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Is there a specific term in Norse mythology for Odin's self-sacrifice?
Norse mythology knows some terms for quite complex concepts, such as "Ragnarök". Is there a term for Odin's nine-day self-sacrifice? | **Nope.**
The story is known only through Hávamál, a piece of poetry from the poetic Edda, in which it takes up two stanzas. The relevant here is stanza 138:
> Veit ek, at ek hekk
> vindga meiði á
> nætr allar níu,
> geiri undaðr
> ok gefinn Óðni,
> sjalfr sjalfum mér,
> á þeim meiði,
> er manngi... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 8,
"tags": "norse, odin, sacrifice, yggdrasil, terminology"
} |
A rock on a beach
I've heard of a story in greek mythology, but I am missing a lot of details. Can you help me recover the place where, supposedly, everything happened ?
A guy goes alone to a village to steal wine and gold. When the villagers find out, they chase him. He decides to flee by the sea, with a boat. And wh... | I'm sorry, the story had been completely deformed by the person who told it to me. It was supposed to be the story of Ulysses and Polyphemus the cyclops. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "greek, myth identification"
} |
Are there Evil Sybils or Diviners in Greco-Roman Tradition?
In the Judeo-Christian tradition there are people of Divine Insight who do evil, such as the Diviner Balaam.
I'm wondering if there are Greco-Roman examples like this, especially regarding the Sibyls? | Absolutely!
The most famous one is the necromancer Erictho, who originated in Lucan's epic _Pharsalia_ (about the civil war between Caesar and Pompey).
In book five, Appius Claudius goes to the oracle at Delphi hoping to find out how the war will end; Apollo possesses the oracle's body and gives a prediction through ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "greek, roman"
} |
Original Celtic, Old English, Old Norse, or Gothic Texts Online
Wondering if there are any original-ish documents in the original Celtic, Old English, Old Norse, or Gothic (or other related languages), telling of any of the myths or fairy tales or stories that could be along the lines of Ovid's Metamorphosis, or the Bi... | ## Old Norse
For Old Norse, heimskringla.no has a lot of material, including different editions (also in modern Nordic languages). The site itself is mostly in Norwegian, so it can be tricky to navigate if you don't speak a Nordic language. There are two obvious books to start with:
* Snorri's _Edda_. This is usual... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 11,
"question_score": 9,
"tags": "mythohistory, fairy tales, medieval europe"
} |
How did you survive my 100-step punch?
I remember from long ago a story about a martial artist, The Bully, who was renowned for his "100-step punch": if he lands the blow, you will die after taking 100 steps. One day another martial artist, The Hero, gets into a fight with The Bully, and is hit by the 100-step punch. T... | This reminded me of the unique "Kill Bill" (Vols. I & II) movies. Found the following on Pinterest:
> Pai Mei played by Kung Fu movie legend Gordon Liu in Kill Bill - character is based off of the villain White Lotus with Gordon Liu as the hero. It was a 1980 Shaw Brothers Kung Fu film called Fist of the White Lotus. ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 9,
"tags": "myth identification, folklore, japanese, chinese, korean"
} |
What is the historical origin of Medusa?
I read a short paragraph on Medusa's wikipedia page about the myth representing a historical event.
> A number of early classics scholars interpreted the myth of the Medusa as a quasi-historical - "based on or reconstructed from an event, custom, style, etc., in the past", or ... | The Gorgoneion is a likely origin for the priestess masks. The practice of these amulets as aspects of the Mother Goddess dates back to the Neolithic Age. The oldest Gorgon mask is from Greek Sesklo culture before 6000 BC, but they have been excavated in many places from Etruskia to the Black sea coast. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "mythohistory, medusa"
} |
Where to find myths about the origin of civilization?
Is there a particular book (from a trustworthy source of course) I can see/buy or website(s) (preferably academic, that legally allow(s) non-academics access to this information)?
Edit: Initially, I had in mind myths about ways through which humanity is taught civi... | A few suggestions:
The Structural Study of Myth (Levi-Strauss, 1955)
Patterns in Comparative Folklore (Eliade, 1948)
Sacred Narrative: Readings in the Theory of Myth (University of California Press, 1984)
Creation Myths of the World (Encyclopedia, Two Volume) | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "reference request"
} |
How can I find the meanings of certain words of the Inuit language?
I have been reading the Inuit and Chukchee mythology on Sacred Texts.
There are many words here that appear to be transliteration rather than translations. Is there an Inuit/Chukchee language dictionary? Or even research available for me to consult to... | You have this dictionary: <
I would like to notice the problem when reading such old books made by pioneers is that the lack of any norms makes it difficult to follow them. The way they were writing names, and the fact that due to the time they were writing a creature could be named X by tribe 1, and Z by tribe 2.
... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "translation, inuit"
} |
Who is the Queen of Heaven in the The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?
In the The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl classic of ancient China, who exactly is the Queen of Heaven?
Is it Doumu or The Queen Mother of the West or Wusheng Laomu? | To answer my own question: the Weaver girl is the daughter of the Jade Emperor therefore his wife must be the Jade Empress, the Queen Mother of the West, even though it's not stated in the story itself. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "chinese, goddesses"
} |
Image of God of Time
In the Time for Chronos, I wrote some code that uses the chrono library to measure the time needed for an image of God of time Chronos to be displayed in ASCII art. However, I am not sure about the image.
Poseidon holds the trident, Zeus the lighting and so on. Does Chronos have any distinctive "i... | Under the post of God of Time, I was told that he usually holds a Zodiac Wheel and/or a Scythe (reminds me of a modern Hades with this one). | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "greek"
} |
Are there any instances of defying a prophecy?
In Greek mythology, there are many prophecies. Usually, in spite of someone's effort to prevent it, what is prophesized still happens.
As far as I'm aware, the only one to successfully avoid a prophecy was Zeus. He swallowed Metis and their son was never born, therefore h... | In the Odyssey, Alcinous, who according to Homer was king of the Phaeacians, receives a prophecy that if he were to sail home from Troy with Odysseus (which he did), his kingdom would come to fall by the wrath of Poseidon. Homer never mentioned the fall of the kingdom. In addition, that particular part of the Odyssey w... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 8,
"tags": "greek, myth identification"
} |
Does Thor use an axe and/or sword in the Myths?
I know Marvel's Thor uses an axe (Jarnbjorn) and sword (Odinsword) in the comics, but an acquaintance of mine insists that the Thor of the norse Mythology also used them.
I couldn't find any source that explicitly mentions Thor using such weapons.
Is there a source clai... | No, those weapons are inventions of the comics.
We do have a couple of stories in which Thor can not use Mjölnir. In Þrymskviða, the hammer has been stolen by the giant Thrym who demands the hand of Freya in order to give it back. Thor is dressed up in bridal clothing to retrieve his hammer, so it is difficult to say ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "norse, thor"
} |
Did the ancient Egyptians worship Cats and Dogs deities at the same period?
