All Questions
2,053
questions
58
votes
3
answers
7k
views
When and how did the Greek mythos transfer to the Romans?
It seems that there are a great many similarities between Roman and Greek Mythology. In fact, many people consider them synonymous and only really differ in the names. For example:
Greek ⇄ Roman
Zeus ...
user93
43
votes
3
answers
102k
views
What is the difference between a God and a Titan?
In Greek mythology, the words "Titan" and "God" seem to be used interchangeably. For example, Zeus is a God, but Cronus (his father) was a Titan. So what is the difference between a Titan and a God in ...
- 541
41
votes
6
answers
100k
views
Are Excalibur and Caliburn different swords?
Arthurian legend features swords called "Excalibur" and "Caliburn". It is not clear to me whether these two swords are the same entity (at minimum, the names are clearly cognate), or whether they ...
- 2,972
40
votes
5
answers
25k
views
Why does looking at Medusa with a mirror work?
Medusa is known for being so ugly that if men even look at her face, they would immediately be turned into stone statues. Perseus was somehow able to overcome this challenge of killing her by looking ...
- 2,075
38
votes
1
answer
15k
views
What is the world's oldest joke?
What is the world's oldest joke? I mean the earliest known story, set of affairs, or action that people spread to other people in order to cause the receivers to be amused.
user1618
37
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Why were there exactly 12 main Olympian Gods?
Did the ancient Greeks believe that the number 12 symbolized everything? Was it random that there were 12 Olympian gods and no more (or less)?
- 707
37
votes
3
answers
16k
views
What is the earliest known dragon myth?
The myth of dragons can be found in many different traditions, with the major two being the European dragon and the Chinese dragon.
"There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the ...
- 888
36
votes
3
answers
96k
views
Why was it a good thing that hope remained in Pandora's box?
One thing has always confused me about the story of Pandora. When she opened her box (or jar, whatever), all sorts of evil things escaped outside the box, and this is why we have evil in the world now....
- 2,972
35
votes
5
answers
51k
views
Where did the Roman gods live?
The ancient Greek gods lived on the famous Mount Olympus, which is an actual mountain in Greece.
The Romans borrowed quite a bit of mythology from the Greeks, so I at first assumed that the Roman ...
- 7,115
34
votes
3
answers
38k
views
34
votes
7
answers
78k
views
How was it decided which warriors would go to Fólkvangr and which to Valhalla?
I have read numerous times that some Norse warriors, upon death, would go in Fólkvangr, while some others would go to Valhalla. How was it decided which warrior would go to which place? Why did the ...
anon
33
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Who did Adam and Eve's son Cain marry?
According to Christian mythology, Adam and Eve were the first people created. So their children were living alone in the world.
In Genesis 4:16-17 it says that Cain left Eden and went towards the ...
- 1,635
33
votes
4
answers
10k
views
What is the difference between giants, Jotuns and trolls in Norse mythology?
I am a little bit confused by the way the terms giant, frost giant, jotun (or jötunn), ettin and troll seem to overlap in Norse mythology.
I don't understand if they refer to a single race or ...
- 2,070
32
votes
3
answers
26k
views
Why did Zeus assume so many different forms for seduction?
The character of Zeus is well-known for seducing many women, both human and goddesses. In many of these stories, Zeus assumes a form other than his true self.
The most famous is perhaps Leda - it is ...
- 2,483
31
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why did God prefer Abel's offering to Cain's?
In the Old Testament, God accepts Abel's offering but rejects Cain's:
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an ...
user62