For questions about objects in myths that stand for something else in either the myth or the real world, sometimes for teaching a lesson.
Questions tagged [symbolism]
57 questions
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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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What is the meaning of the star symbols appearing on seal VA 243?
Here is the picture of cylinder seal VA/243.
Image credits: Z. Sitchin
This seal was named like that because it is number 243 in the collection of the Vorderasiatische Museum in Berlin.
What is the correct meaning of the star symbol (including 11…
kenorb
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19
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What is the meaning of not giving clothes to supernatural helpers?
There is a theme that I found in several folk tales from Ireland to Russia - although mostly in Irish/Celtic stories. It is where a house has supernatural helpers, who do work overnight. However, the rule is to not give them clothes, or they will go…
Vixen Populi
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16
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Why is Lucifer three-faced?
In Canto XXXIV Lucifer is presented as a winged giant with three faces:
Oh, what a wonder it appeared to me
when I perceived three faces on his head.
The first, in front, was red in color.
Another two he had, each joined with this,
above…
Girsan Virlee
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15
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Why is the Serpent the most common motif as the creator in indigenous Australian cultures?
Related to the question How long ago was the Dreaming?, according to the Wikipedia Rainbow Serpent page, the Rainbow Serpent is an integral part of many indigenous Australian cultures, and specifically
The most common motif in Rainbow Serpent…
user124
14
votes
4 answers
What is the symbolism behind Psyche's tasks?
The taskmaster in the story of Cupid and Psyche was Cupid's mother, the love goddess Venus or Aphrodite. Venus had never liked Psyche, so the opportunity of putting her to a series of tests gave Venus a chance to demand the seemingly impossible. In…
Hanilucas
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Which god holds a shepherd's crook?
Which, if any, god(s) in the ancient world is depicted as holding a shepherd's crook? I am looking for gods depicted in such ways in statues, idols, drawings, etc...
Reb Chaim HaQoton
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11
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How did so many cultures come up with their own swastika?
Before two and a half hours ago, I thought the swastika was only in India and World War II. Then my art teacher put on a video about ancient Greek and Roman mosaics. In this video, I saw what was dubbed "Ancient Greek Swastica." I thought this an…
Andrew Johnson
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What does Nausicaa symbolize in the Odyssey?
There was an interesting question in Lit regarding the meaning of her name, and in my research, I came across some interesting speculation on Nausikaa's distinctness. For instance, she is the one woman Odysseus does not mention to Penelope. …
DukeZhou
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10
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Does Hercules have a tail?
I was astonished when I saw these two tapestries in a museum:
Hercules fighting Centaurs
Hercules fighting a multi-headed dog
In both of them Hercules/Heracles seems to have a well defined tail with a wisp of longer hair at its end. I went to…
Armfoot
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10
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Why do snake (serpent) and bull often come together as symbols of deities?
The Celtic Cernunnos, the Greek Dionysus, the Slavic Veles and Vedic Shiva have snake and bull among their symbols.
Why do these two symbols tend to come together?
It looks to me as though these deities also share some other similarities. They tend…
Roman
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9
votes
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Why is the left-hand path in regards to Baphomet associated with the female side?
Why is the left-hand path in regards to Baphomet(the Baphomet of Levi) associated with the female side? I would like to add the left-hand path is often associated with the denial of God and things that can be considered taboo.
In regards to…
William
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Are there any negative connotations associated with the Caduceus?
The staff carried by Hermes/Mercury, which known as the Caduceus, is one of my favorite symbols. For those that are visual thinkers I have pictured it below:
I am planning on getting a tattoo of the Caduceus in the near future. Before I ink my body…
hellyale
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Is there any folklore in non-European culture that may be an attempt to "explain" similar to changeling myths in Western Europe and Scandinavia?
It has been suggested by some authors that stories of changelings in Scandinavia and western Europe are an attempt by ancient peoples used to try and explain developmental abnormalities in children, particularly autism spectrum disorder. The latter…
user2352714
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What is the symbolism of horses in Canaanite sun worship?
In the Book of Kings it says:
"He [King Josiah] did away with the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance of the House of the LORD, near the chamber of the eunuch Nathan-melech, which was in the precincts. He burned…
Harel13
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