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1500 questions
58
votes
3 answers
When and how did the Greek mythos transfer to the Romans?
It seems that there are a great many similarities between Roman and Greek Mythology. In fact, many people consider them synonymous and only really differ in the names. For example:
Greek ⇄ Roman
Zeus ⇄ Jupiter
Poseidon ⇄ Neptune
Hades ⇄…
user93
43
votes
3 answers
What is the difference between a God and a Titan?
In Greek mythology, the words "Titan" and "God" seem to be used interchangeably. For example, Zeus is a God, but Cronus (his father) was a Titan. So what is the difference between a Titan and a God in Greek mythology?
Dom
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42
votes
6 answers
Are Excalibur and Caliburn different swords?
Arthurian legend features swords called "Excalibur" and "Caliburn". It is not clear to me whether these two swords are the same entity (at minimum, the names are clearly cognate), or whether they refer to different things. Or, perhaps, at some point…
senshin
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40
votes
5 answers
Why does looking at Medusa with a mirror work?
Medusa is known for being so ugly that if men even look at her face, they would immediately be turned into stone statues. Perseus was somehow able to overcome this challenge of killing her by looking at her reflection in a mirror. Even though he was…
Anthony Pham
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38
votes
1 answer
What is the world's oldest joke?
What is the world's oldest joke? I mean the earliest known story, set of affairs, or action that people spread to other people in order to cause the receivers to be amused.
user1618
37
votes
3 answers
What is the earliest known dragon myth?
The myth of dragons can be found in many different traditions, with the major two being the European dragon and the Chinese dragon.
"There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European
dragon, derived from European folk traditions…
logic
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37
votes
4 answers
Why were there exactly 12 main Olympian Gods?
Did the ancient Greeks believe that the number 12 symbolized everything? Was it random that there were 12 Olympian gods and no more (or less)?
Shev
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36
votes
3 answers
Why was it a good thing that hope remained in Pandora's box?
One thing has always confused me about the story of Pandora. When she opened her box (or jar, whatever), all sorts of evil things escaped outside the box, and this is why we have evil in the world now. Then, she closed the box before hope could…
senshin
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35
votes
5 answers
Where did the Roman gods live?
The ancient Greek gods lived on the famous Mount Olympus, which is an actual mountain in Greece.
The Romans borrowed quite a bit of mythology from the Greeks, so I at first assumed that the Roman gods lived somewhere similar, if not in the exact…
HDE 226868
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34
votes
3 answers
34
votes
7 answers
How was it decided which warriors would go to Fólkvangr and which to Valhalla?
I have read numerous times that some Norse warriors, upon death, would go in Fólkvangr, while some others would go to Valhalla. How was it decided which warrior would go to which place? Why did the need to have many "paradises" (whatever you many…
anon
33
votes
4 answers
What is the difference between giants, Jotuns and trolls in Norse mythology?
I am a little bit confused by the way the terms giant, frost giant, jotun (or jötunn), ettin and troll seem to overlap in Norse mythology.
I don't understand if they refer to a single race or multiple (or even variations within the race).
It adds…
Kreann
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33
votes
3 answers
Why did Zeus assume so many different forms for seduction?
The character of Zeus is well-known for seducing many women, both human and goddesses. In many of these stories, Zeus assumes a form other than his true self.
The most famous is perhaps Leda - it is said that Zeus seduced her in the form of a swan…
Luna
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33
votes
5 answers
Who did Adam and Eve's son Cain marry?
According to Christian mythology, Adam and Eve were the first people created. So their children were living alone in the world.
In Genesis 4:16-17 it says that Cain left Eden and went towards the east to live. There he met his wife and got married…
John Demetriou
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31
votes
4 answers
Why did God prefer Abel's offering to Cain's?
In the Old Testament, God accepts Abel's offering but rejects Cain's:
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an…
user62