Did Egyptians worship feline and canine gods at the same period in history? | Dog and Cat deities were worshiped together as early as the Second Dynasty (2890 BCE) in the forms of Anubis and Bastet, but the recorded worship of Anubis dates back to even the First Dynasty (3100 BCE). Bastet's worship centered around the city of Bubastis, while Anubis took a central role in the afterlife as ruler o... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "egyptian, symbolism, iconography"
} |
What is that on Athena's chest?
 was a special apotropaic amulet showing the Gorgon head, used most famously by the Olympian deities Athena and Zeus: both are said to have w... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 10,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "greek, myth identification, athena, goddesses, maiden goddesses"
} |
Are the Nephilim the demi-gods of the bible?
The Nephilim were not aliens, angels, “Watchers,” or rock monsters; they were literal, physical beings produced from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men.
> When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God... | It depends what you mean by "demi-god".
They are of somewhat divine origin, by most understandings of "sons of God" (ancient Hebrew sources identify them with angels of some description). They were men of great renown. That much is in common with the Greek tradition of heroes of divine heritage.
However, the Greek he... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 10,
"question_score": 9,
"tags": "comparative, christianity, bible, demi gods"
} |
When did chicken become a synonym of cowardice?
Chicken is often used to mean someone is a coward. This is exemplified in the game of chicken).
When did chicken first become a synonym of cowardice? | According to this Quora answer on the exact same topic:
> The primary uses, however, remain those that suggest weakness. Thus the early use to mean a girl or woman, which would become the more recent chick. Such chickens also suggest the 'cuteness' and 'fluffiness' of the creature.
>
> The first example we have of ch... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "folklore, animals"
} |
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 mythology or folklore of the rainbow.
I know in the zodiac there are colors mapp... | 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.1–22. This leads into the contemporary debate about naming/distinguishing colors which has a long history. In a nutshel... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "interpretation"
} |
Why mythical god-like figures share common attributes like wings or lion body parts in different mythologies/cultures
I know some of this mythological depictions are supposed to represent many things like nature forces, and I know Jung's Archetypes theory about symbols founded on the unconscious mind. However I want to... | A recent study in psychology found considerable evidence suggesting that applying human-like traits to non-human entities, like animals, shapes, and supernatural beings, may constitute an innate cognitive bias, a bias that is common among all human minds. This behavior is therefore not considered to be primarily depend... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "greek, mythical creatures, egyptian, symbolism, sumerian"
} |
Are there any examples of human sacrifice in tribal societies?
Specifically, I mean human sacrifices of their own members (not outside members or prisoners). After watching a chilling movie related to the topic I started thinking more about human sacrifice and after looking around for a good bit I could only find examp... | To start with your second question, there are some indications that stone age humans were carrying out human sacrifice, though not entirely conclusive.
In contrast, a lot of evidence of human sacrifice has been found for the neolithic era, at the beginning phase of human settling. This predates larger settlements but ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "comparative, sacrifice, rituals"
} |
What happens when gods become forgotten?
I heard from somewhere that gods maintain their power from the people worshiping them. The more people pray, the stronger they get. I also heard that If their home/environment is destroyed (eg. Posideon's waters being polluted) then they will lose some of their power.
What I wo... | I don't know about how true it is -- really, how can we? But it is an ancient idea, first put forth by Plutarch, who posited that Pan had died because people no longer believed him to be more than a story (In "The Obsolescence of Oracles"):
> The power of the spirit does not affect all persons nor the same persons alw... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "greek"
} |
How much of real Greek Mythology does the writer Rick Riordan use?
So I've noticed that there is this on going book series done by Rick Riordan. Well, he actually has many. Percy Jackson, Apollo, and the Lost Hero. And it got me thinking a bit. How much of mentioned monsters, gods, etc. is actually true, or it it just ... | So after some researching about the writer, I've got this answer. It turns out that all of the mentioned gods, titans, monsters, and historic heroes are real. That's right. Any name (except from the modern demigods and Camp Halfblood) is taken from real Greek Mythology. But there's a catch. Rick Riordan may have revive... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "greek"
} |
How were the days of the week named?
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. How did these get their names? Was it from one religion, or did multiple religions adopt and change them?
I know that the Norse named some of these dates after their Gods, but which ones, and how were they altered ... | In English (and most germanic languages) the days of the week come mainly from gods from the Germanic faiths.
1. Monday = Day of the moon
2. Tuesday = Day of Tyr
3. Wednesday = Day of Wodan/Odin
4. Thursday = Day of Thor
5. Friday = Day of Freya (or perhaps Freyr)
6. Saturday = Day of Saturn (Roman influe... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "calendar dates"
} |
In the Mabinogion does “black man” mean black haired?
Many of the tales in my translation from Welsh by Jones and Jones use the phrase “black man”. Is this referring to someone with black hair or someone of African origin? | If we look at the Red Book of Hergest we can see that it is not clearer in the original text
> A gỽr du maỽr a|wely ympenn yr orsed.
Literally "You will see a big black man atop the mound"
According to Will Parker, who has published his own translations of the Mabinogi tales
<
> NB: When a person is described as... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 8,
"tags": "welsh triads"
} |
A monster made of many insects
The concept of a monster that presents as a single entity, but is composed of a multitude of worms, bugs, or insects can be found in many media. Examples of this type of monster include _The Nightmare Before Christmas_ 's Oogie Boogie, _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ 's Worm Guy, and the chara... | Perhaps a bit tenuous, but **The Worm That Walks** might be the closest to what you're seeking.
I am not aware of a similar equivalent term from classical mythology, but you could argue this to be inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos. One interpretation of the ending to HP Lovecraft's _The Festival_ is a monster composed of... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 8,
"tags": "monsters, names, demons"
} |
How was the Old Norse Edda likely formatted?
If you look at version of it online, it's all broken down into verses and stanzas, all numbered. But I wonder if this is how it was originally written down, or if the verses weren't ever marked. | The Elder or Poetic Edda is known entirely from the **_Codex Regius_** , a 13th-century collection of Norse poems written on 45 vellum pages. The general form of the text is what we would today call a "wall of text":
!Codex Regius
(Source: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain asserted)
(Here's a website that shows pictu... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "norse"
} |
Does Loki grow old and infirm while chained beneath the serpent?
Once Loki is chained in the cave with a serpent dripping venom over him, he is destined to remain there trough the ages until the day of Ragnarok.
