The best and No.1 website to get answers to all questions and worries in the whole world is www.answers.com
About Answers Corporation-
Answers’ mission is to empower consumers, brands, and organizations by connecting them with the information they need to make better-informed decisions. The Answers Platform leverages the sizable reach of the top-20 com Score site Answers.com. Answers is headquartered in St. Louis.
Write for us and get paid immediately, good writers good job
Write and get paid. Write for us and get paid online
So here is the deal: We will pay you $100 for your efforts. You don’t need to be an expert—you just need to have English equal to that of a native speaker, a sense of humor, and a love for things unusual or interesting.
It works like this: You write your list (10 items per list minimum), you send it in, we reply and say “Great—we’ll publish it” and send you $100 by PayPal (don’t have an account? just make one—it’s easy and free); or we reply and say “Sorry—it isn’t the sort of thing our readers will love—give it another shot.” Just remember, your list should be at least one or two paragraphs per entry.
Either way you win—your list will be read by us and reviewed, and if it’s amazing it will appear on the front page of Listverse to be read by millions of people a month!
We can not accept lists from writers who do not have a PayPal account; this is non-negotiable . If PayPal doesn’t support your country, please don’t request alternative methods of payment.
What does it pay? Well, our full-length feature articles start at $100 each, and after your fourth published article you get bumped up to the veteran pay of $200. If your article is among the ten most popular that month, you get a $50 bonus. The Quick Fixes we mentioned earlier, since they're only a fraction of the size of that other stuff, pay at $50 a shot. You turn in the finished article, you get paid by PayPal -- there's no waiting for months to get a check. Also, if you have a blog or a Twitter account or a book to promote, we'll let you advertise it at the end of your article and send thousands of readers there.
So here it is. Don't talk to us about how hard it is to get a foot in the door, Frustrated Writer at Starbucks. Don't tell us how much better the site would be if we just listened to your ideas, Angry Commenter. Sign up. Both of you. All of you. The door is wide open, and the room is full of fame and money.
Listverse.com and cracked.com
What is an epic story?
A long poem or story
An epic poem is also called an heroic poem. It is a long poem that deals with an heroic theme. The Illiad is a classic example of an epic poem.
an epic story is a story that embodies the values of a society like Greek poems
Did the theraputae invent the Jesus Myth?
NO Jesus was invented by Paul of Tarsus. see links;
Pauline Christianity
The Problem of Paul
Paul's Bungling Attempt
No. Since no-one invented Him, he was a real person, and thus there is no such thing as a Jesus myth. Myths don't actually rise from the dead, they stay buried and have fantastic and weird things invented.
A slight problem exists with the assertions about Paul. If Paul invented Christianity then how did he persecute Christians who existed before he was converted to Christianity? Perhaps he traveled back in time.
The theraputae, whoever they were, certainly did not invent any mythological Jesus, as He was a real person.
UPDATE: THIS IS WHO THEY WERE
Theraputae: The Theraputae (Masculine) are spoken of quite clearly and literally in the writings of Philo of Alexandria. You can find his work "On the comtemplative life here: http://www.thenazareneway.com/contemplative_life.htm. They are also discussed in Eusebius' "The History of the Church" written some time near 300 AD. {Which coincidentally stands for Anno Domini (The term Anno Domini is Medieval Latin, translated as
In the year of (the/Our) Lord).[1][2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno_Domini).} In his writing Eusebius states: Pg 50 "Mark (Jesus half brother ) is said to have been the first man to set out for Egypt and preach there the gospel which he had himself written down, and the first to establish churches in Alexandria itself. So large was the body of believers, men and women alike, built up there at the first attempt, with an extremely sever rule of life, that Philo decided that he must record in writing their activities, gatherings, meals, and everything else about their way of living." In his work "On the comtemplative life" Philo wrote:
Explanation of the Name Therapeutae "(2) But the deliberate intention of the philosopher is at once displayed from the appellation given to them; for with strict regard to etymology, they are called therapeutae and therapeutrides, {1}{from therapeuoµ, "to heal."} because they process an art of medicine more excellent than that in general use in cities (for that only heals bodies, but the other heals souls which are under the mastery of terrible and almost incurable diseases, which pleasures and appetites, fears and griefs, and covetousness, and follies, and injustice, and all the rest of the innumerable multitude of other passions and vices, have inflicted upon them), or else because they have been instructed by nature and the sacred laws to serve the living God, who is superior to the good, and more simple than the one, and more ancient than the unit"
If you go on to read Philos complete work, you will determine that the name Theraputae was a given name (by whom it is unclear), actually being equal with the term Christian, but given by another culture. Eusebius states: pg 50 "It is also recorded that under Claudius Philo came to Rome to have conversations with Paul, then preaching to the people there. This would not be improbable, as the short work to which I am referring, and which he produced at a considerably later date, clearly contains the rules of the Church still observed in our own day. And again when he describes the life of our ascetics wiht the greatest precision, it is plain enough that he not only knew but welcomed with whole-hearted approval the apostolic men of his day, whi it seems were of Hebrew stock and therefore, in the Jewish manner, still retained most of their ancient customs."
What is a tall tales?
A tall tale is a story that is greatly exaggerated over time. Another answer: It's a tale that is very hard to believe. My friends tell these all the time. Like, if you say, "My mom MADE me throw my favorite stuffed animal in the fire" it could happen, but is hard to believe.
What is a primitive wooden carved image of god called that is supposed to have fallen from heaven?
Considering that God taught very, very strongly against Idolatry and making any graven image, what do you think?
God doesn't believe atheists are not real, therefore they don't exist.
Ok mate calm down a little
Just because God taught something means anyone will listen.
Yes he did teach strongly and it's unlikely that they did fall from heaven.
However don't jump down there throughts about it
Who are the characters in the book The Lost Boy?
The main character is David Pelzer, his mother is Catherin Roerva Pelzer and his father is Stephen Pelzer. There is also Mike the man at the pizza bar, Mrs. Gold his social worker, Mr. Ziegler is David's home room teacher and many more :D f*** your self b****** you stupid hore now get out of here dumba**
What is known about the book When Rain Clouds Gather?
love, tribalism, fight for power.
What are the books on Oprah's best sellers list?
Try this- What is the name of the book Oprah is promoting as her spiritual and motivational guide book?
What do you call stories with morals?
It could be a fable or a parable.
Fable= story that teaches a moral lesson/principle, but often times uses animals or inanimate objects to carry the message through.
Parable= story that teaches a lesson, but uses human characters.
Example of parable- 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'
Example of fable- 'The Tortoise and the Hare'
What is the story of Romulus and Remus?
Romulus and Remus were twin sons of the Roman god Mars and a Priestess. As a priestess their mother was forbidden from marrying or having children and as punishment her and her children were condemned to death. Her exact fate varies depending on the version of the story but the children are abandoned by the edge of the river after the person who was told to kill them could not bring himself to do so.
