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Who is the old man in the Coptic Apocalypse of Paul?
In the Coptic Apocalypse of Paul, Paul meets an "old man" in seventh heaven1:
Then we went up to the seventh heaven, and I saw an old man [...] light and whose garment was white. His throne, which is in the seventh heaven, was brighter than the…
Girsan Virlee
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Who are the two witnesses in Revelation?
From Revelation 11 (KJ21):
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the God…
Girsan Virlee
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What stories from Norse mythology deals with fear?
Are there any stories from Norse mythology, where a person has to face a fear and is rewarded for it/succeeds?
All that springs to mind is Tyr/Fenrir story, where Tyr puts his hand in the mouth of Fenrir, knowing he will lose it - for a greater…
Kjensen
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When did chicken become a synonym of cowardice?
Chicken is often used to mean someone is a coward. This is exemplified in the game of chicken.
When did chicken first become a synonym of cowardice?
Girsan Virlee
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2 answers
Are forests and trees considered self sufficient and self reliant? Or is there any lore on caretakers of the forests?
With the significance of trees as representations of life in various cultures, do any of them ever mention caretakers of the forests? Or a defense against impurities and corruption?
Or have they always been considered everlasting, near…
nuckingfutz
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When Zeus impregnates Danae, what is the meaning of the shower being golden?
In the myth where Zeus impregnates Danae through a golden shower, what is the significance of the water being golden? Rain is often symbolizing semen, but why is it golden? Does it simply indicate glory, since Zeus is king of the gods?
Arthur George
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Why don't vampires migrate?
In both European and American folklore, vampires are either outright nocturnal or are weak to the sun. Therefore, wouldn't it make logical sense for them to migrate with the seasons to parts of the world with long nights?
This is something I feel…
Treldman
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What are some sentient creatures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican mythology?
I have read a bit about the five suns world creation myth, and I am curious if the original peoples of Mesoamerica believed in other sentient beings similar to the fairies, centaurs and such of European mythology and folklore.
I have read about the…
LuminousNutria
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What is the relationship between the term 'hermit' and the traditions around Hermes and Hermeticism?
Hermes is a name with a few similar sounding words, all of which (that I'm aware of) are related to traits of Hermes:
Hermeticism: a spiritual tradition based on Hermes as corresponding with Egyptian Thoth, associated with magic, writing,…
cr0
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What are some mythological examples of emotionally-charged symbolic acts of grief?
I'm looking for mythological examples of loss leading to intense emotional and symbolic displays of grief, whether spontaneous, performative, ritual or some combination of the above. That is, grief so intense that it inspires madness,…
Random
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Where did the idea of the 'City in Bottle' Originate?
Where did the well known trope of a 'City in a Bottle', as associated with middle eastern mythology, originate?
It is referenced in modern culture (see the City in a Bottle Magic the Gathering Card, Sandman #50: Ramadan by Neil Gaiman, etc), and is…
Emmett P
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How did the belief of "marrying" a deity emerge?
According to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Canaanite_religion#Cosmology and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_prostitution#Sacred_marriage, a deity would marry a city or a goddess would be said to be married to a king. But I can't…
user5459
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1 answer
How many Ancient Greek names got their English names from French or nativised in English?
The majority of Ancient Greek people (be it mythological or real) or places got their English names from their Latinized Greek names (Uranus, Achilles, etc.), except for a select few that got their names from French or nativised in English instead.…
Vun-Hugh Vaw
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What is that on Athena's chest?
In this statue there is something what looks like a face on Athena's chest. I have seen it on some other statues of Athena.
What is it? Is there a myth behind it?
Lymaba
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Does Thor use an axe and/or sword in the Myths?
I know Marvel's Thor uses an axe (Jarnbjorn) and sword (Odinsword) in the comics, but an acquaintance of mine insists that the Thor of the norse Mythology also used them.
I couldn't find any source that explicitly mentions Thor using such…
Sebastianb
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