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What are the functions of Giantesses in the Norse Mythology and Folklore?
For instance, I recall them being mentioned as the sources of rivers. I'd be interested in more detail on this aspect, as well as any other functions of female jötnar.
(Wikipedia covers this to some degree, but I'm looking for more detailed…
DukeZhou
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Does Pippi Longstocking have mythological roots?
Failing that, is she based on or similar to any characters in folklore of the region?
As far as I know, the extraordinarily compelling children's character was purely an invention of the author, Astrid Lindgren, but the giantesses in Norse…
DukeZhou
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Who is Cleverman?
The titular hero of the television series Cleverman is - according to Wikipedia - a "superheroic version" of an "important figure in many Australian Aboriginal cultures".
I'm trying to find more information about the traditional Cleverman, but all…
yannis
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Were the grottoes of the Mitcham Fair in South London really connected with the veneration of St. James of Compostela?
In Mitcham in South London, children often used to build "grottoes" out of pebbles, pieces of broken pottery, candles, and sometimes shells, flowers, or pieces of mirror. They would ask for "a penny for the grotta" (the local pronunciation) and…
user1618
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Are there any cultures with no known interactions that have notable similarities in their creation myths?
Roman and Greek mythologies and religions are intertwined because of the occupation of Greece by the Roman empire.
But are there any occurrence of two different cultures having similarities in their mythologies but no known interactions by which…
John Demetriou
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What is the source of the fable of Thor’s attempt to drink up a small spring?
Moncure D. Conway references the tale in passing in the introduction to his “Demonology and Devil-lore”:
The fable of Thor’s attempt to drink up a small spring, and his failure because it was fed by the ocean, seems aimed at such efforts as mine.…
yannis
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What are the differences between the Greek Hestia and the Roman Vesta with regards to both mythology and worship?
I recall reading about Vesta, and I believe that, like Mars and Saturn, she was more important to the Roman pantheon than the Greek. I'd like to know what the differences were between Vesta and Hestia.
Inspired by What differences were there in…
Shaymin Gratitude
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How big were the Nine Realms of Norse mythology?
Is it mentioned anywhere in the scriptures how big the ancient Norse believed the Nine Realms of their myths were?
user1385
9
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2 answers
Does Hercules have a tail?
I was astonished when I saw these two tapestries in a museum:
Hercules fighting Centaurs
Hercules fighting a multi-headed dog
In both of them Hercules/Heracles seems to have a well defined tail with a wisp of longer hair at its end. I went to…
Armfoot
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How many Annunaki were living on Earth at the peak of their time?
The Anunnaki were a group of deities in ancient Mesopotamian culture.
How many of them were there at the peak time (which we know about)?
For example on Wikipedia page we can read:
In the Epic of Creation, it is said that there are 300 lgigu of…
kenorb
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Is there any significance to Baile's Strand as the setting for Cúchulainn's duel with his son?
Particularly geographical, historical, folkloric or linguistic connections.
I certainly can't find any such location on the map although there are a few coastal towns in Ulster that begin with "Bally", an alternate spelling. Ballycastle, for…
DukeZhou
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Why can't a vrykolakas cross the sea?
In Paradoseis, Nikolaos Politis records the belief that a vrykolakas cannot cross the sea. More specifically, tale 933 explains how the people of Myconos kept themselves safe from vrykolakes by burying them in the nearby uninhabited island of Baos.…
yannis
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Why did the Trojans believe Cassandra's recognition of Paris?
The Trojan princess Cassandra was cursed by Apollo that nobody would ever believe her. Apparently though, the curse wasn't completely effective:
After Cassandra grew up, she again spent a night in the temple. This time the god appeared and tried to…
yannis
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9
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What is the origin of the myth that witches burn in water?
As per most of the stories I know, witches usually burn when they come into contact with water.
Why is this so and what is the origin of this myth? Also,why do witches burn? What about wizards?
user1385
9
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1 answer
What is the family tree of the Sumerian gods?
I am currently very interested in Sumerian mythology and would like to find out more about it. However, I am finding it very hard to keep track of the gods lineage and parentage as well as their descendants.
To keep track of them I would like to…
user1385