The twins were protected by the river diety Tiberius and were nursed by a she wolf (in some traditions this she wolf is a godess) before being found by a shepherd who took them home with him and raised them as his own. As they grew they were loved by all who knew them for their good qualities.
A series of events lead the brothers to decide to found their own city, though they argued over where it should be, looking for a sign from the gods, Romulus is favoured. Remus mocked Romulus for his choice of location and in the most popular version of the tale Remus is then killed by Romulus. The city founded by Romulus in about 330AD was named Rome, after Romulus.
Summary:
Romulus and Remus' story started in the city of Troy where they were born, then they were thrown in the Tiber River in a basket. then a she-wolf came and cared for them. a sheperd came along and cared for the two twins. Romulus and Remus built Rome and couldn't deside who to name the city after. they fought and Romulus won so the city was named Rome.
In the book The Matchlock Gun by Walter D Edmonds what is the translation of the term Bergom op Zoom?
bergom op zoom WAS a town in the Netherlands back in the french and Indian war. it is long gone now.
Who was Aesop?
Aesop (620-560 BC) was known for the genre of fables ascribed to him, known as Aesop's Fables . Supposedly he was a slave who lived at the same time as Croesus and Peisistratus in the mid-sixth century BC in ancient Greece.
Aesop's Fables are a collection of very short stories that teach lessons, usually with main characters that are animals with human characteristics. The fables are said to have been written in ancient Greece by Aesop. His name is pronounced EE-sup , with
EE as in "Easter" and sup as in "supper". It can also be pronounced as EE-sop , with sop as in "sopping wet". There is not total historical agreement on whether he actually wrote the fables or merely was a storyteller who collected the stories. But most often it is believed to be a combination of the two.
Some of his fables are:
Belling the Cat
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
The Ant and the Grasshopper
The Fox and the Crow
Are there non-humans that are in human form?
Yes: Witches, wizards, time lords, zombies, Angels, cyborgs, vampires and veila.
Also werewolves but only when the moon isn't full and perhaps a Bogart as well, if humans/crowds of people/audiences/your inner self, is what your scared of.
It's rare but a patronus can also take the shape of a human.
Also, aliens tend to disguise themselves as humans as well for example : siltheen, krillitanes, bane, gorgons, androvax (species: veil), haemovores and plasmavores.
But none that actually exist outside of stories.
In all my dealings I have come to the conclusion that the answer is summed up in this scripture:
James 4
6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
If the devil is the biggest bad, then all his imps and captains are less of a threat. They all flee, as one trying to save its own existence in this realm, from those who have truly submitted to the LORD, Yahweh, trusting in the name of Yahshua Ha Meshyiach / Jesus Christ for their salvation and authority in the spirit realm.
The issue in this day and age is seemingly to first recognize their existence and presence. This is established by their contrary suggestions and statements presented to the human mind, contrary to the scriptures, the Word of the LORD, Yahweh. They prefer to attack a believer in Yahshua Ha Meshyiach covertly so as not to be recognized. One must remember that fear is the devil's chief weapon and the basis for fear is lack of knowledge and belief in the Word of the LORD. Faith in the Word of God is how we recognize and cast down every evil vain imagination that exalts itself against the Truth.
The Bible is a huge book with no reference to fear the devil. We are only to fear in reverence the LORD who will judge sin as worthy of punishment in whomever it is found not erased by the cleansing blood of the Lamb of God, Yahshua Ha Meshyiach / Jesus Christ.
The devil is a liar and the author of them. The demons are his agents assigned to steal, kill, and destroy through lies.
==========================================================
There are many ways to get rid of satan and demons, but I used to have a problem similar to what sounds like yours. Here are a few tips:
1. Stop believing that a drive for evil exists. I'm not saying that you have to go off la-di-da-di-da, like your drunk, but try to understand that people make these bad choices, not a being like satan.
2. If you feel some force trying to get those voices inside your head to say things you don't want, like, 'Be evil', reconfront them with something positive, like, 'I love god. God is good.' or 'I like myself for who I am'. Try to construct some sort of rythm. (It actually works, sometimes I fall asleep doing this.)
3. Talk to a spiritualist or some kind of religious person, they may be able to help you. You can anonymously call a prayer chain, too, and they will pray for you to be successful.
Hope this helps! The alternative answer
I think the best way to deal with demons would be to stop believing in them. I mean the concept of demons existing in a world with a omnipotent god of love dosen't seem to fit. I mean (just thinking logically here) couldn't He just condemn them to hell, or smite them? In my experience, demons are just coincidental bad events and by just saying to yourself: hang on a minute... What am I seriously thinking? you can go a long way.
I was in your same position for the past few weeks wondering if its all real but no matter what. I have come from my research in demonology the alternate way to stop a a** hole like that is to simply believe in a higher power then them and simply no where they belong. There simply has to be a balance on this earth between evil and good. Some say that it is christ that will save you and allow you to banish them to condemned hell if you please but who knows those terds keep getting out then. If you wanna know some research i say you look in resourceful places like the bible or demonology books. hope i helped
Who was the first rider of Pegasus?
Bellerophon. Perseus did not ride Pegasus.
When did robin hood live?
The story of Robin Hood first shows about about 1226 as an oral tale in rhyme told by bards. It changes as it ages and it isn't until the 1400's or early 1500's that it is written down. Charcters like Tuck and Marian don't show up until late in the story. Most historians believe that there never was a "Robin Hood."
The book Avalon landing ever existed?
For as far as I know, the book is only referred to in the film Finding Forrester and doesn't exist anywhere outside of it.
What kind of stories did Aesop write?
he wrote fables which always had a moral
Is thunder god bowling?
Thunder is the sound of the lightening cracking the sound barrier as it is breaking through the earths atmosphere.
What is the name of the tool that the Grim Reaper carries?
The "Grim Reaper" carries a tool that was used to cut crops or grass before the invention of combine harvesters. This tool was called a "scythe" and the people harvesting the crops were called "reapers" - hence the name for "Death" - the Grim Reaper who comes to harvest people.
What are Book names that contain Tale?
The Canterbury Tales. A Tale of Two Cities. The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
What does Charon's craft refer to?
In Greek mythology Charon (or Kharon) was the ferryman of the dead for King Hades. Charon's craft would be a ferry, barque or skiff, ie., a boat. Metaphorically, it can refer to death.
What does banshee mean?
