Early witches were people who practiced witchcraft, using magic spells and calling upon spirits for help or to bring about change. Most witches were thought to be pagans doing the Devil’s work.
witchcraft, term usually applied to harm brought upon others through the use of supernatural or occult powers. The person engaging in witchcraft is called a witch, while the act of causing harm may be termed cursing, hexing, bewitchment, or maleficium.
From powerful priestesses to demonic masters of the occult, the history of witches is a story of the dangers of being a woman in a male dominated world. A fearsome being of fairytale and myth, the witch has carved out a home in nearly every culture across the world and time.