Witches' Sabbath (1797-1798) by Francisco de Goya y LucientesMuseo Lázaro Galdiano
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...
Scene of Three Witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth (1840) by George Cattermole, 1800–1868, BritishYale Center for British Art
Which witch 1
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 from Macbeth
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.
The Sorceress Circe (Around 1651) by Giovanni Benedetto CastiglioneMuseo Poldi Pezzoli
Which witch 2
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?
Circe Punishes Glaucus by Turning Scylla into a Monster (1695) by Neer, Eglon van derRijksmuseum
Circe
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.
Vivien and Merlin (September 1874)The J. Paul Getty Museum
Which witch 3
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?
Charles Hay Cameron (1864) by Julia Margaret CameronThe J. Paul Getty Museum
Merlin
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).
Vivien and Merlin (1874)The J. Paul Getty Museum
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.