Banshee (White Lady of Sorrow, Lady of Death, Irish Death Messenger, Bean Sighe): The banshee in Irish Gælic, is called 'bean sidhe', which means 'supernatural woman'. She is envisioned with a sunken nose, scraggy hair and huge hollow eye sockets. Her eyes are fiery red from continuous weeping. She wears a tattered white sheet flapping around her. She can also appear in a variety of other forms, such as that of a hooded crow, stoat, hare, weasel, and other animals associated in Irish witchcraft. Her wailing has been described in many ways. In some parts of Leinster, it is said that her wail can be so piercing that it shatters glass. In Kerry, the wail is heard as a low, pleasant singing; in Tyrone as the sound of two boards being struck together; and on Rathlin Island as a thin, screeching sound somewhere between the wail of a woman and the moan of an owl. The Banshee will wail and pace outside the door, when a member of a beloved clan is dying. When more than one Banshee is present, and they wail and sing in chorus, this means that some holy or great one is dying. The Banshee can follow the descendants no matter where the Irish travels or emigrates. Sometimes, on special occasions, the Banshee will ride a pale horse alongside a Dullahan. They are very closely related to the bean-nighe of Scotland.
What are some of the Grimm Brother's fairy tales?
Jacob and wilhem grimm wrote fairy tales in the 1800'sthey wrote down magical phenonamens so they basically wrote a lot of fairy tales in that time check Google fairy tales and you will see grimms fairy tales every single ft that they wrote is there.
They actually didn't write any, they collected them from story tellers around Germany. They did take some creative license when writing them down though, as originally fairy tales were for adults and contained graphic and dark subject matter. When the Brothers Grimm wrote down the stories, they edited them to be children's stories.
What does seventh daughter of a seventh daughter mean?
This is a variation of the common folklore concept "the seventh son of the seventh son" below is an excerpt from the Wikipedia article entitled "Seventh son of a seventh son." The seventh son of a seventh son is a concept from folklore regarding special powers given to, or held by, such a son. The seventh son must come from an unbroken line with no female children born between, and be, in turn, born to such a seventh son.[1] The number seven has a long history of mystical and religious associations: seven sleepers, seven-league boots, seven ages of man, seven hills of Rome, seven lucky gods of Japanese mythology, the Seven Sages, seven sisters, seven stars, seven wonders of the world, and so on. In this case, it refers to a man who is the seventh son of a man who is himself a seventh son. In some beliefs, the special powers are inborn, inherited simply by virtue of his birth order; in others the powers are granted to him by God or gods because of his birth order. http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_son_of_a_seventh_son As for the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter it can mean the same. They tend to have great powers for sorcery and divination. Like a seventh son their power is from their birth and bloodline. Both the number three and seven have a long history in magic and the 7th daughter on a 7th daughter is said to have great powers just like a 7th son. Either way it is the same of each gender and a distortion of old folklore.
What is Djinn in Arabic mythology?
The term Jinn is often reffered to a variety of beings in the spirit world. However it is commonly used for a specific type of entity. They differ from paranormal creatures like Lochness Monster, Sasquatch or Mermaid. And they are often referenced differently, yet closely related to the Fay. Yet they are different enough from them to have their own category. Djinns should not be seen as just plain parallel beings. Even though they are more limited than angels and don't have the wealth of everyday life experiences that we do, they are very old, knowledgeble and powerful. They are entities existing in the inner planes of spirit. The world of God, Jesus and Allah. The world that helped to create and rule our world. They they work closely with angels, deal with gods such as death and fate and watch over our world every so often as they move through the planes. They however are still living entities and are still subject to flaws unlike the higher spiritual beings. Yet they are not to be mistaken for the whims and flaws of humanity. They still have the knowledge, understanding and experience of almost an angel and they are much older than our known world bringing them close to gods. Yet the Earth may have been here by the middle to last of the Jinn. Jinn are very powerful, and are away from our Earthly struggle. They have no need for buildings, researches, technology and are so ahead of us time cannot measure it and that is why they help us out. Away from the idea of bottles and lamps because i don't even know if this myth has factual basis. The realm of the jinn even though divine in position is equally important in their coexistence. They can often come to us pure, bringing wisdom, intimacy or blessings. There may be a small angelic brownie like spirit around you. The jinn are connected with the endless realms of godlike knowledge, forces of creation, nature, and spirit. They pass through the realms of emotion and are the mimic of our souls if we were to be close to god and away from the ignorance, questions, and superficiality of the human world. They can also be seen as parallel beings that come from an unconfined, inconceivable spirit world that come to assist us every once in a while. Yet many of them a while ago chose evil and are known for it. They are so horrible and powerful they can often be mistaken for fallen angels. All jinns even wicked ones know far past physics, philosophy and actually live void of needing to strive for these things. They live in the world of our imaginations. They have no need for substance or sight. The feed themselves with energy. They drink with sex. They are almost like our spiritual partners. Yet us not having this as humans is what gives us the gift of life and growth and with there knowledge they know this is special. Jinns pass in and out of realms and only interfere when necessary. Some work with Faerie and some gently aid angels. Jinns can express feminine masculine or androgynous energy, but in the purest of the sense not bogged down by human means. Yet there are many levels and variations of jinn and each come with there own meaning, but all in some way exceed mankind by far. Yet jinns still have desires, and curiosities but they are governed by different rules and still have more information pass through them easily. It could be very possible people, lovers, children especially and beings that we see in our dreams that talk to us directly and appear so real could be jinns. In this way the lower, younger classes can learn what they wish from us and still get there chance to connect. Jinn cannot be caught on to and even the wisest mystics accepted this. You will be surprised but jinn could be behind our ear right now, in our dreams or even in our computer, but don't worry it is all a part of the process and is governed by rules. Other information on the jinns is very common but i chose to clarify it with an enhanced personal background into a defined yet honest world of the jinn. This is away from "Wishmaster."
What is the difference between fairy tales and modern tales?
Modern Day Tales are more related to more technical things like cars and computers, fairy tales relate to more mythological senarios.
Which Shakespeare play has the phrase 'he hath eaten me out of house and home'?
Henry IV Part II, Act 2, Scene 1
Did Laura Ingalls Wilder have an adopted brother?
No. Her only brother, Charles Frederick Jr, was biological and died in infancy (the adopted brother in the television series is fictitious and is portrayed as being shot and killed in a bank robbery when he was 12.)
In the TV series Laura had two adopted brothers, Albert and James. Albert ended up getting I believe cancer and dying around 20 years old. James did get shot in a bank robbery at the age of twelve but survived due to a miracle or what seemed to be a miracle.
actually in the television series Albert dies from leukemia
Yes, Charles Frederick Ingalls, known as "Freddy", but he died at the age of nine months.
How old is the legend of Robin Hood?
The age of the legend is very difficult to estimate exactly, since it is unknown precisely when Robin Hood may have lived (if he was a real person), and unfortunately records from the time are incomplete. Another problem is that it is almost certain that the first Robin Hood tales were transmitted orally (i.e. through the songs of the minstrels, and popular rhymes and tales).
