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1500 questions
4
votes
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Is there a Donkeyskin variant that involves a tunneling magic bed?
Wikipedia reports that Griechische und Albanesische Märchen contains a Greek Donkeyskin variant that involves a burrowing bed.
In a Greek variant from Epeirus collected by Austrian consul Johann Georg von Hahn with the title Allerleirauh, a widowed…
Malady
- 955
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4
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2 answers
What is "cemuc barley" referred to in a Sumerian proverb, and how is it related to necromancy?
I found this cryptic Sumerian proverb looking for ancient barley references:
"The cemuc barley is reserved for the necromancer."
There is an unrelated note that follows explaining how barley was used as commodity money in ancient Mesopotamia, not…
Susanne Pennelle
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Is Emily Wilson's 2018 translation of Homer's Odyssey correct to say the sorceress Circe had nymphs as 'slaves' (Book 10 line 349)?
'10.349 Meanwhile, four slaves, her house girls, were at work around the palace. They were nymphs, the daughters of fountains and of groves and holy rivers'
Nymphs were semi-divine, usually immortal, female beings associated with water or woods. Are…
Timothy
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Is Medea secretly the old woman and the Talking Oaken Image in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Tanglewood Tales: The Golden Fleece"?
Medea, the enchantress, said to Jason:
I could tell you, if I pleased, who was the old woman with the
peacock, the pomegranate, and the cuckoo staff, whom you carried over
the river; and, likewise, who it is that speaks through the lips of
the…
Lyds
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4
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What species were new centaurs born from?
Centaurs are typically only depicted as male. I remember reading something about centaurs reproducing with human women. There's also a vague memory I have of reading that centaurs can mate with horses. On the other hand, there are some depictions of…
Ichthys King
- 141
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4
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Is there a name for the generational overthrow of gods/titans/giants?
There is a common pattern in various mythologies - particularly in the Indo-European "big family" set - of gods overthrowing monsters and sometimes being overthrown in turn by a new generation of deities. Does this trope of divine succession have a…
glenatron
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4
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1 answer
Can mermaids shapeshift and grow human legs to walk on land?
I've seen movies and tv shows that feature mermaids shapeshifting to grow legs (Pirates of the Caribbean) and I'm wondering if this has any ancient myths behind them?
Orionixe
- 399
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4
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Name of the tale in which a traveler inherits a boatman's curse after accepting to relay him
I have a vague recollection of a tale but get no hits from traditional search engines.
In my memory, this is an old and famous tale, that goes as follow:
A young man travels across a foreign land. After some time they reach a river, but the bridge…
AlexisPrel
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4
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Are vampires vulnerable to crucifixes because of the crucifixion of Jesus?
I wanted to know if the legends of vampires being vulnerable to a crucifix or a cross exist because of what happened to Jesus. Is this so?
iXô
- 143
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4
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3 answers
Are there any myths concerning Punic/Carthaginian deities?
I am unable to find any Punic myths concerning deities. Are there any such myths? If not, why not?
Marduk Trimegistus
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4
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2 answers
In what sense is Pandora the first woman?
Pandora was created by the Greek gods and offered to Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus.
Pandora is referred to as the first woman. It is to me unclear in what sense that was meant.
My original thought is that she is the first female human, but this…
Marduk Trimegistus
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4
votes
2 answers
What bird species is associated with Pallas Athēnē?
The english Wikipedia article about the bird Athene noctua (called little owl in English) claims, without references, that in Greek mythology, the godess Pallas Athēnē was associated with that bird. But this claim seems odd to me.
There are two…
Matt Cloudy-grid
- 1,570
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4
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Why isn't Ninigi considered the first emperor of Japan?
Most references indicate that Amaterasu decided that Japan needed an emperor and she sent her grandson, Ninigi, to rule; however, they always refer to his grandson (great-grandson), Jimmu, as the first emperor.
edited: Further research shows that he…
Shin Bikkuriman
- 135
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4
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1 answer
Can gods swear on the Styx
In ancient Greece, humans used to swear on the Styx to keep promises. My 8yo had an interesting question today: "Can gods swear on the Styx as well ? They won't ever have to cross it anyway because they are immortal, so why should they care ?"
dargaud
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4
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2 answers
Which of these heroes lived first: Achilles, Hercules or Theseus?
I know Achilles was born around 1200-1100 BC because he participated in the Trojan War, but I do not know when Hercules was born, nor Theseus for that matter.
Achilles-Godzilla
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