But in other parts of Norse myth, it's made clear that the gods must eat Idun's apples from time to time or... | In the Poetic Edda, it's clear that Loki is different from the Aesir. He descended from Ymir, whereas the Aesir did not. It's possible that his rules are different from the Aesir's, too. For example, he shape shifted into the female gender on several different occasions; whereas, the Aesir were never known to do that. ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "norse, ragnarok, loki"
} |
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 explanations I found of the web are incoherent, fragmentary... | "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 dissolve the fixed,
>
> And to make the dissolved fly,
>
> Then to fix the flying in powder,
>
> You have something ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "christianity, mythohistory, interpretation, demons, the devil"
} |
Do European folklore creatures, like ogres, brownies, fairies,goblins etc. have characteristics attributed to anti-semitism?
These creatures mentioned in the title have characteristics (any, such as traits, costumes, behavior, etc.) attributed to anti-semitism by antisemitic people (or have their origins rooted in this... | # Possible
You don't mention any specific characteristics, specific dates or specific references so it's impossible to determine any real connexion between folkloristic iconography and some real instance(s) of antisemitism.
That said, one can speculate. From the 21st century perspective, we could say: "Well, Dwarves ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "mythical creatures, folklore, jewish"
} |
How crazy are the Maenads from Greek Mythology?
I have read about the Maenads, how they were insane followers of the god Dionysus, that their names literally meant "the raving ones" and that they were frequently in a state of ecstatic intoxication. Are there any tales about them doing activities that are exceptionally ... | They weren't just insane followers, they were supposedly nurses too. They were mad because of alcohols and drugs, and showed the "dark" side of the party. Sometimes, drinking too much cause violence, sometimes violence cause death. "Real" followers of Dyonisos tried to emulate their madness with mushrooms and other psy... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "greek, mythical creatures, dionysus"
} |
Native American (possibly) apocalyptic prophecy about inanimate objects coming to life
I am in search of a difficult-to-Google fact. I once saw a Discovery Channel-esque documentary about an apocalyptic prophecy that all of the tools and other man-made objects would at some point take on a life of their own and turn on... | You may be referring to a legend in the Huarochirí Manuscript mentioned in this book: Colonial Spanish America. Animate objects in this text are linked to a beginning-of-the-world event, the first sunrise, set in ancient times (which can of course also be considered an end-of-the-world event for the mythical time befor... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "native american, apocalypse"
} |
Since when does Valhalla exist in Norse mythology?
Since when does Valhalla exist in Norse mythology ? Like (almost) all **Indo-Europeans** the Vikings believed in a cycle of _life_ , _death_ and _rebirth_. Valhalla contradicts this fundamental content of Norse mythology a bit. So was Valhalla introduced in a late 'str... | No one knows specifically when Valhalla became a part of Norse mythology, but it was -as far as we know- first recorded in the stanzas of a 10th century poem commemorating the Eric Bloodaxe known as Eiríksmál. This skaldic poem as compiled in Fagrskinna, a latter work written in 1220 that is know as one of the kings' s... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "norse, european folklore, valhalla"
} |
How does the concept of monism apply to Aztec philosophy and myths?
Aztec mythology is polytheistic, yet I read in class that Aztec philosophy was monist - a philosophy based around oneness, that all things are connected to one item or source, sometimes represented as a single metaphysical being. Is it true that Aztec ... | According to Wikipedia:
> Aztec priests had a panentheistic view of religion but the popular Aztec religion maintained polytheism. Priests saw the different gods as aspects of the singular and transcendent unity of Teotl but the masses were allowed to practice polytheism without understanding the true, unified nature ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "aztec"
} |
Horse-headed human -> Ipotane?
There was a question on English SE about _the name of horse-headed human_ (opposite of Centaur), I wrote **Ipotane** in an answer. When I searched up 'Ipotane' on Google, it gave me the following image:
 in Ancient Greek just means "soldier" or something close to our word "knight".
If you want to derive from Greek, then Wikipedia suggests _ιππότης λεώς_ (hippotes leous), but that literally means "horse people", so that's not exactly it either.
Some versions ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "greek, mythical creatures, mythohistory"
} |
What is the fable character of a tiger?
In beast fables, the animals are very fixed in character to convey the meaning -- foxes and ravens are crafty, bears are strong but stupid, wolves are fierce, and lions are commanding frequently to the point of being tyrannical.
In regions where tigers are common, what sort of c... | In Indian folklore, a popular tale is "The Brahman, the Tiger, and the Six Judges". Another popular one is "The tiger, the fox and the hunters".
Here's a few more tales from Malaya & Pakistan.
In most, the tiger is deceitful and not too bright. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "animals"
} |
Is there an English translation of the Inuit story "Mother of the Dog Children"?
I'm trying to find the translation to the Inuit story "Mother of the Dog Children", viewable here -- <
Any resources that may help translate this text are helpful! Or even if there's another source with this text at all. | The text on that page seems to come from this collection of stories. The text is attributed to a Neil Christopher. The year at the end of the text (ᕘᐊᔅ, **1901** , ᒪᑉᐱᒐᑦ 163-165) also appears in the References page at the end of the collection. I believe the reference is to the collected notes on Inuits by George Comer... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation, inuit"
} |
What symbol is on the staff of The Sorceress by Georges Merle?
![TheSorceress-GeorgesMerle](
This painting depicts a number of symbols from various cultures. It was shown at a Paris exhibition in 1883, and I suspect the painting is more imagination than an accurate depiction of any sorceress. That said, the subject ho... | In modern Wicca, this staff is called "The Stang". In its simplest form, a forked staff, Witches use the Stang in various ways including representing the Horned One, aiding in spirit flight, and directing energy.
![enter image description here]( | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "iconography"
} |
Why did Pittheus trick Aegeus?
The story of Theseus' birth has already been covered in this forum. My question is about Pittheus' _motivation_ behind getting Aegeus drunk and offering him his daughter Aethra. In Euripedes' _Medea_ , Aegeus describes Pittheus as 'closest of all my allies'. So why did Pittheus, who under... | A grandson.
Since his purpose was to get him to sleep with his daughter, he must have deduced that the resulting son would be something special, and special enough to risk angering Aegeus.
At least, on the face of it. There are no myths that go into what he was thinking. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "greek, theseus"
} |
Hall of Two Truths: Ancient Egypt
Does anyone know what the proper ancient Egyptian name for the Hall of Truth, Hall of Two Truths, or Hall of Judgement is? This is the hall where a soul is weighed on a scale against the feather of Ma'at. I've tried several google searches to no avail. Ma'at means truth, and the words ... | It is "Hall of Two Truths", or "Dual Truth"
![enter image description here](
Note that this hall is also sometimes called "Double Ma'at", inferring Isis and Nephtys. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 7,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "myth identification, egyptian"
} |
Examples of non-Homeric invisibility as clouds
Homer uses the trope of clouds of mist rendering a god or person unseen (even to people right next to them, in the daylight) a number of times throughout the _Iliad_ and _Odyssey_. For example, in the Iliad this is performed by Minerva in Book I, Venus in Book III, and at ... | Yes! The primary example that I am familiar with is the féth fíada of Irish mythology, magical mist that the most prominent clan of Irish deities, the Tuatha Dé Danann, employ to hide themselves from the eyes of mortals. From Oxford Reference:
> A magic mist or veil that usually renders those under it invisible; somet... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "greek, homer"
} |
Is there a myth about someone who constantly creates their own demise?
