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What is the story of Madonna Oriente?
I stumbled upon the Wikipedia article on Madonna Oriente, a mysterious religious figure of 14th century Milan:
Madonna Oriente or Signora Oriente (Lady of the East), also known as La Signora del Gioco (The Lady of the Game), are names of an alleged…
yannis
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What do we know about the winged male figures representing the souls of warriors in the weighing of souls?
The pictured black-figured lekythos features Hermes (in his role as a psychopomp), weighing the souls of Achilles and a Trojan warrior (Memnon or Hector):
What I find particularly interesting in the scene is the two winged male figures on the…
yannis
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What are the origin and geographical spread of the belief that a girl or woman should not wash her hair when she is menstruating?
The belief that a girl or woman who is menstruating should not wash her hair has been called an "old wives' tale". Supposed reasons for it have included the idea that at that time of the month her hair will hang limp and not gain body even if…
user1618
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If the Trojans had a different language than the Achaeans, does this mean they spoke the same as Queen Dido?
I have previously asked if the Trojans called the gods by their Greek names (Athena, Demeter...) or their Roman names (Minerva, Ceres...). I was told they had their own language and the two sides had trouble communicating, but it was not…
Andrew Johnson
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How were children of Oceanus king and queen?
Before the Titan Kronos and his sister/wife Rhea became rulers of the heavens, Ophion and Eurynome were so. But, how did that occur when Ouranos/Uranus was king? He was only dethroned when Kronos castrated him and replaced him.
Andrew Johnson
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Why doesn't Sisyphus try to escape?
In the myth of Sisyphus, he pushes a boulder up a hill for all eternity because it keeps falling back down. My question is, why doesn't Sisyphus ever break the conditioning and leave?
mcchucklezz
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What does mytheme mean?
What is the meaning of the term mytheme?
When did the term first come into use, and what are some examples of mythemes?
Baldr
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Why does Hector accept Achilles' challenge?
The first time Hector meets Achilles on the battlefield, in Book IX of the Iliad, he is prudent enough to avoid dueling the Myrmidon superhero. However, in Book XXII Hector decides to face Achilles in single combat, a decision that costs him his…
Ouroboros
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Earliest legend of someone being turned into an animal/monster?
What is the earliest legend we know of, that involves someone (named or otherwise) being turned into an animal, or some terrible monster? This includes turning someone's unborn child into a monster, like the legend of the minotaur.
Johnny
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Why did mankind rebel against Ra?
The Book of the Heavenly Cow revolves around mankind's rebellion against Ra:
The central theme of The Book of the Heavenly Cow is mankind's rebellion against the elder sun god, Re, resulting in the punishment of humans by the fiery "eye" of Re in…
yannis
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Benevolent king gives greatest gift: yourself/himself
Story of a benevolent king (or queen?) who disguises himself among peasants and then reveals himself or is revealed as king and then one of the peasants with whom he interacts thanks the king for the greatest gift a king could give: the gift of…
BCLC
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Are there stories on gods turning into mortals, or losing immortality?
Besides the story in which Zeus turned Apollo and Poseidon into mortals once, are there more examples of gods losing their immortality in other mythologies as well? Not only in Greek Mythology.
バカです
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What is the nature of Athena's relationship to the Furies?
There is, of course, the famous interaction and reconciliation in Aeschylus' The Kindly Ones (part 3 of the Oresteia), but does it go deeper than that?
DukeZhou
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Searching for a deity of water and fire?
The title says it (almost) all.
I'm searching for a deity whose aspects are BOTH fire and water. Any religion/pantheon is ok.
It could be a greater spirit or something like that, but I prefer a god.
Edit 1: I'm looking for a deity that whose domains…
Invader Zim
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What animals were represented in gods in ancient Egypt?
I cannot find many animals that were represented as gods and I am writing an essay on ancient Egypt.
user4358
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