Ancient Beliefs About The Soul

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Do all living beings have a soul? What happens to the soul after death? For as long as anyone remembers, these questions have occupied the minds of some of the world’s greatest philosophers and scientists. The concept of the soul is very old. Ancient beliefs about the soul can be found among many cultures worldwide.

Representation in the round of the soul-Ba, arms raised to receive water and food from the gods (Hildesheim museum, Germany).

Representation in the round of the soul-Ba, arms raised to receive water and food from the gods (Hildesheim museum, Germany). Image credit: Einsamer SchützeCC BY-SA 3.0

A 3,000-year-old stone memorial in the Iron Age city Sam’al, Turkey, reveals our ancestors were very curious about the soul.

The 800-pound, three-foot-tall piece of rock has an incised image of the deceased, presumably cremated. The inscription on the monument was made by a man named Kuttamuwa, and the words explain that the soul of the now-dead man resided within the stone slab. So, people believed the soul lived in the stone.

Get Access To Our Premium Content

This is a preview of our premium article available only to members of Ancient Pages.

Become a member to read more -  Click here

If you are already a member and have logged in to your account, you can access the article here

Ancient Pages Library

See also: 

Forgotten Ancient Wisdom: People Have Two Souls – Native American And Pre-Christian Beliefs Reveal

Bees – Embodiment Of Human Soul, Divine Messengers Symbolizing Invisible Bridge Connecting Life And Death

Who Will Win? Battle Between The Good And Bad Mind Over Human Souls – Told By The Iroquois Tribes

More Premium Articles