Since this is certainly a common theme, I'm wondering if there is a myth about someone who ignorantly walks themselves repeatedly into ill-fate or their own misery. It would be like Sisyphus, but instead of being cursed to move the boulder, he did i... | **Epimetheus:**
His name literally means afterthought. < The brother of Prometheus, he never thought about the consequences of his actions, but instead reacted to things as they occurred. He and Prometheus were entrusted with the box containing all the evils of the world, and Epimetheus was warned by his brother not t... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "greek, norse, myth identification, roman, egyptian"
} |
What is the name of Ancient Egyptian "water jousting"
I have come across a form of combat from ancient Egypt called 'water jousting'. Does anyone know the actual Egyptian term for this, or any other ancient Egyptian terms for things like wrestling, which the greeks called pale (πάλη)? | Archeologists call it "Egyptian Fisherman Jousting", an aquatic combat sport practiced in ancient Egypt. Modern knowledge of this sport comes from studying ancient Egyptian tomb reliefs.
![enter image description here](
Though the Egyptian reliefs that depict fisherman jousting don’t appear in contexts of war or batt... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "egyptian"
} |
Why Does the Devil Have a Silver Nose
I recently heard an Italian fairy-tale from a friend, in which a girl rescues her sisters from the Devil's basement. I've identified the tale as _How the Devil Married Three Sisters_ (sometimes _Silver Nose_ or _The Devil's Silver Nose_ ). No matter the title, in the story the Devi... | Italo Calvino mentioned in his _Italian Folktales_ that the silver nose was rare even in Italian tales.
But a silver nose was sometimes used as a prosthetic, when you lost a nose to syphilis. Hence, a silver nose is a sign of loose living. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "the devil, italy"
} |
Were the Nekomata bipedal?
The Japanese monster Nekōmata (), which means "forked cat", was supposedly a two-tailed cat creature that lived in the mountains, but was originally a horribly mistreated house cat. I have read that they eat human flesh, and can perform necromantic feats, such as raising the dead. I have seen... | From what I've read, it seems that they often do walk around on their hind legs. On Wikipedia, it says, " The less experienced cat has difficulty standing on its hind legs while the older cat is able to do so." The website yokai.com seems to agree, saying that they are "most likely seen walking around on their hind leg... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "mythical creatures, japanese"
} |
How much time is a generation in the odyssey and Iliad?
Prompted by the question How old was Nestor is there any reference to how much Homer considered a generation to be?
I cannot seem to find any good reference that is reliable and sourced correctly, most sites in my search results have varying numbers but no specif... | Since Homer wrote primarily from a male perspective, we can roughly equate a generation with the average age of marriage for males in Ancient Greece, which would be around 30 years. From the female perspective, it would be 15 years. For the wife to be fully accepted into the groom’s family, a child had to be conceived ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "greek, odyssey, homer, iliad"
} |
Why was Poseidon an Olympian but not Hades?
To justify Hades not being an Olympian people have said that it was because he was the God of the Underworld, therefore, in order to rule it he needed to live over there instead of Mount Olympus.
What about Poseidon?
He was also the God of sea, so why did he not live underw... | Poseidon does actually live underwater. From the _Iliad_ :
> Forthwith then he went down from the rugged mount, striding forth with swift footsteps, and the high mountains trembled and the woodland beneath the immortal feet of Poseidon as he went. Thrice he strode in his course, and with the fourth stride he reached h... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "olympians, hades, poseidon, olympus"
} |
Greco-Roman stories of a mother losing her daughter?
I am looking for Greco-Roman stories of a mother losing her young daughter and the grief that takes place as a consequence of such. I am writing a play where a similar thing occurs and would like to make an allusion to classical mythology. (the story could be from an... | Some famous stories:
* Demeter and Persephone, as already mentioned by Malady
* Clytaemnestra and Iphigenia (Euripides' _Iphigenia in Aulis_)
* Hecuba and Polyxena (Euripides' _Hecuba_)) | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "greek, folklore, roman"
} |
English transliteration of the Persian word for werewolf?
I have found that the Persian word for werewolf is (گرگینه) which the closest English transliteration I can find is "grgynh". Does anyone know of better transliteration, that lends itself to being pronounced more easily? Or an older term for werewolf from this r... | This may seem odd, but I'm answering my own question. The transliteration answer for (گرگینه) is gorgine. I found the answer here: < and the audio pronunciation here: < | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "translation, persian, werewolves"
} |
Is this stylized version of the world turtle part of any known lore?
We found this stylized world turtle flag and are wondering if it is anything "real" or just a modern artist version of the world turtle. Any ideas?
![Flag with turtle motif]( | This seems like a modern reinterpretation of the Lo Shu Square using symbols from western alchemy. The Lo Shu Square is a magic 3x3 square of numbers which according to a Chinese legend appeared on the back of a turtle. See this picture for comparison with the one you posted:
![enter image description here](
Accordin... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 6,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "runes"
} |
What makes rooster laying eggs?
In the myth of the Basilisk, the monster was born from the egg layed by a rooster. And there were medieval processes, where a rooster was condemned to the death for laying an egg.
But how it was believed that rooster layed the egg? Was it the result of a sodomy? Or there is other explan... | According to E.V. Walter's article "Nature on Trial: The Case of the Rooster That Laid an Egg", such medieval animal trials where very similar in spirit to witch trials: the guilty animals were often believed to be possessed by evil spirits, demons, or the Devil himself. In "Legal Lore: Curiosities of Law and Lawyers",... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "medieval europe, basilisk"
} |
What would a Roman want to achieve with writing inscriptions and magical signs on bronze nails?
I was strolling through the Wikipedia page on bronze and found a picture of bronze nails from Roman times. Under the picture is a text saying
> Roman bronze nails with magical signs and inscriptions, 3rd-4th century AD
Wha... | I suggest you take a look at Nails for the dead: a polysemic account of an ancient funerary practice by Silvia Alfayé. The paper focuses on the use of nails in Roman funerary practices, but in section 3 she offers a nice overview on the ritual/magical uses of nails in general, including the inscribed bronze nails you a... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "roman, magic, rituals"
} |
Is there an introductory scholarly study guide, involving primary works being discussed, for ancient greek mythology?
I am searching for a study guide, as described in the question, giving comprehensive primary sources (e.g. ideally stating all discovered theogonies) and discussing each primary source.
It would be hel... | There are literally hundreds of books on the topic, but the best one for serious work is Timothy Gantz's _Early Greek Myth_. This book goes through the earliest sources for the myths and chronicles their development over time. He even covers artistic representations.