The earliest literary reference is usually taken to date from 1377, when William Langland wrote the Middle English work Piers Plowman - in a throwaway reference, the character Sloth (a lazy priest) tells us that he doesn't know his Lord's Prayer perfectly, but does know tales of Robin Hood:
I kan not parfitly my Paternoster as the preest it singeth, But I kan rhymes of Robyn Hood, and Ranulf erle of Chestre
We can say with certainty, then, that the legend was already known by 1377. The earliest known written tales of Robin Hood probably date from the mid-1400s, and in many ways are quite different from the legend we know today - for instance, the tales can be quite violent; Maid Marian or Friar Tuck are absent (having entered the tradition later); there is very little 'robbing from the rich to give to the poor' (though Robin is a 'good outlaw'); and Robin is a yeoman rather than a disinherited Earl.
However, there is some evidence that the tradition goes back further than this: Professor J. C. Holt in his book Robin Hood argues that the occurrence in official records of the surname 'Robinhood' and its variants, the earliest example of which goes back to 1261-2, shows an already-developing tradition, and that the surname is likely applied as a nickname to criminals after the Robin mould. The legend is therefore known to date back about 750 years, and perhaps further.
However, it doesn't appear that Robin can have lived much earlier than this first reference, and so if there was an 'original' Robin Hood, it is even possible that his legend began to spread in his own lifetime.
Given the Robin Hood story line emerges from the excessive taxation of the House of Plantagenets, the French rulers over England at the time, it seems logical that the advent of the Robin Hood tales would correlate to the Crusades and more specifically to King Richard the Lion Heart who died in France in 1199 and was succeeded by his even more evil brother John.
Another interesting tidbit: John agreed to then later reneged and finally signed a charter to give commoners basic human rights in exchange for fending off a French invasion of England. Although John was basically evil, his charter became known as the Magna Carta which is the foundation of American democracy.
In the year of the boar and Jackie Robinson what is the name of wong's landlady?
Actually, Toscanini is her landlady's bird. The landlady is named Senora Rodriguez.
What are the different types of internal and external conflicts and what do they mean?
There is also more external conflicts such as, man vs. society, man vs. machine, & much more. Internal conflicts are also called Man vs. self. It's anything emotional or mental where the character is essential both protagonist and antagonist. External conflicts are divided into two types: man vs. nature and man vs. man. An excellent example of man vs. nature is any Jean Craighead George book. Man vs. man is simply one character against another (regardless of gender).
What exactly is a zombie?
A zombie is a dead person who becomes "alive" without a soul.
A traditional "monster" type zombie is a person that walks around and such dead, and in movies and books often portrayed as wearing rags, very pale, decomposed, bruised and beaten up, and flesh-eating or at least very aggresive.
What is the legend of Robin Hood?
There are way to many variations of the legend to keep track of ! Here are some basic facts concerning the legend of Robin Hood : He was originally named Robin of Locksley (Locksley was his manor) . He lived around the time period of King Richard, (who was known for his love of crusades and only spent one out of his many years as king in England and Not on a crusade in the holy Land (Jerusalem)). His nick name, "Lion heart" came from his love of crusades. In the kings absence, His ill- favored brother, Prince John ruled in his stead. John was known for his treachery, deceit, and greed for money. He heavily taxed the people causing them to use their bread money to pay him un-needed taxes !( This is the part in which Robin comes in. )One day after returning from crusading he came upon a poor peasant who had just killed one of the deer in Sherwood forest that was ONLY meant for the king to hunt. taking pity upon the peasant he killed the kings guards pursuing him and became an outlaw losing his land, wealth, EVERYTHING !!! So he lived in Sherwood Forest as a common thief and helped the poor by giving them food and money. He also saved many a peasant from being hanged. So earning the loyalty and fealty of a few. He had a lover named Marion and many stories claim she married him. He was considered an EXCELLENT archer and disguised himself as a common poor fellow to go to and win many of Prince John's tournaments.!!! If you want a more detailed account do some research and check some books out from the library.
What is the difference between a fairy tale and a folk tale?
A fairy tale is mostly made up of magical characters, a folk tale is a tale made by people of people that may or may not have existed or exist.
A fairy tale can be like real life because u can meet ur prince charming u may have problems but ull work them out. In the end u will have a happy ending with the love of ur life.
What was the date Robin Hood was born?
Robin Hood (1160-1247)
Why does mythology exists?
Mythology is a set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately fostered. In terms of Greek Mythology, take the story of Pandora's box, for instance. It is about a woman given a box containing all the world's evils. She was told not to open it, and wasn't told what was in it, but she was curious, and opened it anyway. Suddenly all of the evils flew out of the box, except for hopelessness which Pandora managed keep inside. What's beautiful about this myth is that, yes, it was intended to explain why there are so many bad things in the world, but even more than that it reminds us that the hope of humanity isn't lost, providing us with endurance, ambition, and determination. Mythology is used to explain the unexplainable. In recent times, with so much advancement, our society has been exposed to MANY scientific explanations, contrary to mythological belief. But still, mythology is very INTERESTING and aids us in understanding how people viewed their world towards things they couldn't explain at the time.
Who is Ali Baba?
A poor woodcutter in the story
"Arabian Nights" who gains entrance to the treasure cave of the 40 thieves by saying the magic words "Open, Sesame!"
-- It's not 'Sesame' it's 'says me.' As in 'Open, Says Me!' but it does sound like 'Sesame.' =)
Who is the hero in Arabian Nights?
Hatim tai alibaba
There is no one hero in the tales of the Arabian Nights as they were a collection of stories told over many nights (often called The Tales of 1001 Nights). These stories include Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, Tales of Sinbad the Sailor, and Aladdin and his Lamp.
Answer 1:
No. People cannot morph into animals. There were some rumors that, back in the early ages, people were able to morph into animals and there were various stories on that. Today, however, you cannot morph into an animal. Although some people claim that morphing into animals is possible, it is indeed impossible.
Answer 2:
It is a belief among many tribal people that man can, or used to, have this ability, as:
Yes, and they are called "Navajo Skinwalkers" -- Yeenaaldlooshii in Navajo -- and they do exist.
I have read Native American stories that they used to morph into animals: the "Mothman" for example... I don't think people can do that... As a spirit, YES, but because they have no shape at all.
They can in the books "Animorphs." They are really good books for 12-year-olds.
Our friends the Vikings thought warriors could morph into bears during battle. These were the "Berserkers" (Bear shirts).
There's an amusing Cree (North Alberta Tribe) tale called "Deer Feces Woman," where a young man falls in love with a girl after being lost in the forest. By spring they have a baby -- then she turns back into a pile of deer scat.
Zeus, the Greek god, could turn into animals on demand.
