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What is the origin of a common Christmas tree quotation concerning an old Babylonish fable about an evergreen tree?
Searching for "evergreen tree which sprang out of a dead tree stump" gets nearly 3000 hits.
The Seed of the Woman and the Power of Darkness - Donbor Syiemlieh - Google Books is an example:
"An old Babylonish fable told of an evergreen tree which…
Ray Butterworth
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What places were actually in the underworld?
I've recently become interested in Greek mythology and I thought what better place to start than a good 'ol family tree. Whilst researching Tartarus I came across, seemingly, two areas of thought. One being that Tartarus is part of the Underworld…
Srb1313711
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Does any Greek god ever respect a mortal not consenting to sex?
Classical Greek mythology is replete with, frankly, rape. From outright physically overpowering their victim to 'pursuing' them until they 'give in', gods regularly force themselves on any mortal (or occasionally fellow god) who catches their…
Drubbels
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Is there any evidence of a Jewish demon named Khoyzek?
The Yiddish term khoyzek refers a "mockery" of something else. According to Dov Sadan (cited here) this word derives from Khoyzek a demon in Jewish folklore. I looked high and low and could not find any evidence of a demon name Khoyzek in any Jewish…
Reb Chaim HaQoton
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What is the significance of Medusa having hands of bronze?
I was reading Ritchie's Fabulae Faciles, and it says of the Gorgon Medusa,
Manus etiam ex aere factae erant. ("Indeed, her hands were made out of bronze.")
What is the significance or symbolism of this?
Note that according to Apollodorus in the…
Tyler Durden
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Why Does the Devil Have a Silver Nose
I recently heard an Italian fairy-tale from a friend, in which a girl rescues her sisters from the Devil's basement. I've identified the tale as How the Devil Married Three Sisters (sometimes Silver Nose or The Devil's Silver Nose). No matter the…
Sol
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An ancient source for the myth of Venus' creation of red roses?
I asked a question Literature SE a few days ago, trying to make sense of some of the references in an English poem by William Drummond of Hawthornden. One portion of the poem describes Venus/Aphrodite gathering 'those fair flowers/Which of her blood…
Tom Hosker
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Who were the beings that the Titans overthrew to gain power on Olympus?
Who were the beings that the Titans overthrew to gain power on Olympus? In the book of Encyclopedia of Mythology by Eric Flaum it discusses how Mother Earth conspired with Cronus to overthrow Uranus who was in power at the time. Who were these…
user28
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Examples of non-Homeric invisibility as clouds
Homer uses the trope of clouds of mist rendering a god or person unseen (even to people right next to them, in the daylight) a number of times throughout the Iliad and Odyssey. For example, in the Iliad this is performed by Minerva in Book I, Venus…
Daniel R. Collins
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Are there any examples of gods or people boasting of their ability to engage in multiple acts of sex in succession?
Are there any examples in mythologies of gods or people boasting about their ability to engage in multiple acts of sex (multi-orgasmic) in succession? I am looking for examples in which they specify a number (as exaggerated as it may be).
EDIT: I…
Reb Chaim HaQoton
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Is there a passage about white hair in Chinese mythology?
In the wuxia Chinese dramas it's very common for characters who went through great stress to have white hair.
But, apparently, stress and emotional charge isn't the exact reason for this to occur, given that there are other occurrences of this…
LeticiaYanaguya
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What symbol is on the staff of The Sorceress by Georges Merle?
This painting depicts a number of symbols from various cultures. It was shown at a Paris exhibition in 1883, and I suspect the painting is more imagination than an accurate depiction of any sorceress. That said, the subject holds a staff with a…
creative-username
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Could ancient myths of “giants” hint to contact with other species of homini?
Many mythologies mention some form of "giants". Those giants may or may not be described as greater in height, but are always described as greater in strength and are portraied as violent. Examples are the Greek "gigantes" or the Biblical…
hkval
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Is it sound to academically analyze myth in translation?
I am working on my dissertation on An Táin Bó Culaigne. I (sadly) can't work from the Old Irish text but am relying on using translation to explore a point I am making about Early Irish society.
Is this a valid mode of inquiry?
I am reading some…
user6922
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What is this Norse symbol?
It is possibly Icelandic but I can only find it in one place with no name or explanation. Similar to a helm of awe but with an A in the middle and the ends are alternating circles and crescents.
Fiona
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