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Mythology

Launched Q&A site for enthusiasts and scholars of mythology.

16
votes
3
answers

What is the line between mythology and folklore?

apr 23 '15 at 6:04 Community♦ 1
2
votes
2
answers

Is Sumerian, Mesopotamian and Babylonian mythology on-topic?

apr 2 '15 at 0:06 Piper 224
10
votes
3
answers

Will the proposed Mythology site include questions about current or major religions?

apr 1 '15 at 6:54 Mary ML 151
1
vote
2
answers

Is Mythology proposal already dead?

feb 22 '15 at 0:43 Community♦ 1
4
votes
2
answers

Slow Proposal Progress

sep 12 '14 at 3:44 Helmsman Of-Inepu 156

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70 Example Questions

active newest votes
up vote 13 down vote
Who gave Hermes his winged shoes?
added by Young Guilo Aug 4 '13 at 0:52
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up vote 13 down vote
What is the significance of Odin's ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory)?
added by Ernesto Nov 17 '13 at 22:05
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up vote 12 down vote
How much did Greek mythology vary throughout different regions of Greece?
added by kuwaly Sep 10 '13 at 2:59
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up vote 12 down vote
In Norse mythology, chosen warriors go to the halls of Valhalla. Where do the non-warriors go upon dying?
added by Pravesh Parekh Mar 18 '14 at 12:23
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up vote 11 down vote
Did the Gods and Goddesses in Norse mythology act as patron gods (like how Athena was the patron to Athens)?
added by kuwaly Aug 18 '13 at 21:41
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up vote 11 down vote
What happens after Ragnarok?
added by BostonJohn Aug 26 '13 at 19:07
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up vote 11 down vote
What is the story behind Amateratsu being the ancestress of the Japanese Imperial Household?
added by kuwaly Nov 6 '13 at 18:56
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up vote 10 down vote
What was the difference between the military subdomains of Athena and Ares?
added by Donaudampfschifffreizeitfahrt, edited by Cody Guldner Aug 9 '13 at 1:39
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up vote 10 down vote
Is the image of Perun insipred/influenced by Scandinavian mythology?
added by Donaudampfschifffreizeitfahrt Aug 4 '13 at 17:58
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up vote 10 down vote
Was Kali worshiped as the goddess of evil, or their bad "PR" was created by rivaling priests?
added by Donaudampfschifffreizeitfahrt Aug 4 '13 at 18:01
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up vote 10 down vote
Did the Greeks build temples for all of the children of Chronus (i.e. Zeus, Hera, etc.)?
added by kuwaly Aug 6 '13 at 19:00
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up vote 10 down vote
Why would looking into a mirror prevent someone from turning to stone when looking at Medusa?
added by Cody Guldner Aug 8 '13 at 3:42
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1  
This would be a great question as many mythologies deal with reflections in the mirror/vanity/etc. – Nobody Mar 25 '14 at 16:37
up vote 10 down vote
According to Greek mythology, how was the world created?
added by Cody Guldner Aug 8 '13 at 3:43
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up vote 10 down vote
Are demigods "legal" in the world of the [Greek] Gods? Is it ok for a God to be sexually active with a human?
added by Cody Guldner Aug 8 '13 at 17:05
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You would need to be more specific than "Gods". What pantheon are you referring to? Greek? Roman? Peruvian? Polynesian? – kuwaly Aug 9 '13 at 19:37
Also, what do you mean by "legal" and "ok"? Morally okay? Permitted by mortal governments? Consistent with the rest of the mythos? – starsplusplus Jan 31 '14 at 15:34
this is a good question, also seen in Christianity, but in Greek, many Gods fathered demigods. – Nobody Mar 25 '14 at 16:42
up vote 10 down vote
Are there any cultures with no known interactions that have notable similarities in their creation myths?
added by rath Aug 8 '13 at 21:46
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This is worded a bit convolutedly. Can you try to simplify it? The second part of the question seems virtually the same as the first part. If ti is, can you take it out, and if it's not, can you try to make it clearer? – kuwaly Aug 9 '13 at 20:08