In Hrolf Kraki's "Saga," a story written about the same time as "Beowulf," several of the characters turn into animals or part-animals.
We all have friends who turn into orangutans after a beer or few.
The only known case of this is that of the aboriginal people of Australia. Prior to colonization it was used as a traditional hunting method for Kangaroos and other flighty game.
When Australia was colonized the Europeans considered this to be a form of "devil worshiping witchcraft" and promptly put to death all known elders who were capable of carrying out this amazing feat.
It is rumored that the ability may not have been completely lost and that some aboriginal people living in the deep interior of Australia still use it as a method of hunting.
Answer 3:
It is physically impossible for humans to change into animals, period.
How do you convince an atheist that there is a God?
The answer is obvious, a person prefers to find their own way in these matters. Leave your friend alone or you'll have neither a convert or a friend.You might also ask yourself what an atheist would have to do to convince you that there is no God. An atheist will be as strong in his convictions as you are. What will you do if his arguments are better than yours?
Give verifiable, testable, and repeatable evidence that your deity actually exists. Do not make the fallacy of circular logic, arguments from personal incredulity, arguments from emotion, or attempt to use Pascal's Wager.
Faith being the ability to believe in something despite evidence against it, or a lack of evidence for it, you could convert an atheist to theism by giving them absolute proof of the existence of god.
An Atheist would most probably require evidence of the existence of a God. This would have to be evidence which anyone could demonstrate, as such there may be no way to convince an Atheist through your own personal experience e.g "I just know there's a God.
Most Atheists also accept that they could be wrong in their skepticism and if God should choose to clinch the matter at any time by revealing him-/her-/itself, they will naturally amend their beliefs accordingly.
You might be able to convince an atheist of the proof of a god by having the god show himself (do tricks on command) but this would not translate into the atheist caring that there was a god or have any desire to be closer to him.
Do not however consider that making an atheist believe in a god is the same as making an atheist want to love or worship the god you convinced him believe in. Many atheists start their development of their worldview by noticing the uncaring and illogical behavior of the gods of most religions.
All you need to do to convince an atheist to believe in your God is to persuade your God to show up and perform miracles in front of the atheist such as raising the dead, healing the sick and turning water into wine. The other way to convince an atheist to believe in your God is to demonstrate to them that they can have some emotional benefit that they strongly desire such as friendship, sex, acceptance, safety or hope if they are prepared to abandon reason and accept a God without any evidence. The first method seems unlikely to work as Gods don't seem to be showing up and performing miracles in front of atheists these days. The second method has a chance of working if your atheist is lonely, depressed or sick and is not committed to reason.
Consider how you would feel if the shoe were on the other foot. If one of your friends was a user of hard drugs, a swinger, Pastafarian (worshipping the Flying Spaghetti Monster), a member of the Church of the Subgenius (or any of the more mainline religions like Moslem's, Hindu or Buddhist) and asked you to come to meet with him and his friends. Assuming it was pretty obvious that your friend fully expected that you would "see the light" and join up after this introduction. How would you feel? The answer is obvious, a person prefers to find their own way in these matters. Leave your friend alone or you'll have neither a convert or a friend.
The only way to convince an atheist that there is a God is actually introduce him to God and the only way you can possibly do that is to know yourself where to find that god and then to reveal him? her? it?. The passion and feeling for good and evil is no different in an atheist then it is in a religious person. The atheist however can always say he is good for goodness sake.
Any arguments that a 4 year old would present to an adult to convince them that there is really a monster under the bed would be just as effective in convincing the atheist that there was really a god. Many people mistakenly believe that atheists haven't heard the "truth" and that is the reason they don't believe in god(s). This is not however true. Atheists generally have researched their position and determined its validity. The problem then is that arguments to an atheist may result in a well reasoned retort that the theist is converted. As an aside, convincing someone that there is a god(s) does not convince them that the being is worthy of love or respect. Many gods in mankind's history have been capricious, vindictive and bloodthirsty.
Don't try to force everything upon someone at once. The best way of showing there is a God is to be nice (Don't criticize or yell, otherwise you will just be turning the person away) and to live a life of God so that God may show Himself to others through you (People will see how much God has changed your life and follow your footsteps seeking to change their lives) Talk about God but don't force the conversion because then it would make yourself sound like a proud person who thinks he knows everything and it would turn the person away. "Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words" Also, trust in God and leave it into God's hands because man alone can't do anything but God can do everything; just be an instrument for God and don't preach out as if you are doing it because it's God's work. Evangelize in a way God would (Being gentle, always for the good of others, kind and loving, selflessly).
If you need to ask that question you obviously do not have what you need to prove your own belief there is a God. Religious belief is unquestioning faith in the absence of proof. How do you convince anyone of anything in the absence of proof and why would you seek to do that. Atheism is grounded in reality. Save your efforts and put them to better use. You would be overstepping the rules of good behavior to persist in trying to convince an atheist something is true if you have no proof of its veracity yourself.
Keep in mind that a number of 'atheists' were raised in a religious family or surrounded by religious community. To say that atheists are ignorant of many religious beliefs and faiths is probably not accurate. Most atheists have already heard whatever you want to say to persuade them. Religious belief should be something personal and even better if it's from self discovery. Besides, which religions, God, or Gods are you trying to convince people that exist. How do you know one is more 'right' than another? What you tell them is only from your point of view and belief. What about the many other point of views and beliefs. What's right for you may not be right for another, even within in the same religion. This is why there are so many variants/sects/denominations/etc. exist within the same religion.
Postulate a God that can withstand the scrutiny of the scientific method.
The best way to convince an atheist, assuming he or she is willing to be convinced, is with evidence. Biblical references don't count, neither do prophecies. Since there is no known evidence, the next best way is through logical arguments (remember, the majority, if not all, of the religious arguments have at least one fallacy, avoid those. No appeals to emotion, authority, personal experience, etc...). If that doesn't work, then save your time, because you have lost. You will not recover from that.
Appended is a Flowchart for debating the issue of god. Note that the first step is that neither side holds themselves above changing their opinion. The Christian must be just as willing to concede that he is wrong and there is no god if the atheists evidence is reasonable.
Did anyone tried to go Bhangarh after sunset?
Dispelling the myth of Bhangarh
I went twice to Bhangarh. Once with a torch after sunset and once in the morning. The roofless structures at Bhangarh at made with walls which are at least two and a half feet thick. They are mostly six feet by seven feet. They don't have any windows. These look more like:
a) cow pens or goat pens
b) place to store food grain
c) soldier's barracks (this possibility is the least likely for the lack of windows)
If they had been houses for poor people they would have been temporary structures made of wood or mud with tree trunks. Ordinary citizens houses will not stand the ravages of time.