I would not necessarily call it an "introduction," ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "greek, reference request"
} |
Hang up cadavers
Some time ago, I read the story about Jason. During his trip, he and the crew met a people used to hang up dead bodies on trees' branch.
Who are they? | They are the Colchians, i.e. the inhabitants of Colchis, a region on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, and the mythical destination of Jason and the Argonauts in their search for the Golden Fleece. Here's the passage in Apollonius Rhodius's "Argonautica" (translation by E. V. Rieu) that details the funerary practice ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "greek"
} |
Was the Argo sentient and capable of conversation, or was its speech more like Siri or the USS Enterprise computer?
The Argo was built with a branch from the Dodona oak which, according to numerous sources, could speak.
I’m wondering about the nature of this ability: did this “speech” make the Argo a fully developed c... | I would say Argo was not self aware. Instead, Zeus “... _spoke through the wood taken from one of his Dodonian oaks, as stated in the first book of the Argonautica (Apollonius of Rhodes, 2009), when a talking beam that Athena had made from a Dodonian oak and fitted in the middle of Argo’s keel, spoke with a terrible vo... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "greek, magic, argonauts"
} |
Skagganauk abyss?
In Roger Zelazney's Creatures of Light and Darkness, he imagines the Egyptian Typhon, brother of Set, as a void that often takes the form of a stallion. He calls this entity "Skagganauk Abyss", which I always took to be a form of Ginnungagap, the primordial void of Norse mythology. This modern interpr... | As stated here: "Typhon appears as a black horse-shadow, without a horse to cast it. He contains within himself something called Skagganauk Abyss, **which resembles a black hole** , not a term in common use at the time"
So perhaps composed form Old Norse words with little regard for grammar:
* _skaði_ \- death, har... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "norse, egyptian, modern influence, typhon"
} |
Word to mean unwise/foolish coming from the idea of being untravelled?
I remember reading somewhere that there is a word in old Norse for unwise/foolish that etymologically refers to someone who's not travelled or left home. Any ideas? | You are probably thinking of Icelandic _heimskur_ "stupid, foolish", which comes from Old Norse _heimskr_ "foolish, silly; who has never been from home" (from ON _heima_ "home"). It appears frequently in Norse sagas, sometimes in the intensive form _allheimskr_ "very stupid". A famous instance of this is the saying _" ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 1,
"tags": "norse, etymology"
} |
What high school subject would mythology & creation myth be covered in?
Not sure if this is the best site to ask this question, but what high school subjects would generally cover mythology and creation myth? I have heard that possibly ancient history or literature in English might do, any suggestions on this? I unders... | It depends. In high school, I took a Humanities course that covered Graeco-Roman and Norse mythologies. I don't know how common that type of course is, though. You'll also see some mythology covered in literature classes, such as when they cover works that have mythology in them. Finally, foreign language courses will ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "comparative, mythohistory, creation"
} |
What country is related to a phenomenon which is related to Cronus?
We were given this puzzle in class and i have no idea, any help would be appreciated | Cronus (Saturn) and Jupiter merge, causing the Bethlehem star phenomenon. That said, Bethlehem is in Palestine. This is probably the answer.
< | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "greek"
} |
Which version of Little Gold Star or the Three Fairies involved a donkey tail?
I'm trying to find a version of The Three Fairies (or it may have been a retelling of Cinderella) in which an evil sister gets a donkey tail placed on her forehead. By contrast, the kind protagonist gets a star on her forehead instead.
Ther... | This occurs in the Italian Colony of Cats, except for the specific detail of the sky:
> The little maid, having gratefully kissed the white paw of the old cat, set off for home; but just as she got near her mother’s house the cock crowed, and quickly she turned towards it. Immediately a beautiful golden star appeared ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "myth identification, fairy tales"
} |
Was there meant to be a connection or comparison between Poseidon's trident and Hades's bident?
In Greek mythology, Poseidon carries a three-pronged spear known as a trident, while his brother Hades carries a two-pronged spear known as a bident. For that matter, the third brother Zeus carries the lightning bolt, which ... | According to Wikipedia
> The Romans drew on Etruscan traditions for the interpretation of these signs. A tile found at Urbs Salvia in Picenum depicts an unusual composite Jove, "fairly bristling with weapons": a lightning bolt, a bident, and a trident, uniting the realms of sky, earth, and sea, and representing the th... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "greek, zeus, hades, poseidon, weapons"
} |
Are there any references in mythology/folklore to a concept similar to teleportation?
The earliest mention of teleportation that I can find is a mention of "matter transfer" in 1877, but I'm wondering if there's a concept similar to it in folklore. I found something about pukwudgies being able to appear/disappear at wi... | In Japanese mythology there is the term _shukuchi_ , composed of:
* : to contract, to shorten
* : earth, location, distance
Shukichi is a collective term for various mythical techniques of rapid movement. The term is used in mythology, but can also be found in texts on Daoism and Buddhism. It is also a popul... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 1,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "myth identification, folklore, origins, native american"
} |
What is the ancient Egyptian word for crocodiles?
I am doing research on the ancient Egyptian (Kemetic) gods, and am currently working on Sobek (Sbk). This made me wonder what the word for crocodile is in ancient Egyptian. I have found db or dbj, and msha as the words for crocodile. Now I need to know what the plural f... | There's two "plurals" to consider: collective nouns and quantitative plurals
**Collective nouns:**
![enter image description here](
![enter image description here](
**Quantitative plurals:**
The Egyptians employed a number of methods to indicate that a word was plural. The most common is the plural determinative (... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "egyptian"
} |
Which world mythologies depict humans directly harming or killing gods in combat?
In _The Iliad_ , the Greek warrior Diomedes directly attacks and wounds both Aphrodite and Ares in a single day. He does so with the blessing of Athena, but the story makes it clear that it is Diomedes himself delivering the blows, not At... | Examples spring to mind from Hindu and Christian traditions:
> Krishna himself departed as he had prophesied. . . . a hunter from a distance mistook the soles of his feet for a bird, and shot an arrow, thus ending the tenure of the eighth avatar of Vishnu on earth.
R. K. Narayan. _The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "greek, comparative, trojan war"
} |
Is there any evidence of the Ancient Greeks worshipping Zeus's daughter Helen?
Is there any evidence of the Ancient Greeks worshipping Zeus's daughter Helen? For example, did they build any shrines in her honor or did they offer sacrifices to her? | > We first a crown of low-growing lotus
>
> having woven will place it on a shady plane-tree.
>
> First from a silver oil-flask soft oil
>
> drawing we will let it drip beneath the shady plane-tree.
