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1500 questions
17
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1 answer
Are elves born on the moon?
I recently listened to Purcell's "King Arthur", and at one point in the libretto, Grimbald speaks of "moon-born elves" (at 19:25 in the linked video):
Let not a moon-born elf mislead ye
From your prey and from your glory;
This made me curious…
Dolda2000
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What is the story of the Chimera?
The Neo-Hittite Chimera (850–750 BC) from Karkemish is housed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, Turkey:
"Museum of Anatolian Civilizations080" by Georges Jansoone (JoJan) - Self-photographed. Licensed under Public Domain via…
yannis
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What are the differences between Shakuna, Sundara, Rukma and Tripura Vimana flying machines?
On Wikipedia page we can read:
Vimāna is a mythological flying palace or chariot described in Hindu texts and Sanskrit epics.
Early 20th-century sanskrit Vaimānika Śāstra claim that the vimānas mentioned in ancient Sanskrit epics were aerodynamic…
kenorb
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17
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1 answer
Was there a significant transformation of the Heracles mythos from Homeric times to classical times?
Homer, in book 5 of the Iliad, tells us that during his expedition against Neleus of Pylos (Poseidon's son), Heracles won battles against Poseidon and Apollo, and managed to wound Hera and Hades with his arrows.
He also killed Neleus and eleven of…
yannis
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17
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3 answers
Was there any figure considered to be evil in iron age Celtic paganism religion of England?
Before Christianization the Celts of England had a pagan religion. Was there any figure in that religion which was considered to be evil?
Sonevol
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17
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2 answers
Are there any apocalypse myths other than Ragnarok in which some people survive to repopulate the world?
In the story of Ragnarok, Lif and Lifthrasir survive by hiding in Yggdrasil, and presumably they go on to repopulate the world after all the fighting is over.
Are there any other cultures whose end-of-the-world myths explicitly include some…
Ixrec
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Do Egyptian myths provide explanations for the shape of the pyramid?
Pyramids are iconic structures from Ancient Egypt. But why did the ancient Egyptians shape their pyramids in a, well, pyramidal shape? These are not exactly intuitively shaped tombs. Some research suggests that the pyramids might have been shaped in…
Semaphore
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17
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5 answers
Achilles and his gold?
In the song "Something Just Like This," by Coldplay and the Chainsmokers, there's a line that says:
I've been reading books of old
The legends and the myths.
Achilles and his gold,
Hercules and his gifts.
I recall Achilles being associated with…
Obie 2.0
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How does the Scientological creation myth describe the rebirth of humankind following Xenu's hydrogen bombing?
I don't know much about Scientology, but I hear that their version of cosmogony involves Xenu bringing a large number of humans to Earth from somewhere-or-the-other (some millions of years ago), and then killing them all with hydrogen bombs.
How…
senshin
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2 answers
What was the role of the bear in Norse mythology? (Are there bears in Asgard?)
The Norse æsir gods had animal helpers, but did anyone of them have a bear? Have bears been found in graves, like dogs and horses et cetera? Are there Norse illustration of bears?
Some Norse warriors were called berserks because they wore the fur of…
LocalFluff
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How and why was Talos killed?
In Greek mythology there was this ancient robot like (or god like) creature named Talos who was responsible for protecting Crete.
In the Image above we can see depicted the death of Talos. But who killed him? How and why was he murdered?
John Demetriou
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2 answers
Where was the World Tree located?
In Indo-European mythology, particular, in Slavic, Baltic and Germanic mythologies there is a so-called World Tree, more precisely, World Oak that plays a sacred role and connects the underworld to heaven.
It is mentioned in Pushkin's poem "Ruslan…
Anixx
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What items were made by the dwarves for the Norse gods?
On the Wikipage of Mjölnir, it is said to be made by the dwarves Eitri and Brokkr. Wikipedia also states that they created other items for the gods. Those items being: Skidbladnir, the ship of Freyr, Mjölnir, Draupnir and Gungnir.
Wiki Quotes:
"the…
maam27
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3 answers
Origin of the 'vampires have no reflection' myth
Depending on what stories you read or movies you watch, vampires will and won't have reflections.
But what is the earliest reference to this particular myth and do we know it's origin?
Daft
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16
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1 answer
Is there an Indian Wild Hunt myth?
In the Wikipedia Wild Hunt article, an Indian related myth is mentioned1:
M.M. Banks cautioned against viewing the Wild Hunt as a peculiarly European phenomenon, identifying a similar tale of cavalry being heard on the wind that was located in the…
yannis
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