The way these small roofless structures have been built is typical of the way kings or noblemen built their structures -- strong stone and mortar. On the other hand, houses of noblemen and royalty were much bigger than six feet by seven feet. These are, therefore, not houses at all.
Therefore, the story that these houses were abandoned owing to roofs falling over the occupants head is flawed.
The so-called castle has turrets. That means this structure is not a castle at all but a military construction. Whether it was a permanent or a temporary fortification is not clear.
The stairs and the ramparts are built in such a way that no one can suddenly approach the innards of this structure and provide the occupants with the element of surprize.
This kind of structure is ideal for a highly sensitive political prisoner or the quarters of a colonel or general.
If you notice there are places where guards with boiling oil (a la Shivaji) or arrows (a la Akbar and Humayun) can be strategically placed.
The temple is that of a different time period as evident from the tops of the pillars and the castle or fort is from another time period. This could have been the scene of bloody battle between two chieftains who were from different faiths although both being residents of Rajasthan.
This place is also within a valley. It could have been flooded with excessive rainfall and people may have left all of a sudden. This could have brought about the story / theory of a curse.Mugal invasion is also doubted as one of the prime reason of depopulation of bhangarh which is strongly supported in mugal history.
The theory about Rani Ratnawati and the tantrik haunting the place could only be cooked up by the local population to encourage tourism.
Debasish Roy
From the book lonesome dove the quote uva uvam vivendo varia fit was used what does it mean?
Explanation
I have read that Larry McMurty purposely used incorrect Latin because of his characters(Gus wrote the phrase on the sign). The scrambled meaning of the phrase translates to a "grape changes color [i.e., ripens] when it sees [another] grape." This would explain why Gus says "you ride with an outlaw you die with an outlaw" when they catch Jake with the horse thieves, meaning that you show your true colors in the presence of others. From what I have read, it means something along the lines of "one vine becomes the whole vine" or "one grape causes the others to ripen". In essence, I believe that McMurtry was trying to convey the legacy of Gus and Call and the importance of friendship and companionship. Gus and Call From what I have read, it means something along the lines of "one vine becomes the whole vine" or "one grape causes the others to ripen". In essence, I believe that McMurtry was trying to convey the legacy of Gus and Call and the importance of friendship and companionship.
ANOTHER VIEW
The sign for the Gus and Call's Hat Creek Cattle Company includes the Latin motto "Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit" which appears to be a reference to a proveb ("Uva Uvam Videndo Varia Fit") first attributed Juvenal. Juvenal's proverb is translated as "A grape (uva) other grapes (uvam) seeing (videndo) changes (varia fit)." Some readers think McMurty's substitution of "vivendo" for "videndo" is an artifice McMurty used to underscore Gus's lack of education and unfamiliarity with Latin. That seems unlikely. When Call asks Gus about the motto, Gus jumbles it comically and does not even pretend to know what it means. Having established that, McMurty gained nothing by adding a spelling error that only Latin scholars would catch. Likewise, it seems unlikely - as other readers have suggested - that the substitution was simply a typographical error. Although the substitution is ungrammatical, "vivendo" means "living" so the effect is that the motto is changed from "A grape changes when it sees other grapes" to "A grape is changed by living with other grapes" or, since we are not really concerned with grapes after all, "We are changed by the lives around us." ELABORATION: They were settled in in Lonesome Dove and had an environment they were comfortable in and that they understood. Capt. Call wanted to see Montana and in doing so changed all of the lives around him. One ripple in time changed all their lives. Lonesome Dove as Tragedy It's difficult to know what a writer is thinking, regardless of how "obvious" their meaning seems to be. There is a number of plausible explanations for the novel's title, but McMurtry's -- that it refers to Newt! -- seems wayward, if not downright perverse. Because
Lonesome Dove is such a beloved work, people overlook the fact that it's an extremely unhappy story. (McMurtry even said that he didn't understand why such a depressing novel was so popular.) Almost every character has their life lost, destroyed, or "merely" badly damaged (Newt being the obvious exception), simply because they went on an unnecessary journey. Xavier Wantz's grisly, gratuitous suicide is typical of McMurtry's delight in torturing his characters (both physically and psychologically). However pompous it might sound, I think of Lonesome Dove as "The Wizard of OZ meets Das Lied von der Erde". It therefore seems reasonable that this (mis-)quote is consciously meant ironically. The very thing that does not happen is that (with the exception of Newt), there is no "ripening". People are no different -- no "riper" -- at the end of the story than they were at the beginning, either because of other peoples' examples (videndo) or simply their passage through life (vivendo). No one changes, no one matures.
From the book lonesome dove the quote uva uvam vivendo varia fit was used what does it mean?
Explanation
I have read that Larry McMurty purposely used incorrect Latin because of his characters(Gus wrote the phrase on the sign). The scrambled meaning of the phrase translates to a "grape changes color [i.e., ripens] when it sees [another] grape." This would explain why Gus says "you ride with an outlaw you die with an outlaw" when they catch Jake with the horse thieves, meaning that you show your true colors in the presence of others. From what I have read, it means something along the lines of "one vine becomes the whole vine" or "one grape causes the others to ripen". In essence, I believe that McMurtry was trying to convey the legacy of Gus and Call and the importance of friendship and companionship. Gus and Call From what I have read, it means something along the lines of "one vine becomes the whole vine" or "one grape causes the others to ripen". In essence, I believe that McMurtry was trying to convey the legacy of Gus and Call and the importance of friendship and companionship.
ANOTHER VIEW
The sign for the Gus and Call's Hat Creek Cattle Company includes the Latin motto "Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit" which appears to be a reference to a proveb ("Uva Uvam Videndo Varia Fit") first attributed Juvenal. Juvenal's proverb is translated as "A grape (uva) other grapes (uvam) seeing (videndo) changes (varia fit)." Some readers think McMurty's substitution of "vivendo" for "videndo" is an artifice McMurty used to underscore Gus's lack of education and unfamiliarity with Latin. That seems unlikely. When Call asks Gus about the motto, Gus jumbles it comically and does not even pretend to know what it means. Having established that, McMurty gained nothing by adding a spelling error that only Latin scholars would catch. Likewise, it seems unlikely - as other readers have suggested - that the substitution was simply a typographical error. Although the substitution is ungrammatical, "vivendo" means "living" so the effect is that the motto is changed from "A grape changes when it sees other grapes" to "A grape is changed by living with other grapes" or, since we are not really concerned with grapes after all, "We are changed by the lives around us." ELABORATION: They were settled in in Lonesome Dove and had an environment they were comfortable in and that they understood. Capt. Call wanted to see Montana and in doing so changed all of the lives around him. One ripple in time changed all their lives. Lonesome Dove as Tragedy It's difficult to know what a writer is thinking, regardless of how "obvious" their meaning seems to be. There is a number of plausible explanations for the novel's title, but McMurtry's -- that it refers to Newt! -- seems wayward, if not downright perverse. Because
Lonesome Dove is such a beloved work, people overlook the fact that it's an extremely unhappy story. (McMurtry even said that he didn't understand why such a depressing novel was so popular.) Almost every character has their life lost, destroyed, or "merely" badly damaged (Newt being the obvious exception), simply because they went on an unnecessary journey. Xavier Wantz's grisly, gratuitous suicide is typical of McMurtry's delight in torturing his characters (both physically and psychologically). However pompous it might sound, I think of Lonesome Dove as "The Wizard of OZ meets Das Lied von der Erde". It therefore seems reasonable that this (mis-)quote is consciously meant ironically. The very thing that does not happen is that (with the exception of Newt), there is no "ripening". People are no different -- no "riper" -- at the end of the story than they were at the beginning, either because of other peoples' examples (videndo) or simply their passage through life (vivendo). No one changes, no one matures.
