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What's the best way to go about researching obscure mythologies?
So basically, I want to learn more about Zulu (or possibly some other South African culture) polytheism, among other things. Trouble is, it's hard to find a lot information about it, even from ye olde Google and some stub pages on Wikipedia. I can…
Sir Keksalot
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What is this symbol on my necklace?
I bought this pendant in Italy around 10 years ago, I think from Rome.
I’ve always been curious as to what the bird with the sun above it (etched onto the red glossy background) represents. I was a child at the time... I only picked it up because I…
P...
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Djinn and devils/demons question
I know that ancient Arabians had a mythology about evil creatures made of dust and fire called djinn, now my question is this: how were they different from Demons and devils?
Abraham Ray
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European folkloric references to "cold iron" as a ward against supernatural entities?
The wikipedia entry for cold iron references Kipling and Walter Scott. Wondering if there are any surviving folktales involving iron as a ward or weapon against faeries and other supernatural entities.
DukeZhou
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Which ancient hero is most associated with confronting the unknown?
I came across this quote from Jordan Peterson:
Well what would you want to be king? You could say king of the world or king of your own soul: What do you wanna subordinate yourself to. How 'bout your heroic willingness to encounter the unknown and…
Marcus Whybrow
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What is the folkloric origin of "el príncipe azul"?
In Spanish, the folkloric character who would in English be called "Prince Charming" is known as Príncipe Azul, the Blue Prince.
The Spanish Wikipedia claims that the origin is from a Romanian folktale called, roughly, "The Blue Prince of the…
Obie 2.0
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What animal did Demeter transform into?
When Typhon showed up at Olympus, most of the gods fled to Egypt in the form of animals. (Wikipedia is the only place I found what form they took.) Apollo was a hawk, Hermes an ibis, Ares a fish, Artemis a cat, Dionysus a goat, Heracles a fawn,…
Andrew Johnson
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Who is the goddess Kalligeneia?
While exploring Demeter's title Thesmophoros (θεσμός, thesmos: divine order, unwritten law; φόρος, phoros: bringer, bearer) by clicking on the Wikipedia link, I found nothing relating to it. The link, instead, brought me to a festival celebrated in…
Andrew Johnson
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What kinds of love do individual Greek gods represent?
The Greeks had four concepts for love: éros (ἔρος), storgē (στοργή), philía (φιλία) and agápe (ἀγάπη). Eros being passionate love or romantic love. Storge means love between good friends and family. Philia is translated as friendship. And agape is…
Andrew Johnson
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Why do ghosts mess with electricity?
The concept of ghosts (shades in the sense of spirits or phantoms) predates the understanding and harnessing of electricity by humans.
But, in modern folklore and mythology electric lights often flicker when a ghost is in the room.
Why is this?…
Andrew Johnson
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Where does the folk tradition of the Easter Bunny come from?
Easter eggs connect with Mary Magdalene, and chocolate ones were first marketed by the J S Fry chocolate company, but what is the origin of the Easter Bunny, the rabbit or hare that is now a popular feature at Eastertime?
user1618
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Where are there female centaurs in mythology?
A few months ago, I was reading the Metamorphoses by Ovid (translator unknown). At a time I was reading it just to get through it because it wasn't what I expected (still read it though, albeit not thoroughly). Anyways, I dimly remember a picture of…
Andrew Johnson
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What deities did only one city/state recognize?
In research of past questions, I came across Eleos. Eleos is the personified daemon (lesser/inferior god) of piety, mercy, clemency (leniency), and compassion. She was always depicted as a young woman wearing a blue veil or dress. She was only…
Andrew Johnson
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What is the meaning behind Amaterasu-ōmikami meaning what it does?
Amaterasu-ōmikami means "the great august kami (deity) who shines in the heaven." Why is it specifically august? What does the goddess name meaning august mean?
Andrew Johnson
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Does Angela Merkel's use of her distinctive "diamond" hand gesture have any folk-historical or other oral-traditional background?
Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, is known for using a distinctive hand gesture.
Does the Merkel rhombus (Merkel-Raute), which has been heavily used by the Christian Democratic party in its electoral campaigning, have any folk-historical or…
user1618