>
> Letters will be carved in the bark, so that someone passing by
>
> may read in Doric: **" Reverence me. I am Hel... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "greek, history, sacrifice, goddesses"
} |
The structure of the Fae courts
I'm looking for the structure of the Fairy (Fae) courts which are defined by Seelie or Unseelie alignments. There is a lot of fiction written but the problem is that they twist it to their own purposes and add things not in the original mythologies. Can anyone point to a definitive taxon... | Sanderson, Stewart F (December 1957). "The Present State of Folklore Studies in Scotland", may answer your question. The one thing I believe is universal in the two courts is matriarchal leaders, Banrionacha, or “Queens”. Otherwise. I can only think of fictional literary works referencing any structure of their “courts... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "welsh, irish, fairies, scottish"
} |
Are there any beings from Norse Mythology that could be mistaken for a Kitsune (fox-person spirit)?
I'm starting a new Roleplaying campaign soon, and my character is norse/icelandic themed.
One of the other character is inspired by Kitsune.
I want to find out what, if anything, might my character mistake this charact... | ## A huldra
Huldra (Norway) or "skogsrå" (Sweden) are creatures from folklore who mostly look like young, friendly human women, but have something that marks them as inhuman: a back that is "hollow" or covered with bark, hooves, or a tail, sometimes a fox-tail. They lived in forest. In some stories, they tried to sedu... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "norse, comparative, japanese, animals"
} |
Are there any accounts of English folklore concerning walking willow trees?
> "In English folklore, a willow tree is believed to be quite sinister, capable of uprooting itself and stalking travellers."
On the Wikipedia page for willow it has this single sentence under the culture tab about English beliefs, with no ref... | This is not an account per se, but it _is_ a source that proves such a belief existed in English folklore. Katharine Mary Briggs documents a Somerset rhyme that goes:
> Ellum do grieve,
> Oak he do hate,
> Willow to walk,
> If yew travels late
Dr. Briggs explains that the folksong embodies traditional belief... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "folklore, source request, european folklore, british"
} |
How does Glaucus know Patroclus killed Sarpedon?
I'm reading the Loeb Iliad so I have the original Greek text alongside English and am confused when reading verse _Il. 16-543_ :
> τὸν δ᾽ ὑπὸ Πατρόκλῳ δάμασ᾽ ἔγχεϊ χάλκεος Ἄρης.
> ... Him [Sarpedon] has brazen Ares laid low beneath the spear of Patroclus. ...
This com... | The Greek you presented is the right line, and you're right that it's not clear what is going on.
Because the text doesn't actually say, it's anyone's guess why Homer might have had Glaucus name Patroclus. For one, there might have been a missing section that named him first, or maybe they're different traditions, or ... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 3,
"tags": "greek, trojan war, homer, iliad, achilles"
} |
Are vampires vulnerable to crucifixes because of the crucifixion of Jesus?
I wanted to know if the legends of vampires being vulnerable to a crucifix or a cross exist because of what happened to Jesus. Is this so? | This question might be of interest.
If it's correct that modern vampire folklore largely derives from Stoker, then most likely the answer to your question is yes. Vampire literature only seems to predate Dracula by a century and a half, so it doesn't appear that we're really looking at any kind of deep lore here.
Whe... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 4,
"tags": "christianity, vampires"
} |
Name of Greek mythology about someone killing their parents
I remember reading a story about someone who killed their parents because they thought their parents was their lover with someone else. The parents visited them and slept in their bed. But they didn't know that their parents came. They only realized after they... | This is the legend attached to Julian the Hospitaller, who may, himself, be legendary. It is not Greek myth.
_The Golden Legend_ recounts that witches cursed him to kill his parents at his birth, and his father heard them. His mother prevented the father from killing him, but when he heard the story, he left to preven... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "greek, myth identification"
} |
What norse mythology books do you recommend for young children?
My children have norse names due to my and my partner's interest in norse mythology. My oldest child (6) is becoming more and more interested in the origins of his name and about Odin, specifically. Are there any books that would be age appropriate to help... | I found _D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths_ quite effective at that age. | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 0,
"question_score": 0,
"tags": "norse, odin"
} |
Why was phoenician Melqart identified with Heracles?
From the Wikipedia article on Melkart:
> To the Greeks and the Romans, **who identified Melqart with Hercules** , he was often distinguished as the Tyrian Hercules.
What attributes did they share for this identification? Or was it instead a "random" identification? | Actual reasons why are never clearly stated, but Corinne Bonnet offers the best theory that it was the lion iconography that led to their identification. From her article in the Encyclopedia of Religion (vol. 9):
> In many Cypriot cult sites, a Heraklean iconography, similar to that present on the Syrian coast (Amirth... | stackexchange-mythology | {
"answer_score": 3,
"question_score": 2,
"tags": "greek, comparative, phoenician"
} |
Commonness of casual phrases like "あたし" and "ちっちゃい"
I came across a Japanese girl in Germany who talked using words like instead of , or instead of . When I asked her, she said that these words or usages of words are more common in Japan.
* Is this true?
* How does the majority of Japanese people judge this?
*... | Atashi is for females. Chicchai can be seen as more emphatic "tiny". They are both quite common. Remember that in most textbooks for any language the most ideal form of the language (often judged so by prescriptive grammarians) is taught. As you familiarize yourself with real world usage (through travel, friends, and m... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 25,
"question_score": 22,
"tags": "words, colloquial language, register, spoken language, diminutives"
} |
Origin of the circle in ぬ, ね, and る
When looking at the hiragana ( _nu_ ), ( _ne_ ), and ( _ru_ ) one notices a small circle in the symbols. In fact that circle is the only difference when comparing them with the hiragana ( _me_ ), ( _re_ ) and ( _ro_ ).
In the history of hiragana, is there any special reason th... | They all originate from the cursive versions of kanji with the same/similar pronunciation as the hiragana. Here's a picture from Wikipedia to illustrate:
!origin of the hiragana
To answer your question - there is no deep connection between the kana with circles. The kanji they came from just happened to have a circle... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 35,
"question_score": 29,
"tags": "history, hiragana"
} |
What should I look for in a dictionary to help me study?
As per the title, what should I look for in a dictionary to help me study Japanese? Are there certain things that I should look for in the dictionary or are they all pretty much the same?
To elaborate a bit, what should one be looking for when they are at the fo... | You will want:
* No romaji. Romaji hurts your pronunciation and is a crutch. Get something with furigana, or even better, hiragana in parentheses.
* Lots of example sentences. Context is invaluable in learning new words.
* Electronic is better. It's faster and can be used mid conversation much more easily. Plus ... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 12,
"question_score": 9,
"tags": "learning, resources, dictionary"
} |
What does っす at the end of a sentence mean?
I saw a sentence like:
> {} ****
and none of my dictionaries have an entry for just "". Is it a verb form, gobi, or something else? | It's a contraction of . It's not quite as polite as that though - it's always sounded a bit like "thinking that one needs to be polite but not bothering to do it properly" to me. I guess it comes somewhere between teineigo-level polite and casual in the politeness spectrum. | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 40,
"question_score": 51,
"tags": "copula, contractions"
} |
What's the proper way to use 先 versus 前に or 以前?