Why do fables use animals
It is merely a matter of definition that fables use animals. Any story that has talking animals in it is a fable. A short short story that does not include animals and has a moralistic theme is known as a parable.
Who is Prince Valiant's wife?
The love of his life was Aleta whom he met on a Mediterranean island.
From the book lonesome dove the quote uva uvam vivendo varia fit was used what does it mean?
Explanation
I have read that Larry McMurty purposely used incorrect Latin because of his characters(Gus wrote the phrase on the sign). The scrambled meaning of the phrase translates to a "grape changes color [i.e., ripens] when it sees [another] grape." This would explain why Gus says "you ride with an outlaw you die with an outlaw" when they catch Jake with the horse thieves, meaning that you show your true colors in the presence of others. From what I have read, it means something along the lines of "one vine becomes the whole vine" or "one grape causes the others to ripen". In essence, I believe that McMurtry was trying to convey the legacy of Gus and Call and the importance of friendship and companionship. Gus and Call From what I have read, it means something along the lines of "one vine becomes the whole vine" or "one grape causes the others to ripen". In essence, I believe that McMurtry was trying to convey the legacy of Gus and Call and the importance of friendship and companionship.
ANOTHER VIEW
The sign for the Gus and Call's Hat Creek Cattle Company includes the Latin motto "Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit" which appears to be a reference to a proveb ("Uva Uvam Videndo Varia Fit") first attributed Juvenal. Juvenal's proverb is translated as "A grape (uva) other grapes (uvam) seeing (videndo) changes (varia fit)." Some readers think McMurty's substitution of "vivendo" for "videndo" is an artifice McMurty used to underscore Gus's lack of education and unfamiliarity with Latin. That seems unlikely. When Call asks Gus about the motto, Gus jumbles it comically and does not even pretend to know what it means. Having established that, McMurty gained nothing by adding a spelling error that only Latin scholars would catch. Likewise, it seems unlikely - as other readers have suggested - that the substitution was simply a typographical error. Although the substitution is ungrammatical, "vivendo" means "living" so the effect is that the motto is changed from "A grape changes when it sees other grapes" to "A grape is changed by living with other grapes" or, since we are not really concerned with grapes after all, "We are changed by the lives around us." ELABORATION: They were settled in in Lonesome Dove and had an environment they were comfortable in and that they understood. Capt. Call wanted to see Montana and in doing so changed all of the lives around him. One ripple in time changed all their lives. Lonesome Dove as Tragedy It's difficult to know what a writer is thinking, regardless of how "obvious" their meaning seems to be. There is a number of plausible explanations for the novel's title, but McMurtry's -- that it refers to Newt! -- seems wayward, if not downright perverse. Because
Lonesome Dove is such a beloved work, people overlook the fact that it's an extremely unhappy story. (McMurtry even said that he didn't understand why such a depressing novel was so popular.) Almost every character has their life lost, destroyed, or "merely" badly damaged (Newt being the obvious exception), simply because they went on an unnecessary journey. Xavier Wantz's grisly, gratuitous suicide is typical of McMurtry's delight in torturing his characters (both physically and psychologically). However pompous it might sound, I think of Lonesome Dove as "The Wizard of OZ meets Das Lied von der Erde". It therefore seems reasonable that this (mis-)quote is consciously meant ironically. The very thing that does not happen is that (with the exception of Newt), there is no "ripening". People are no different -- no "riper" -- at the end of the story than they were at the beginning, either because of other peoples' examples (videndo) or simply their passage through life (vivendo). No one changes, no one matures.
Are folk tales true?
well some are true and some are not some are myths and some actually happen just depends who is telling the truth
What are the twelve parts to John Campbell's Mono-myth Theory?
There are 3 parts and 17 steps to the Monomyth.
part 1. Departure
a. The call to Adventure
b. The refusal of the call
c. Supernatural Aid
d. The crossing of the Threshold (symbolic Death)
e. Rebirth
part 2. Initiation
a. The road of Trials
b. Marriage (meeting of a companion)
c. The woman as a temptress (for male heroes, obviously)
d. Atonement with the Father
e. Apotheosis
f. The Ultimate Boon
part 3. Return
a. The refusal of the return
b. The magic flight (the return trip is always faster then the initial trip)
c. The rescue from without
d. The crossing of the RETURN Threshold
e. Master of two worlds
f. Freedom to Live
What was the storyline of the Ribald Tales of Robin Hood in the nineteen sixties?
There isn't one, really.
It's a soft-core porn film made to get past the censors before the Supreme Court ruled on what was/wasn't pornography. It's a T&A film without the A.
Robin Hood wears orange spandex tights throughout the film and despite quite a few supposed sex scenes, he never once takes them off. Once, while having sex with Marian, she does manage to drag them down enough to expose his butt to the camera, and then he humps her thigh in between random scenes of the surrounding nature. Each and every female in this movie gets at least one breast exposed while the men very rarely take anything off. Most of the females are also raped and a lot of them die from it, leaving only a droplet of blood in the corner of their mouths.
Robin Hood's band of merry men live in a circus tent and wear the most colourful costumes ever seen in a costume drama and Prince John's sister is a scary dominatrix with far too much eye make-up and a very short attention span. At one point Friar Tuck is praying, but you pan back and see there's a maiden kneeling under his cassock. And so on.
Did anyone tried to go Bhangarh after sunset?
Dispelling the myth of Bhangarh
I went twice to Bhangarh. Once with a torch after sunset and once in the morning. The roofless structures at Bhangarh at made with walls which are at least two and a half feet thick. They are mostly six feet by seven feet. They don't have any windows. These look more like:
a) cow pens or goat pens
b) place to store food grain
c) soldier's barracks (this possibility is the least likely for the lack of windows)
If they had been houses for poor people they would have been temporary structures made of wood or mud with tree trunks. Ordinary citizens houses will not stand the ravages of time.
