The idea of aerial navigation by people accused of witchcraft is a recurring motif in early trendy European folklore and witch trials. Usually depicted as nocturnal journeys to gatherings generally known as sabbats, these alleged flights ceaselessly concerned the usage of magical ointments or enchanted objects like broomsticks. A traditional instance includes an accused witch recounting a dreamlike expertise of hovering by means of the evening sky to attend a clandestine assembly with different practitioners of magic.
This imagery served a number of functions within the context of witch hunts. It supplied a tangible manifestation of the perceived risk posed by witchcraft, reinforcing anxieties about unseen forces and secret gatherings. Descriptions of those nocturnal excursions usually integrated parts of conventional folklore and widespread beliefs about magic, solidifying the affiliation between witchcraft and diabolism within the public creativeness. Moreover, confessions of such flights, generally induced by torture or main questions, served as proof in witch trials, contributing to the persecution and execution of numerous people. The enduring picture continues to affect trendy depictions of witchcraft in widespread tradition.
