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Why is Odin called the Wanderer?
On the Wikipedia page, under a depiction of Odin is a caption. The caption calls Odin the Wanderer, gives the year made and artist. It is mention again at the end, saying J.R.R. Tolkien used Odin's Wanderer guise as inspiration. But, it doesn't why…
Andrew Johnson
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Are dragons intelligent?
Intelligent can mean a number of things, so to simplify, lets limit it to capable of human speech. It is a common quality in movies and books to give dragons the power of human speech, but are such qualities given to any dragons in mythology?
Andrew Johnson
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A battle between Maximo and Digenis in Greek Folklore
While working on an essay, I came across a book called the "The study of Russian folklore" which mentions encounters between an Amazon Maximo and Digenis Akritas and also between Siegfried and a warrior maiden in which the belligerents make love…
Shatov
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Why did Vishnu rape Vrinda?
If Vishnu was the 'Supreme Personality of Godhead', why did he have to rape his sincere devotee Vrinda to defeat Jalandhar who was merely a demon who did not achieve any powerful boons? If Vishnu was God then he could have destroyed Jalandhar just…
Rayaz
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How did Homer describe Mycenae?
Did he link his description with myth of Perseus? Could we imagine how it looks like ?
historicus
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What's the difference between a giant and the "nephilim"?
This picture above is a giant.
What exactly is the difference between a "giant" and the Hebrew "nephilim"?
Angie Dzeastera
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How long was Theseus in the Underworld?
This is the way I see it. Heracles rescued Theseus from the Underworld. But now I'm left with the question, "If Heracles and Theseus were alive at the same time, how did Theseus ever get any glory?" He would only be popular in Minos, Athens and the…
Andrew Johnson
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Did Hephaestus and Aphrodite get divorced?
I come across every now and then that the smith god and the love goddess got a divorce. But to contrast that, I read they are still together in Roman myths and times. Though I also have contrast to that and I suppose it could be a copy of the Greek…
Andrew Johnson
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Does Gaeuko, Guardian of the Night in Basque mythology, connect with the notion of "upperness" or "superiority" denoted by the Basque word "goiko"?
In Basque mythology, Gaueko is the spirit or guardian of the night. He does not allow certain types of work to be done outside at nighttime, and he punishes those who boast that they are not afraid of the dark. He sometimes makes his presence felt…
user1618
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Is Chiron older or younger than the Olympians?
Chiron is a half-brother to Hestia, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Demeter. He is the son of Cronus and Philyra, an Oceanid. But, when was this consummation made? Before, after or during Cronus and Rhea were parenting the next generation of gods?
Andrew Johnson
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Who/What parented the Stymphalian birds?
Getting rid of the Stymphalian Birds is Heracles's sixth labor. The Stymphalian Birds are man-eating birds with beaks of bronze, sharp metallic feathers they could launch at their victims, and poisonous dung. Their beak could pierce any armor,…
Andrew Johnson
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What is the mythological status of the 'goethia' demons?
The 'goethia' is a list of numbered (Christian, as in rulers of hell) demons of which their benefits are documented (this one only speaks the truth in a magical circle, this one provides great riches, etc) and their position as a (smaller) lord of…
Discrete lizard
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Who visited the underworld or summoned ghosts and why?
In Greek mythology, there are two distinct ways to communicate with the dead:
A Nekyia (νέκυια) is a ritual to summon the dead. An example of this is Odysseus in the Odyssey.
A Katabasis (κατάβασις) is a journey into the Underworld while still…
Andrew Johnson
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Who says Abraxas is a prince of hell?
I asked a previous question about Abraxas here, briefly talking about what he is and asking how the number 365 relates to him in so many ways.
A few days later, I was talking to someone who happened to look at my computer as I was researching. We…
Andrew Johnson
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Who was the man whom Athena gave the gift of prophecy, and from whom did Athena learn it from?
I remember a myth I read once. It talked of a man who was the only mortal to be taught prophecy, or some form of it, by Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom. But I cannot recall the name of this man. Nor was I told how Athena came to know or learn…
Andrew Johnson
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