The Girl Who Came Back: Philinnion
Months after a young woman was buried, her family's guest was being visited at night by a girl who wore her jewellery.
What was reported
Phlegon of Tralles, a Greek writer of the 2nd century, collected marvels, and one of them is among the oldest ghost stories to survive. A young woman named Philinnion had died. Six months later, a young guest staying in her family's house began to receive night-time visits from a girl, and left her ring and other gifts with him.
A servant recognised the girl as Philinnion. When her parents burst in, she reproached them for interfering and fell dead. Her tomb was opened and found empty except for the young man's gifts.
Explanations offered
The story comes down to us incomplete, with its opening pages missing, and is told as a letter reporting a true event. It's a literary marvel tale, and it later inspired Goethe's poem The Bride of Corinth. Nothing else is known of the events.
- When
- Recorded in the 2nd century AD
- Where
- Amphipolis, Macedonia, Greece
- Witnesses
- Recorded by Phlegon of Tralles
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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