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Can the Greek Gods Be "Killed"?
If Zeus and his siblings were able to hold Chronos down and chop him into pieces, effectively "killing" him, could there be a way for the gods or goddesses to die as well?
Or in other words, can the gods be destroyed so that they are reduced to a…
Caitlin L.
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Are all Celtic Gods (Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and British) considered part of the same pantheon?
The term 'Celtic' means mythology from the British Isles, so are the gods from Irish, Welsh, and Scottish mythology all considered part of the same pantheon? For example, did people who believe in the Irish Celtic Goddess Morrigan also believe in…
Erich
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Who is the Greek king Brynhild fought?
In chapter 27 of the Saga of the Völsungs, Brynhild brags of having been in battles with a king of Greeks:
She answered in heavy mood from her seat, whereas she sat like unto swan on billow, having a sword in her hand and a helm on her head, and…
yannis
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What is the origin of the story that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole?
Can the traditional location of Santa Claus home and workshop be traced to older folklore stories, or is it a modern invention, a piece of fakelore?
Girsan Virlee
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13
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Does every culture have a deluge myth?
A deluge myth is a story of a big flood that kills everyone. A few examples:
Noah's Ark
The story of Deucalion
The flood in the epic of Gilgamesh
The story of Bergelmir
... and so on. Is there a mythology without a deluge myth?
bleh
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How does merging of two gods actually work?
The only two examples I can remember at the moment are:
Ra merging with Horus
In later Egyptian dynastic times, Ra was merged with the god Horus, as Ra-Horakhty ("Ra, who is Horus of the Two Horizons").
Amun merging with Ra
After the…
Ero Sɘnnin
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Why is salt used to get rid of ghosts and keep out demons?
I've been watching a lot of Supernatural, and I've been wondering. What is it with salt? They keep bringing up that one needs to salt and burn the bones. Also, salt is used to repel ghosts. This isn't the first time I've heard mentionings about salt…
Raven
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Were Sirens humans or Monsters?
I can't seem to figure out if the Sirens were, like, half human-half bird monsters, attracting men with their magical song...
or if they were also very beautiful women.
Were they humans with magical abilities / harps? Or did they have power…
durron597
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Was the Kali Yuga invented in the Kali Yuga?
One of the most well-known features of Hindu time-scales is the cycle of four Yugas, known as Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kali. In the Satya (aka Krita) Yuga, almost all humans are good. In the Treta Yuga, most humans are good but some are bad. …
Keshav Srinivasan
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Is there a Western (Greek, Roman, Egyptian, or Norse) god of the cosmos?
I have heard of the Greek god, Chaos (the manifestation of the void), and of the Greek god Aither, (the manifestation of the upper air that gods breathe most often), but I can't find reference to any deities that personify 'space' or 'the…
user1314
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Where was the "garden of Eden" located?
According to biblical tradition, where was the garden of Eden located? The garden of Eden being the earthly paradise where God placed Adam and Eve.
Ken Graham
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How was Guan Yu deified?
Guan Yu was a real general who lived almost 2000 years ago, but was deified as early as the Sui dynasty (circa 7th century). He is still an important figure of Chinese folklore today, worshipped by many as a god of war, righteousness, and…
congusbongus
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What purpose did the myth of Oedipus serve?
In Ancient Greece, there were many different phenomena in the world that were explained by stories or myths, usually involving gods, such as the changing of the seasons or the obtainment of fire. Other times, myths served as intriguing plays meant…
Cody Guldner
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What would happen if you made contradictory vows on the River Styx?
It is said in Greek Mythology that a swear over the river Styx cannot be broken. So what would happen, theoretically of course, if two swears from the same person contradicted one another?
For example, suppose I said:
"I swear by the river Styx that…
tethernova
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What demons/fabulous creatures did the Sumerians mention?
I'm looking into fabulous creatures and demons specifically in Sumerian texts, or in Akkadian texts but where the creature/demon still had a Sumerian origin. I can't seem to find a complete list, if it even exists, and many which are listed in…
cmw
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