Questions tagged [interpretation]
For questions for the deeper meaning behind a myth, such as a theme or symbolism.
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What is the great gulf mentioned by Hesiod?
In Hesiod's Theogony he mentions a place where the sources and ends of the Earth, Tartarus, Sea and Heaven are located:
And there, all in their order, are the sources and ends of gloomy earth and ...
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Why does Hesiod emphasize the fact that Hecate is the only child of her parents?
In Hesiod's Theogony, he dedicates a part to talking about Hecate's birth and the powers she possesses:
And she conceived and bare Hecate whom Zeus the son of Cronos honoured
above all. He gave her ...
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What is in the hand of Castor? Can that be a mirror?
My question is about the twin brothers - the mortal Castor and the immortal Pollux. Regarding this statue, which is a Roman copy of a 4th-5th century BC Greek version:
In the descriptions I found it ...
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Is there a detailed analysis comparing Jonah's story in the Bible with the Sun and the seasons?
In this video Derek of Myth vision explores the story of Jonah and the Fish swallowing him.
There is this comment below in that video.
This seems like a very interesting allegory of nature. Has some ...
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Perseus as son of Poseidon?
It's been a long time since I looked at the Perseus myth, and became confused debating with a child who asserted Perseus was the the son of Poseidon. This led me to read the Percy Jackson series, ...
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Why was the Greek deity of warfare and wisdom (Athena) female, and how did the Greeks rationalize this?
While of course descending from a diverse cultural genealogy, Greek deities appear to have become consistent with what would have been familiar gender associations to the Greeks. This can especially ...
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Spirals as calendrical representations (from HSM)
A recent work proposed that the double spiral motif found at Newgrange (ca. 3200 BC) is a calendrical representation. Looking south the northern peoples observed that the arc traced by the sun widens ...
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What is the meaning of the inscriptions on Baphomet arms?
I refer to Latin words SOLVE and COAGULA on his arms.
I understand literal translation of these words but it doesn't throw any light of the real designation and sacred meaning of them. All the ...
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What did Jason mean in Euripides Medea by saying what use do you have of children?
I'm writing an essay on the hubris of Jason in Euripides Medea and while reading it, I still don't understand what he means by this line. So Jason is explaining to Medea that he left her because he ...
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Standard references on meanings of colors
I was wondering about the physics of color, and now am interested in finding out if there are any standard resources on the meanings or appearances of colors.
For example, color associations in ...
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Are there any stories or fables in mythology that have an anarchist message?
Most mythologies that I read are used to justify the power structures in society.
Are there any that instead preach democracy, anti-authority, pro-education, or free love?
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What are the major interpretations of the Enuma Elish?
I'm reading Mesopotamian mythology and looking to get a comparison of the major interpretations of the 'meaning' (mythological, psychological or psychoanalytic, ecological, historical, etc.) of the ...
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Why is rape featured so prominently in Greek mythology?
This question may be a little controversial so try to keep your answers as academically as possible. (take an example from @DukeZhou )
If on the subject general answers are also accepted
I am familiar ...
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Medea in the Dunciad
The mortal Medea, as described in Wikipedia, does not appear to characterize the lines in Alexander Pope's Dunciad:
As one by one, at dread Medea's strain,
The sick'ning stars fade off th' ethereal ...
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A unified understanding and description of a "spirit"?
This is something I've been struggling with for a while now, something that I'm hoping someone with a background in mythology, folklore, and/or anthropology might be able to help me with.
I come from ...
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Is Loki a Eldþursar? [duplicate]
I fully aware that Loki is no longer considered a fire god, but I recently read an interesting two-part article proposing that Loki is an Eldþursar (Fire Giant). The article does this by analysing ...
user5268
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What scripture describes humans as being morally superior to angels?
At the climax of Fate/stay night's Heaven's Feel route, the main antagonist, Kirei Kotomine refers to a religious scripture that says humans are morally superior to angels because humans can choose ...
user5268
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Relationship of Mithra and Varuna
Just need an answer about the two gods Mithra and Varuna, their situation actually.
I know that Mithra isn't worshiped at all, but I read and suspect personally that his name still remains in the "...
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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?
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What does Hesiod mean by "babies will be born with gray hair" in the Iron Age?
I found this on the Ages of Man Wikipedia article, in the section about Hesiod's Five Ages:
At the height of this age, humans no longer feel shame or indignation at wrongdoing; babies will be born ...
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Aoife and Cu Chulainn
In the Irish legend, did Aoife ultimately win or lose the duel with Cu Chulainn? Is it true that Cu Chualainn fell in love with Aoife?
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What is the symbolism behind Psyche's tasks?
The taskmaster in the story of Cupid and Psyche was Cupid's mother, the love goddess Venus or Aphrodite. Venus had never liked Psyche, so the opportunity of putting her to a series of tests gave Venus ...
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What do the "runes" on this pendant say?
I found this pendant on AliExpress, and it looks pretty nice. But I'd like to know what the runes mean, if anything?
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What is the significance of the very long time Völsung spent in the womb?
Völsung's mother carried him in her womb for six years:
Now no otherwise it goes with the queen's sickness than heretofore, nor may she be the lighter of her child, and six winters wore away with the ...
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Flood myth = Maritime Voyages & Colonization Interpretation?
I am currently studying various flood myths from all around the world.
I interprete this whole story as a maritime voyage & colonization story:
The ark is simply a ship (bigger than a cockleshell;...
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What is the differences between the two versions of these myths? [closed]
What is the differences between the two versions of these myths? How can they be interpreted? The first image is a Bell crater by a Berlin painter in Tarquinia (Italy), Museum. C. 490 BC, it has ...
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Where did the myth about the sword in the stone originate?
Where did the story/myth of the sword in the stone originate?There have been theories of it originating in Rome and England. It is also said to be just a story, but I think otherwise. There is a ...
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Why is Gylfe trying to deceit his way into Asgard?
In the Gylfaginning, king Gylfe travels to Asgard disguised as an old man. When asked, he introduces himself with a fake name (Ganglere). The Aesir are on to him from the start, however they don't ...
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What is the meaning of the star symbols appearing on seal VA 243?
Here is the picture of cylinder seal VA/243.
Image credits: Z. Sitchin
This seal was named like that because it is number 243 in the collection of the Vorderasiatische Museum in Berlin.
What is the ...
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Why would turning clothes inside-out keep the Faerie away?
A recurring theme in Irish stories about the Faerie is that they can be kept away by clothing turned inside-out. This (according to this particular Wikipedia source about Spriggans) is "as effective ...
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What is the meaning of not giving clothes to supernatural helpers?
There is a theme that I found in several folk tales from Ireland to Russia - although mostly in Irish/Celtic stories. It is where a house has supernatural helpers, who do work overnight. However, the ...
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