I'm trying to understand why is not the best choice to use in these sentences. Is it wrong to use it in this way?
×
×
| I'm going to assume you mean as in . It's usually written in hiragana to avoid confusion.
I think the first sentences are just fine. The × one sounds like spoken language and one sounds more like written language.
In the second × sentence, though, would not work because it's used for things that happened "just now... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 10,
"question_score": 19,
"tags": "word choice, adverbs"
} |
When should one add さん at the end of a name?
I've heard some names pronounced with added to them (such as ) and some without it. I believe it is related to respect or the age of the person named. What would be the guidelines or general principles to follow regarding ? | "-" is an honorific suffix added to give respect. It can be used either with _males_ and _females_ , and also with given names and family names, **not** to your own name, though.
It can be even used attached to the name of the occupation and titles.
It's ok to use it with people that you are familiar with, but it's ... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 14,
"question_score": 16,
"tags": "honorifics, names"
} |
Can 何で mean "how"?
Looking at this, it seems that when the word is used with the particle, it roughly translates into "by means of what" or "in what context." Personally, that sounds like asking "how". Is this assumption correct? Or can it change based on situation? Also, would it be appropriate to add / / to the end... | I agree overall with the other three answers, but I feel there is a difference depending on how it is read.
* []{} 'why'
* []{} 'by what'
Therefore, `` has different meanings depending on how it is read.
> []{}
> 'Why did you become a doctor?'
>
> []{}
> 'By what did you become a doctor?'
> Possible ... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 9,
"question_score": 11,
"tags": "grammar, usage"
} |
Particles: に vs. で
I have progressed pretty far in Japanese, but when I construct Japanese sentences, I still get these two particles mixed up. For example, when talking about being inside something, I don't know when to use "" and when to use "." Likewise, when speaking about being next to something, I sometimes don't... | In general, is where an action is performed and is the "direction" toward/to/into which the result of an action happens.
> * → I'm crying in the room / "The place where I'm at while I'm crying is in the room"
> * → I'm crying into the room (meaning like, your tears are flowing from your face into the room). Th... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 38,
"question_score": 61,
"tags": "usage, particles, particle に, particle で, に and で"
} |
Questions with ~か or without: how to choose?
Studying Japanese on my own, I've learned that in order to make a question, you usually add the particle "~", like this:
>
It's also true that a question can be asked without it, using the rising tone of voice.
But then I found out that in certain contexts, the use of "~... | You may want to look here and here.
Outside of polite language, should be used with care. Generally, it has a very masculine and rough sounding atmosphere. Generally, in informal language, it only used when being very direct or sarcastic.
Here's a good example taken from the second link:
(Do you think (I) would hav... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 24,
"tags": "grammar, particles, questions, sentence final particles, particle か"
} |
Why is 二十歳 pronounced はたち?
is a (to me) bizarre exception to the usual number+ rule for discussing age. Is this rooted in 20 being the Japanese age of majority?
_Added:_ To be more specific: why _isn't_ it pronounced like the rest of the words for age? | The there is part of the same series of Japanese readings for numbers as and so on. Where the comes from - that I do not know. It also makes an appearance in some other common words, such as , although in a slightly mangled form.
There are readings for the tens after that as well - for instance makes an appearance... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 31,
"question_score": 38,
"tags": "numbers, words, readings"
} |
What is the difference in nuance and usage of the two kanji forms for なおす (naosu), 直す and 治す?
Stolen _directly_ from Grigory M's question in the definition phase:
< | They both mean "to fix"/"to repair"/"to correct", but is used in the sense of "to heal or cure" ("to fix a disease"). "" is used for fixing, not healing.
EDIT: As per Tsuyoshi Ito's correction (confirmed with a bit of googling), I've removed a misleading bit about the object of these verbs. | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 19,
"question_score": 16,
"tags": "kanji, verbs"
} |
How should I select what first-person pronoun to use?
I've always had trouble choosing which first person pronoun to use - (watashi), (boku), or (). What kind of factors should I keep in mind when choosing between these? Is it common to vary one's choice by the social context, or do people tend to select one and sti... | It depends a lot on the situation. I try to keep it simple and only use three most practical forms of the pronoun:
(boku) :: I use it whenever I am not at work
(ore) :: Almost never use unless most people around me are already using , too informal.
(watashi) :: What I always use at work. Never ever use _boku_ at... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 23,
"question_score": 28,
"tags": "first person pronouns, word choice"
} |
When going somewhere, is there any difference between e (へ) and ni (に)?
Can you use and interchangeably, as in:
> ****
and
> **** ?
Are there any subtle differences in the use of these two? | * emphasizes the location
* emphasizes the direction
* emphasizes the process or journey | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 64,
"question_score": 65,
"tags": "grammar, particles, particle に, particle へ"
} |
At work, when is it not ok to finish an email with どうぞよろしくお願いします?
Whenever I communicate with my Japanese coworkers, I always finish my emails with I guess in the context of an email in English it could be akin to saying "Cheers" "Regards", so I unless I write , I will be worrying that I was being too informal to that ... | Your question is "is there a scenario when finishing with [] would be considered out of place or context?".
As you noted, is similar to "Cheers" or "Regards", but the main difference is that neither of the latter are calls to action, whereas the former has more of a feeling of asking something.
Accordingly, among co... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 11,
"question_score": 14,
"tags": "set phrases, business japanese, greetings"
} |
What does よろしくおねがいします mean when departing?
When on business in Japan last year, a Japanese colleague said to me as the group were leaving after dinner.
I'm aware of its usage in initial greetings, as is usually taught in textbooks, but what is its English meaning in this context? | can mean many things in different contexts.
The phrase is often first learned as a component of introductions, and thus may be translated as "pleased to meet you" or "how do you do?" but its literal translation is "please [treat me] well/favorably."
Outside of introductions you'll often hear it:
* When starting a... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 13,
"question_score": 20,
"tags": "translation, set phrases"
} |
Why were ゐ and ゑ eliminated?
Sometime in the early 20th century, usage of the now-historical kana and (and their katakana equivalents) dropped off, being replaced with and in modern Japanese. What exactly happened here and why? | Because the pronunciation was lost. "Wi" and "we" are still in some dialects, but standard Japanese does not have those sounds. These characters were just spelling. Similarly in English, we pronounce "through" as "thru" because the "gh" sound is long gone and "thru" is now a common variant spelling used in the US (I.E.... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 39,
"question_score": 64,
"tags": "kana, history, obsolete kana, language reform"
} |
How rude is it to say 寝ぼけてるんじゃねぇよ！
I've heard this used (also as ) in informal situations with nothing but smiles all around. But when I tried to use it in an informal situation with a colleague, I got the distinct feeling I'd just insulted him. I know it's tough (for me, at least) always to accurately gauge just how "... | Trust yourself. If you have to apologize for being too casual, that's fine. That's just how you learn what's appropriate. Everyone here is just guessing at what they would do, etc. You're the only one who was there and really felt the atmosphere.
