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What happens when gods become forgotten?

I heard from somewhere that gods maintain their power from the people worshiping them. The more people pray, the stronger they get. I also heard that If their home/environment is destroyed (eg. Posideon's waters being polluted) then they will lose…
user6252
4
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In the Ιliad why is there no continuation of the duel between Paris and Menelaus?

In the Iliad why is there no continuation of the duel between Paris and Menelaus? I guess I will never understand the mentality of the Iliad but the whole war is started by a Paris vs Menelaus rivalry so to speak and an agreement to settle it as…
Hao S
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What is the Native American term for Happy Hunting Ground?

The web has only the English term, or other European languages (most of those translate to "eternal hunting land", rather than "happy"). Frustratingly, even native storytellers use the English expression. But what was the actual name for Happy…
Ralf B
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Definitive text on special stones

I'm wondering if there are any definitive texts, ancient or modern, that give some more depth to the origin of the meaning ascribed to them such as like here: Lapis is an excellent stone for executives, journalists, and psychologists, stimulating…
Lance Pollard
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Iterative Creation Myths: Rare or Just Obscure?

I noticed that in the categorisation of creation myths, there isn't a slot for iterative creation, i.e. where one world is created after another (with or without destroying the previous one), without the expectation of infinite cycles. An example…
vicky_molokh
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What is the Ogdoad in the Coptic Apocalypse of Paul?

At the end of the Coptic Apocalypse of Paul, Paul enters the Ogdoad, where he sees the twelve apostles1: And then the heaven opened and we went up to the Ogdoad. And I saw the twelve apostles. They greeted me, and we went up to the ninth heaven.…
4
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"Berserker" In the sagas

Is there any writen reference to that word? I've been looking to put it in futhark, but apparently there is a debate about its origin(bear skin or shirtless). So, how would they write it down(younger futhark I guess)? Is there any reference to the…
Xhark
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Why does Eumaeus singles out the nymphs and Hermes in his offerings?

In Odyssey 14 Eumaeus the swineherd is the first person that meets Odysseus upon his return to Ithaca. Although he doesn't recognize his master, he offers him shelter and treats him to a feast: Then the goodly swineherd called to his comrades…
yannis
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What do we know of Perses, son of Helios and brother to Circe?

Perses was a son of Helios and the Oceanid Perse. He is the least well-known of his siblings, Aeëtes (the king of Colchis), Pasiphaë (the wife of king Minos of Crete) and Circe (the famed sorceress). Wikipedia has an article on Perses, but it offers…
yannis
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Why you should never buy a broom or wash blankets in May?

According to Project Britain's folklore calendar buying a broom or washing blankets in May should be avoided: Never buy a broom in May or wash blankets. Wash a blanket in May. Wash a dear one away. Why is that so? Where does this superstition come…
Bloom
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What are the major interpretations of the Enuma Elish?

I'm reading Mesopotamian mythology and looking to get a comparison of the major interpretations of the 'meaning' (mythological, psychological or psychoanalytic, ecological, historical, etc.) of the Enuma Enlish creation story, and the slaying of…
Random
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Where can I find english translations of the mythology of the Mnong people?

The Mnong are one of the many Degar peoples of central Vietnam. They have a series of epic song stories that tell of their mythology. I have been looking for translations of these. Does anyone know where I can find these? There are Vietnamese…
EvilJinious1
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What graphical symbols, if any, have been used for the three "modalities" in western or other astrological systems?

In western astrology the zodiac contains 12 signs each of which is assigned one of 4 elements (fire, earth, air, or water) and one of 3 modalities (also known as qualities) (fixed, cardinal, or mutable). There are 12 possible combinations of element…
user4244
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Which tale has choice between two bowls, one of which contains a death sentence and the other a reward?

I have a vague recollection of a story involving an emperor asking the hero to choose between two bowls. If the hero picks the one covering a coin he will be rewarded, but if he picks the empty one he will be sentenced to death. The hero learns that…
Jens
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What mythological figures have died for love?

I was recently thinking about Orpheus, and different accounts of his death, and although they tend to vary, the versions that strike me as most compelling are those in which the loss of Eurydice may be the underlying cause. There is a version in…
DukeZhou
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