Thank you for your comment. I think I've improved it now @kuwaly – rath Aug 9 '13 at 20:10
I'm actually still kind of confused. Do you mean distinct as in unique to each place or do you mean common themes across different cultures? – kuwaly Aug 19 '13 at 16:29
Both. I hope I've removed any confusion with the latest edit @kuwaly – rath Aug 19 '13 at 18:00
1  
Yeah. It seems fine now. – kuwaly Aug 19 '13 at 18:02
up vote 10 down vote
How is adultery treated in Hindu mythology?
added by rath Aug 8 '13 at 21:50
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up vote 10 down vote
What kind of God or Goddess was "Sextilis", who's name appears in the old Roman calendar of Romulus (753 BC)?
added by e-sushi Aug 14 '13 at 14:21
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up vote 10 down vote
What is the original mythology behind Halloween?
added by e-sushi Aug 14 '13 at 14:30
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up vote 10 down vote
What was the mythological reason for the old Egyptians to place a golden coin in the mouth of a dead person?
added by e-sushi Aug 14 '13 at 14:34
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2  
Anything having to do with the dead, ceremonies, rituals or customs are a great source of questions. – Young Guilo Jan 5 '14 at 21:55
up vote 10 down vote
What role (if any) does mythology play in the development of the Christian religion?
added by Skippy Oct 21 '13 at 13:31
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Really good question as there are ties to many mythologies/religions. – Nobody Mar 25 '14 at 16:40
up vote 10 down vote
How are Immanuel Velikovsky's assertions on mythologies generally asessed?
added by René Nyffenegger Nov 7 '13 at 5:57
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up vote 10 down vote
Is there any Demigod (Born from human and god) in Indian mythology?
added by Ankit Sharma, edited by SF. Jan 9 '14 at 11:16
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up vote 10 down vote
What is the basis of the myth that Christ lived in England as a child?
added by Chenmunka Nov 19 '13 at 12:13
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3  
This should be placed in Religion more than Mythology. – Young Guilo Nov 21 '13 at 14:24
1  
@Young Guilo Perhaps we should define which is which in the proposal. Does "mythology" refer to only dead religions? Only polytheistic religions? What questions are we not accepting here that would be accepted on Religion and why? – starsplusplus Jan 31 '14 at 15:37
@starsplusplus It depends on who "Christ" is. Assuming it's Jesus, he lived in the Middle East. Proved. Thus it isn't mythology. – Young Guilo Jan 31 '14 at 16:46
1  
Greek and Roman mythology is a religion. As far as I'm concern any religion is mythology. – Anonymous Feb 11 '14 at 2:21
1  
Christ is in all awaiting awakening, so the question is mythological. Chenmunka did not refer to Jesus but said Christ. As mythologies aim is to awake in the person those qualities, I see he question as totally valid here. With living in England, it means that the UK's ways are more likely to bring about the Christ consciousness than in many other places. – Thoth Mar 7 '14 at 7:35
show 2 more improvement suggestions
up vote 10 down vote
What are the origins of Geomancy?
added by Chenmunka Nov 19 '13 at 12:14
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up vote 10 down vote
How do the Wondjina travel in the Dreamtime?
added by Chenmunka Nov 21 '13 at 12:53
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up vote 10 down vote
Which properties of Thor from The Avengers (Comic book) are actually backed by Norse mythology?
added by fifaltra Jan 3 '14 at 21:21
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up vote 10 down vote
Where does the myth of Babayaga originate from?
added by starsplusplus Feb 4 '14 at 11:04
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Is "Where did X originate from" not a little broad? – Jack M Apr 25 '14 at 23:18
up vote 10 down vote
Which Greek deities do not have an "equivalent" in the Roman pantheon and vice versa?
added by starsplusplus Feb 4 '14 at 11:06
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That's a list question which is not really good... – Cedric H. Mar 21 '14 at 8:44
1  
List questions are bad if they are open ended, but there were a finite number of Greek and Roman gods, weren't there? – curiousdannii Mar 26 '14 at 4:15
