20
votes
What do the "runes" on this pendant say?
Sorry to say, it's actually nothing more than the Elder Futhark, the eldest of the runic alphabets.
You can read more on it on Wikipedia. A good giveaway that it doesn't "say" anything is the lack of ...
- 7,157
15
votes
Accepted
Why is rape featured so prominently in Greek mythology?
Preface: This subject is complicated by changing social standards. Forced marriage has been routinely practiced around the world into the contemporary era, depending on the society. (This is a major ...
- 14.1k
14
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of the star symbols appearing on seal VA 243?
My name is Emerson C Velloso, and this is my archaeoastronomical contribution to Professor Michael S Heiser:
The man seated is Ninurta, He's not only the God of the Farmers and Plow, He is also the ...
- 156
11
votes
Accepted
What is the symbolism behind Psyche's tasks?
The beautiful mind (soul) only finds pleasure (happiness) in unconditional love (heart).
The heart (unconditional love) likewise only finds happiness (pleasure) in the soul (beautiful mind).
...
- 416
11
votes
What do the "runes" on this pendant say?
As others said, the symbols spell the runic alphabet from the Elder Futhark. They circle Yggdrasil, the mythical tree that connects the nine worlds in Norse cosmology, where Odin hung himself in order ...
- 111
8
votes
Accepted
Why was the Greek deity of warfare and wisdom (Athena) female, and how did the Greeks rationalize this?
Athena was more or less the counterpart of Ares in all things (also in gender). For one, Ares was hated to the point where Zeus called Ares a whining double faced liar who is most hateful of all gods ...
- 4,051
8
votes
What do the "runes" on this pendant say?
This is literally the Elder Futhark runic alphabet spelled out. In other words it's the equivalent of "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"
- 181
6
votes
Accepted
What scripture describes humans as being morally superior to angels?
From the video:
“A certain scripture mentions that humans are superior beings to angels."
The character misunderstands the scriptural reference - it refers to Jesus, not to humans generally. (Though ...
- 709
6
votes
What is the meaning of the star symbols appearing on seal VA 243?
Something I never see mentioned concerning this seal and the "solar system" is why only including Pluto makes no sense. Since you can't see all the planets with the naked eye, I believe the idea is ...
- 61
6
votes
Why is rape featured so prominently in Greek mythology?
While I agree with much of what has been written already, I think there is one obvious aspect that has not been directly expressed. There's a lot of rape in Greek myth because rape happened a lot. The ...
- 176
6
votes
What is the symbolism behind Psyche's tasks?
I see the stages of spiritual awakening reflected in each labor:
Stage I: Labor of Sorting Seeds - Beginning. Journey of intentionally creating internal order through disciplined action with an aim. ...
5
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of the inscriptions on Baphomet arms?
"Solve et coagula" is the principle underlying alchemy: dissolve materials to their constituents and re-assemble these into something else.
Fulcanelli writes of this quote:
If you know how to ...
- 5,354
5
votes
Where did the myth about the sword in the stone originate?
There is an alternate explanation based on Roman conscripts in Roman Britain from Eastern Europe that the Romans credited with introducing the Stirrup to the Roman Cavalry. The defeated province in ...
4
votes
What is the meaning of the star symbols appearing on seal VA 243?
Apparently, either my research jiu-jitsu is flawed, or the first cylinder is a forgery. First of all, it does not resemble any of the Cuneiform writings that are historically known, secondarily there ...
4
votes
What does Hesiod mean by "babies will be born with gray hair" in the Iron Age?
I believe this version is a bit more illuminating. Grey at birth seems to imply by the surrounding text to mean a belief they are mature before their time.
Thereafter, would that I were not among ...
4
votes
Accepted
What is the great gulf mentioned by Hesiod?
Yes, this "great gulf" (χάσμα μέγ') and chaos are one and the same. Gulf, chasm, abyss, void, or gap is an older meaning (LSJ; Wiki) for a term that in modern English has come to mean ...
- 1,335
4
votes
Are there any stories or fables in mythology that have an anarchist message?
If memory serves, Mikhail Bakunin was particularly fond of the story of Prometheus, the Titan of forethought. Prometheus defied the Olympians (the ruling class), stole fire from Zeus (the king) and ...
- 17k
3
votes
Accepted
A unified understanding and description of a "spirit"?
Let me try to answer your question by example of Eastern mythology and philosophy as I'm most familiar with those academically.
The origin of much the confusion is that the first translations from ...
- 5,354
3
votes
Are there any stories or fables in mythology that have an anarchist message?
An anarchist message can be found in Antigone's refusal to abide by King Creon's decree to leave her brother unburied, as dramatized in the play "Seven Against Thebes" by Aeschylus.
Interestingly, ...
- 151
3
votes
What is the significance of the very long time Völsung spent in the womb?
The long pregnancy is probably to underline how unnatural the whole thing was: Völsung's father Rerir made several failed attempt to impregnate his wife, but only succeeded after being given a magical ...
- 6,006
3
votes
What is the meaning behind Amaterasu-ōmikami meaning what it does?
Re: Why "august"
It's a function of translation into European languages. It comes from the Latin usage: augustus and was a title employed initially by Octavian, who was deified after his death.
I'm ...
- 14.1k
2
votes
Aoife and Cu Chulainn
I basically answer this question from the sources in another question here so I'll modify it for your question.
Aoife is a warrior woman who Cú's teacher Scáthach seems to have an ongoing feud with:
...
2
votes
What is the meaning of the inscriptions on Baphomet arms?
This probably derives from the Greek coinage spagyria, which itself is supposed to come from 'σπάω' and 'ἀγείρω.' These words roughly correspond to "solve" and "coagula," or divide and join.
This ...
- 1,249
2
votes
What did Jason mean in Euripides Medea by saying what use do you have of children?
I think it's more along the lines of Jason needing children to continue his 'noble line', the implied insult being that Medea has no noble line and therefore no need to have children. As Medea is the ...
- 485
1
vote
Accepted
Standard references on meanings of colors
Ellen Conroy The Symbolism of Color (1921) is a popular book on the topic and has been reissued.
A more serious approach would be Marshall Sahlins (1976) Colors and Cultures, Semiotica, Vol.16, p.1–...
- 836
1
vote
Accepted
What is the differences between the two versions of these myths?
Really, none.
Both paintings show that Zeus led Europa away in the form of a bull.
The only difference I can make between those paintings are the fact that the first one is only Europa is the only ...
- 6,719
1
vote
What is the meaning of the star symbols appearing on seal VA 243?
It's a date-stamp that indicates which Akitu festival the seal is commemorating. Akitu was a barley festival, andwas celebrated twice per year (sowing and reaping.) The Akitu festival marked the ...
- 11
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