Midnight on Halloween is the witching hour! Throughout history, the myth of the witch has been a tool of oppression, empowerment, and an expression of all things wyrd and wonderful. But do you know these famous witches? Scroll on to test your knowledge...
We’ll kick off with some of the best known witches of all time. Depicted in numerous images, and portrayed on stage thousands of times, this coven of three contains some of the most infamous sorcerers around.
The fact there’s three of them is one of your biggest clues. If you still need a hint, take a closer look at what they’re throwing into the cauldron…… 'Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog'. Have you worked it out yet?
The three witches play a pivotal role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Used to represent evil, darkness, chaos and conflict, their presence in the opening scene gets the play off to a very ominous start.
Our next witch has a very different image. Although she famously called on the dark arts and used her powers against men on various occasions, she also has a number of redeeming features.
This famous witch is best known for turning her enemies into animals. Most of her adversaries ended up as swine, although some were transformed into monsters, birds and sea creatures.
Descriptions of this witch and her extensive powers date back thousands of years. Among the many literary works she appears in are Homer’s Odyssey, Virgil’s Aeneid, and Ovid’s Metamorphoses. So do you know which ancient sorcerer we’re talking about?
Arguably the most famous which from classical myth and literature, Circe was the daughter of the sun god Helios and the sea nymph Perse (some sources also list her as the daughter of Hecate and Aeetes). Thanks to her impressive powers, long life and multiple cameos, Circe remains one of the most famous, and feared, witches of all time.
Our next contender isn’t a witch but a wizard. Over the years, male sorcerers have generally been treated more kindly than their female counterparts, and this wizard is no exception. Rather than being a recluse or a bad omen, he’s often painted as an enchanter and a wise man.
A loyal companion to one of England’s most legendary kings, this witch was known for his ability to appear and disappear without warning, control the climate and change shape. He was also considered a profit and a wise man. Do you know which famous witch we're talking about?
Merlin is a fixture in many of the most famous Arthurian legends. He first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (1136 CE) where he’s depicted as a precocious youth. He also appears in Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur (1469 CE) and Merlin by Robert de Boron (12th century CE).
These photographs were taken by Julia Margaret Cameron in order to illustrate Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s recasting of the Arthurian legend. In the images, Merlin is portrayed by Henry Hay Cameron, the photographer’s husband.
Learn more about Julia Margaret cameron here.
For hundreds of years the neighbouring port cities of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara linked Africa to the rest of the Islamic world. A famous 14th century traveller once even described Kilwa as one of the most beautiful and elegantly built cities he had ever seen.
The Great Mosque was probably built in the 10th century. It’s made of coral stone blocks that have been plastered with lime mortar.
A prayer hall was added around the 11-12th centuries and the southern part was extended in the 14th century.
The mosque has a unique plan with sixteen domed and vaulted bays.
The largest of its domes was added in the 13th century. Until the 19th century this was the largest dome in East Africa.
In 1981, it was recognized as an important historical site and added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is one of only 7 places in Tanzania with this title.
The most important elements of the food of Mayan families at the community level are: corn, beans, pumpkin and chili, as well as various products used to complement the different dishes.
At present, communities have access to a wide variety of food products offered on the market, but food made from local flora and fauna products obtained from the local environment still persists.
The onsikil bi buul or bean pipián (seed salsa) is one of many foods typical of the communities of the central Mayan area.
Products such as pumpkin seeds, beans and plums are the main ingredients required to prepare them.
• 250g ground pumpkin seeds
• 1 kg beans
• 1 kg green courtyard plum
• ½ cup corn masa dough
• 3 red tomatoes
• 1 bunch oregano
• 1 garlic clove
• 6 grains of allspice
• 15g of normal pepper
• 1 purple onion
• 200g of achiote (annatto)
• 1 habanero courtyard chili
First, the achiote (annatto) is left to soak in a bowl to release its color. The bean is also cleaned.
Then the bean is placed in the pot with 3 cups water over a low heat.
Then, the pumpkin seeds are prepared in the comal (griddle) until they are toasted.
When the beans are half-cooked, add salt to taste, then leave it to boil for 10 minutes and in the meantime grind the seeds along with the garlic, peppers and oregano.
Once finished mixing, leave it to soak for later straining and adding to the beans.
Strain the achiote (annatto). Add the chopped onion, tomato and plum to the beans. Leave it to boil 30 minutes
Finally, add water to the masa dough to break it down and cook it inside the pot. Keep it moving with a wooden stick (juuyub) so that the food keeps cooking.
Leave the dish to boil until it absorbs the seasoning. In the meantime, toast the habanero chili in the comal (griddle) to spice up the food.
It is commonplace for families to accompany theonsikil bi bu'ul with handmade tortillas or tortillas toasted on the stove.
Enjoy your meal!