1  
List questions like "best sites for x, y, z" are bad because they require maintenance that nobody will really undertake. This question doesn't have that issue, the answers won't expire in the same way. – starsplusplus Mar 26 '14 at 9:28
up vote 10 down vote
Did the average Greek really believe all of those stories?
added by Jack M Feb 17 '14 at 22:47
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3  
How would anyone be able to answer that? – Chenmunka Mar 15 '14 at 22:56
6  
@Chenmunka How would anyone answer any historical question? Hopefully there are documents or other evidence that can be used to get an idea what exactly the Greeks thought of their own stories, and if there aren't, then that would be the answer. – Jack M Mar 17 '14 at 15:53
Not really a good question. – Nobody Mar 25 '14 at 16:39
@Jody Could you explain why? It's the type of question that primarily interests me when it comes to mythology. – Jack M Apr 20 '14 at 23:58
Inference from today's society that not everyone believes in the different religions across the planet and their stories so its reasonable to assume that the people of that time, probably didn't believe everything in their religions, although they certainly influence society across all ages. – Nobody Apr 21 '14 at 22:35
show 3 more improvement suggestions
up vote 10 down vote
Why were cats so important in old Egypt?
added by Arperum Mar 4 '14 at 12:11
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up vote 10 down vote
What is the origin of the myth that ghosts have their feet backward facing?
added by Pravesh Parekh Mar 18 '14 at 12:39
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up vote 10 down vote
Why did Mimir want an eye from Odin and what did Mimir do with it?
added by Christian Apr 5 '14 at 13:19
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up vote 10 down vote
How is Borjgali (a Georgian symbol of Sun) related to the Mesopotamian symbols of Eternity?
added by fremmedehenvendelser Apr 12 '14 at 7:29
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Nice question frem. – Young Guilo Apr 14 '14 at 22:15
up vote 10 down vote
What is the earliest documented reference to dragons?
added by Styphon Apr 19 '14 at 10:59
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up vote 9 down vote
Why (according to Romans) do the seasons change?
added by Young Guilo Aug 4 '13 at 0:54
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up vote 9 down vote
How did the Greek Minotaurus become invincible?
added by e-sushi Aug 14 '13 at 13:53
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up vote 9 down vote
What parallels can be drawn between the European myths of Atlantis and the Amerindian myths of Mu?
added by Chenmunka Nov 23 '13 at 14:40
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up vote 9 down vote
How much of Roman mythology was not obviously influenced by Greek mythology?
added by Bekah Evie Bel Dec 7 '13 at 13:53
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This is a good question but it could degenerate into a list question, which would be a bad thing. – Chenmunka Mar 14 '14 at 20:18
up vote 9 down vote
Why does Charon, ferryman of the river Styx, collect a toll? What does he do with his money?
added by kscott Jan 12 '14 at 16:52
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1  
nice question :D im also curious with this. – Vainglory07 Feb 15 '14 at 5:04
1  
good question :) while i haven't read anything, he probably pays to keep himself out of hades. lol – Nobody Mar 25 '14 at 16:45
up vote 9 down vote
According to Greek mythology, Hephaestus forged weapons for the gods. Which was the "strongest' weapon forged and for which god?
added by Pravesh Parekh Mar 18 '14 at 12:36
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"strongest" would all boil down to opinion – Young Guilo Apr 6 '14 at 15:45
May not necessarily be so. There may be documented references that prove the superiority of some weapon over the rest. – Pravesh Parekh Apr 6 '14 at 16:15
If there are two documents that differ its opinion-based. – Young Guilo Apr 8 '14 at 1:51
1  
Then there would (not necessarily though) have been comparative studies done by people. Or there might be evidence of the weight of one over the other. If not, the person who answers can mention that there are two contradictory studies and that the OP is free to choose whatever he/she wants to. – Pravesh Parekh Apr 8 '14 at 11:13
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