The way these small roofless structures have been built is typical of the way kings or noblemen built their structures -- strong stone and mortar. On the other hand, houses of noblemen and royalty were much bigger than six feet by seven feet. These are, therefore, not houses at all.
Therefore, the story that these houses were abandoned owing to roofs falling over the occupants head is flawed.
The so-called castle has turrets. That means this structure is not a castle at all but a military construction. Whether it was a permanent or a temporary fortification is not clear.
The stairs and the ramparts are built in such a way that no one can suddenly approach the innards of this structure and provide the occupants with the element of surprize.
This kind of structure is ideal for a highly sensitive political prisoner or the quarters of a colonel or general.
If you notice there are places where guards with boiling oil (a la Shivaji) or arrows (a la Akbar and Humayun) can be strategically placed.
The temple is that of a different time period as evident from the tops of the pillars and the castle or fort is from another time period. This could have been the scene of bloody battle between two chieftains who were from different faiths although both being residents of Rajasthan.
This place is also within a valley. It could have been flooded with excessive rainfall and people may have left all of a sudden. This could have brought about the story / theory of a curse.Mugal invasion is also doubted as one of the prime reason of depopulation of bhangarh which is strongly supported in mugal history.
The theory about Rani Ratnawati and the tantrik haunting the place could only be cooked up by the local population to encourage tourism.
Debasish Roy
Where is Atlantis?
Atlantis was an island continent just off the coast of Africa just slightly north of the Canary Islands. In fact, the Canary Islands of today are a branch of the Nile river that ran across North Central Africa at this time. It sank as they say, about 1600 B.C. as the world was expanding at this time.
Are leprechauns real?
No. Leprechauns are not real. They are not any more real than tooth fairies and unicorns
What different types of werebeasts are there?
None. But you didn't really think there were, right?
"Were" is an old English term meaning 'man'. Werewolf mean 'Wolfman' (or, properly, man-wolf). Mythologically or in terms of roleplaying games such as Dungeons and Dragons, there are Werebears, Werewolves and probably wome other Werecreatures as well but there is no such thing as a werebeast outside of legend and gaming. Check the Monster Manual for a list of Werebeasts Gary Gygax et.al. have developed.
Legends of shape-shifting and/or adopting animal characteristics are very old indeed and exist in almost every culture worldwide. The specific legends of Werewolves as we in America generally understand them are European in legend and there is documentation of these legends dating back at least to medieval times.
Following is lifted from Wikipedia about the history of the Werewolf Legend. For more, search Wikipedia.org:
"Many authors have put forward the idea that stories of werewolves (and vampires) may have been used to explain serial killings in less enlightened ages. This theory is given credence by the tendency of some modern serial killers to indulge in practices (such as cannibalism, mutilation and cyclic attacks) commonly associated with the attack of a werewolf. The idea (although not the terminology) is well explored in Sabine Baring-Gould's seminal work The Book of Werewolves.
A recent theory has been proposed to explain werewolf episodes in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Ergot, which causes a form of foodborne illness, is a fungus that grows in place of rye grains in wet growing seasons after very cold winters. Ergot poisoning usually affects whole towns or at least poor areas of towns and results in hallucinations, mass hysteria and paranoia, as well as convulsions and sometimes death. (LSD can be derived from ergot.) Ergot poisoning has been proposed as both a cause of an individual believing that he or she is a werewolf and of a whole town believing that they had seen a werewolf.
However, this theory is controversial and not well accepted.
Some modern researchers have tried to use conditions such as rabies, hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth over the entire body) or porphyria (an enzyme disorder with symptoms including hallucinations and paranoia) as an explanation for werewolf beliefs. Congenital erythropoietic porphyria has clinical features which include photosensitivity (so sufferers only go out at night), hairy hands and face, poorly healing skin, pink urine, and reddish colour to the teeth.
There is also a rare mental disorder called clinical lycanthropy, in which an affected person has a delusional belief that he or she is transforming into another animal, although not always a wolf or werewolf.
Others believe werewolf legends arose as a part of shamanism and totem animals in primitive and nature-based cultures.[citation needed] The term therianthropy has been adopted to describe a spiritual concept in which the individual believes he or she has the spirit or soul, in whole or in part, of a non-human animal."
Werebeast stories differanciate depending on where you are.like in places that harbor bears but not wolves, there might be stories of werebears insted of werewolves.
Is the Epic of Gilgamesh all myth or is there some real history sprinkled in it
The Epic of Gilgamesh is, perhaps, the oldest written story on Earth. It comes to us from Ancient Sumeria, and was originally written on 12 clay tablets in cunieform script. It is about the adventures of the historical King of Uruk (somewhere between 2750 and 2500 BCE). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_of_Gilgamesh
The Epic is the earliest creation myth. The story is common throughout the world, in Egypt in 3000BC, in the Hopi Indians in America, with the Indians of the nasca plain 2000 years ago, as well as in mesopotamia. The key is to understand that "2/3" is a musical reference, gilgamesh travels in the heavens along lines connecting musical "fifths", so he travels from Gemini to Scorpio because they are 7 zodiac places apart clockwise and 5 anticlockwise. A scorpion has 5 moveable tail segments, so G moves anticlockwise, the "left hand path". He becomes the devil in christian era.
_______________
Please ignore the above answer. Gilgamesh is not the oldest written story, we do not know for certain that Gilgamesh was a historical king (although there is some evidence to support this), and it does not contain a creation myth. The musical and astrological assertions are completely speculative and Gilgamesh does not suddenly turn into the devil in the Christian era - although one of the evil antediluvian giants in the Enoch literature of the Dead Sea Scrolls has a similar name.
To answer your question, Gilgamesh is not, strictly speaking, a mythical story. Although there is an ongoing debate about the definition of mythology, two commonly accepted criteria are that myths have to do with the actions of the gods and are often aetiological (Andrew George, The Epic of Gilgamesh). Judged by these criteria, the genre of the Gilgamesh story is not mythical. It concerns the legendary exploits of Gilgamesh and Enkidu and is, ultimately, a very humanistic tale. It does contain myths, however, with the two prime examples being the flood story and the incident of the snake who steals the rejuvenating plant and gains the ability to shed its skin.
The story may contain some genuine historical allusions. If Gilgamesh actually was a historical king of Uruk it is likely that he did, indeed, engage in fortifying and building activities. He may have gone on expeditions to bring back cedar from distant locations - although this is barely mentioned in the Humbaba story. Perhaps he really did go on a long quest to obtain cultic knowledge from some ancient worthy. As you can see, most of these possibilities are highly speculative, although the original Sumerian Gilgamesh poems did include a story about a battle with the Kind of Akka that, broadly speaking, seems to reflect historical relations between the two city states around this period.