ghost. This root traces back to Proto-Germanic gaistaz and further to pre-Germanic ghois-t-oz, translating to fury or anger.
When did the prevailing sense of ghost as the soul of a deceased person emerge in Middle English?
The now-prevailing sense of the soul of a deceased person appearing in visible form only emerged in Middle English during the 14th century. Before this period, the Old English word could denote any good or evil spirit such as angels and demons.
How do ancient Mesopotamian religions describe ghosts created at time of death?
Ghosts were thought to be created at time of death taking on memory and personality. They traveled to the netherworld where they led existence similar to the living while relatives expected to make offerings of food and drink to ease conditions for these spirits.
Who wrote An Essay Towards a Theory of Apparitions in 1813 arguing sightings resulted from optical illusions?
Physician John Ferriar wrote An Essay Towards a Theory of Apparitions in 1813 arguing sightings resulted from optical illusions. He proposed that physical explanations like air pressure changes causing doors slam or humidity making boards creak account for ordinary phenomena.
What is the Chinese Ghost Festival and how does it relate to ritual feeding of the dead?
Ritual feeding of the dead occurs in traditions like the Chinese Ghost Festival or Western All Souls Day. Strategies for preventing revenants may include sacrifice giving food and drink to pacify them or magical banishment.