Also, it may be hard to tell if he was insulted or if he was just surpr... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 5,
"question_score": 9,
"tags": "usage, formality"
} |
What differences should I look out for between male vs female speech?
I was told a story where a male westerner learnt Japanese from his girlfriend and ended up speaking more like a female. The storyteller thought this was hilarious.
What important differences should I look for between male and female speech? | There are almost too many to list, but the simple (grammatical) ones are:
1. Men should never use at the end of a sentence in place of . If you're REALLY good at Japanese as a man, you can get away with only when you're saying something to yourself aloud, such as in passing, right before you decide to leave work,... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 14,
"question_score": 35,
"tags": "pronunciation, register, gender, particle わ"
} |
Do machine transliteration websites exist?
Are there web sites that transliterate Japanese text (katakana, hiragana and kanji) into romaji characters without translating the words into the English language?
(Note to moderators: I'm merely asking a yes/no question, not asking what someone's favorite transliterator is) | You can try Google Translate's 'read phonetically' or 'listen' options.
If you need/want an offline tool as well mecab can do this, among other things. For example, if I enter , it can produce:
,,*,*,,,*
,,*,*,,,*
,,*,*,*,*,*
,,*,*,,,*
,,*,*,,,:
,,*,*,,,:... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": -1,
"tags": "resources, website"
} |
What is the difference between 〜となる and 〜になる?
Is it a nuance difference? Is it formality?
**EDIT**
For example:
>
>
>
I just made that example up, but for some reason, my gut tells me it's the first one, even though I don't see anything grammatically wrong with the second, either. Is it formality level only? | Pretty finely nuanced, I'd say. is a quotative particle, but is also used to described the manner in which something is done, often figurative. can be used to mean "become like a ~" while is literally "become a ~". | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 8,
"question_score": 58,
"tags": "grammar, particles, particle と, particle に"
} |
When do you use 下さい as opposed to ください
I've noticed that there seems to be different usage for and . Is this purely a personal preferences or is there an actual difference their usage?
This was actually a question the Japanese people at my work had a discussion about, but couldn't come to a consensus. | There is a usage difference when writing.
* "" is supposed to used when you request an item (Please give me the apple)
* "" is supposed to used when you ask to do something (Please help/teach me, etc..) | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 26,
"question_score": 41,
"tags": "word choice, kanji, spelling"
} |
外来語 (gairaigo) replaced by Japanese word?
Are there cases where gairaigo used in every day speech (``, ``, etc...) have been ousted by native Japanese words? | I can't think of any cases where this is the case. However, there is a current trend, particularly in business, to use _waseigo_ or _gairaigo_ to appear more "educated". So going forward, one could assume that there are going to be more words replaced by their _waseigo_ or _gairaigo_ equivalent.
There are cases where ... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 12,
"question_score": 14,
"tags": "loanwords"
} |
What is the correct usage of 承知しました, 了解です and かしこまりました, the more formal forms of 分かる?
At work, it is wrong to simply say to say that you understand something. In what situation should I opt to use one of the previously mentioned forms? | is by far the most formal, and is a humble form (). It says that you are inferior to the listener. Most specifically this should be used to interface with customers (hence why wait staff at a restaurant may say it).
is polite (), but not humble. It is also appropriate to use with customers or superiors.
is also po... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 20,
"question_score": 19,
"tags": "nuances, honorifics, business japanese"
} |
Is there a general rule for deriving xasu→xaseru intransitives such as 死なせる from 死なす?
There are a number of verbs where there is a xasu → xaseru transformation to produce an transitive verb from an intransitive, eg:
* →
* →
* →
Is this some kind of generalized rule? (perhaps a classical conjugation?) Or is it... | There is another base form before ~asu, and yes, there is rules for that.
- (die) ⇒(let ~ die)
⇒ (make ~ die)
- (live) ⇒(let ~ live)
⇒ (make ~ live)
- (drink) ⇒(let ~ drink)
⇒(make ~ drink) | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 2,
"question_score": 7,
"tags": "grammar, verbs, conjugations"
} |
Which is correct: こんばんわ or こんばんは?
I've seen both and used; which is correct here? If we interpret the as the topic particle, would seem correct, but it seems that is used quite frequently anyway... | is correct, according to that page in Japanese.
My gut feeling is the same - -> .
That said, a cursory Google of yielded 13M hits, whereas yielded 26M. | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 16,
"question_score": 20,
"tags": "particle は, spelling, greetings, kana usage, lexicalization"
} |
Where does なう on Twitter come from?
If you follow any Japanese speakers on Twitter, you'll almost certainly see them use at the end of a sentence, to say "I am in this place/doing this thing **now** ". Where does this use come from? Who started it? Is it anything to do with the (e.g. bus) announcements that say ""? | It's not clear exactly who or what started it on twitter, but does indeed come from the English "now". It became popular in 2009, shortly after the release of twitter (according to this site). Here are some Japanese articles exploring the usage:
* <
* <
* < | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 15,
"question_score": 19,
"tags": "usage, slang, colloquial language, internet slang"
} |
What is the meaning of all those "w"s in email and SNSs?
You see a lot of w and ww and even www in Twitter and casual chat. What does it mean? I've always thought it was but never found out. How is it pronounced?
Here's an example from Twitter
> ww | They derive from (). They're the Japanese equivalent of "LOL". | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 27,
"question_score": 31,
"tags": "slang, internet slang, abbreviations"
} |
Does "させ" comes from the verb 刺す or just する ?
Recently I came across this sentence in a computing-related technical document:
> some software some feature
I get the meaning (after having integrated some product, we will customize some feature), but my question is:
In this sentence, does come from the verb or jus... | --or to be more precise, . It is one way to abbreviate when used in the middle of a sentence (more commonly you would see ). | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 4,
"question_score": 5,
"tags": "grammar, conjugations"
} |
Which part of speech is the 「ぞ」 in 「神のみぞ知るセカイ」?
{}{} is the title of a manga/anime series but I'm not asking about the anime. I'm just curious about the part in the title.
I know there is a particle that is similar to , such that {} is similar to . But I have never encountered nor in the middle of a sentence/claus... | If you look at koujien's entry for there are several uses (mostly outdated), but I think the one which applies here is: In other words, it places emphasis on something specific. So in reguards to this light novel/anime series title I think it places emphasis on the fact that the/a world which ONLY GOD knows about.
A... | stackexchange-japanese | {
"answer_score": 10,
"question_score": 11,
"tags": "particles, idioms, parts of speech, particle ぞ"
} |
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