Common themes in Mythology

[Pandora]

well I looked it up, and I found this page if the link works right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_(number)

ok click search for number 13 something something then click on number 13 text which i think might be in brackets, copy and pasting the link into the web bar might work better I haven't checked on that yet. This must be some new thing that wiki has started with their web pages because I don't recall having so much trouble with them before.

I don't know all the details as I am reading up on the subject myself.

It doesn't seem to say exactly where the unlucky 13 started but it does have some info on the number in different cultures, including a few I wasn't aware of before reading it.

[Falconer]

Wow, I missed some debating. Drakes, the practice of putting coins on the eyes of the dead in Greece was to give the souls money to pay Charon, the boatman who would take them across the river Styx to the underworld. As far as I know, only Heracles and Orpheus have gotten across without paying.

As for the number 13, the tarot cards, to gain authenticity, would have just taken the unlucky thirteen idea from a well known superstition. I have no idea where it would have originated.

[Drakel]

Ok but the idea of a dark, shady, man that douse not talk was from the Greeks.

Dark, shady, skeleton, this idea should Also be from the Greeks seeing that it is simular to Charon. Right?

[Falconer]

Mmmm I don't recall any decent descriptions of Charon, but Death was an actual entity in Greek mythology, a dark, cloaked figure.

[Drakel]

Mmmm I don't recall any decent descriptions of Charon, but Death was an actual entity in Greek mythology, a dark, cloaked figure.

what I mean is is it a possibility that peaple turned Charon frome greek mythology to become the grim reapor??

[alondor]

Well clearing up the friday the 13th facts. If you read the davinci code it said that that was the day the grail knight were killed as heritics, that is actually historically accurate

[Falconer]

Really? I thought Dan Brown was making that up, too. If so, then yeah, it does kind of make sense for people to view that day as a dark and unlucky one.

[Corva]

Some numbers: 3,4,6,7,10,12. Especially 3 and 12. 3 as in Trinity, 12 as in Tribes of Israel. 3 and in main 3 Greek gods, 12 as in total number of Olympians. 12 as in signs of the Zodiac...

Aside from Numerology and Death, any more corrabarrations in mythology?

[Falconer]

Apocalypse. The final and eventual destruction of Earth and humans seems to be fairly common.

[Corva]

Yes, but can we count that among death spirits - things that are inherent to humanity, rather than exherent?

[Pandora]

don't forget to add Norse mythology to the list.

[alondor]

yeah pandora's post just reminded me that three levels of earth, as in heaven(azgard,olympus) earth (midgard) and hell (underworld). and yes i know some of the words are mispelled

[vampirehunter42]

A couple of other "world spanning" myths.

1. Green man. This is a symbol of plant growth and rebirth.

2. Animal people: Things like Werewolves are known around the world just known as different animales of the area.

3. Life Drinkers: Best know as vampires, many cultures around the world speak of creatures that live off the life essence of humans.

4. Ape Men: Creatures like bigfoot are known around the world.

5. Space Men: I count them into our "modern" mythology. And they are in my theory on why many other older myths are not noticed as much.

6. Demons: Though I think this was covered, creatures of 'evil' are known around the world. And oddly at times their outlook can change with the change of religion.
That is all I can think of off the top of my head. Well be back later too see what chaos this brings.

[Falconer]

I always equated the alien things with the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek, Egyptian, Roman, and Norse mythology.

[Corva]

Which I always equated with the Demigods, gods, and Nephilim, and Titans of said mythology.