The Sorcerer's Apprentice Here

The earliest recorded version is found in Philopseudes (The Lover of Lies) by Lucian of Samosata. In this dialogue, the character Eucrates describes a magical Egyptian sorcerer and an apprentice who uses a spell to make a pestle fetch water.

The apprentice attempts to automate his chores to avoid manual labor. This serves as a warning against using tools or "magic" to bypass necessary hard work before one is fully trained. The Sorcerer's Apprentice

German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe adapted the tale into the 14-stanza poem "Der Zauberlehrling." Goethe introduced the rhyming structure and the iconic imagery of a broom split in two, resulting in two brooms that continue the labor. The earliest recorded version is found in Philopseudes