They Believed That?

A Cultural Encyclopedia of Superstitions and the Supernatural around the World

By: William E. Burns

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eText | 1 December 2022 | Edition Number 1

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This encyclopedia is the perfect guide to the weird, magical, superstitious, and supernatural beliefs of people from all over the world.

This book is devoted to those human beliefs that fall in the "gray zone" between science, religion, and everyday life—call them superstitious, supernatural, magical, or just wrong. In an often incomprehensible world where lightning or plague could end life quickly or drought could condemn a poor family to agonizing death, superstitious beliefs gave people a feeling of understanding or even control. They have continued to shape societies and cultures ever since.

This book covers a range of superstitious, supernatural, and otherwise unusual beliefs from the ancient world to the early 19th century. More than 100 entries explain beliefs, discuss historical evidence, and explain how each belief differs across cultures. This book is a perfect gateway for anyone curious about superstitious and magical beliefs, with topics ranging from the everyday, such as dogs and iron, to legendary figures, such as Hermes Trismegistus and the Yellow Emperor.

Explores how superstitious beliefs have changed throughout time and across cultures
Features sidebars that introduce various people, objects, and ideas related to superstitious beliefs
Discusses superstitions surrounding both common, everyday phenomena and more unusual ideas
Offers around 150 entries with extensive cross-referencing to help readers view information in context