Dear Kid,

Welcome to Part 2 of our discussion of the number three. Go read Part I if you missed it, I’ll wait.

Today we’re talking about the number three in mythology. (Have you ever noticed that when we imitate an echo, we say the words three TIMES, Times, times…?)

The Valknut (which sounds like it belongs in an Opera) is the Viking symbol of three interlocked triangles and is associated with Odin.

There are three Norns, who are like the three Fates (see below).

I’m sure there is more about Norse mythology and the number three, but I don’t know enough to tell you about it (input welcome).

Meanwhile, Greek and Roman mythology is rife with threes.

Three brothers, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, were each rulers of the three areas of the world, Sky, Ocean, Underworld. (Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto in Roman mythology.) Poseidon took the threes further with his trident.

Three brothers is a pretty standard structure. Think Hallows, Grimm, and a bunch of other stories. I’ll leave you to look them up in your free time.

There are three Graces lavishing beauty in the world. There are three Fates determining how long each person will live. There are three Furies who punished people who committed the worst crimes (like killing a family member). You do not want to meet the Furies. Or any of the three Gorgons (Medusa is the most famous, but the others are equally nasty—they just didn’t have as good a PR team.)

Monsters are also big on threes.

Cerberus was the hideous three-headed watchdog of the Underworld. Quick, name another three-headed dog! (Fluffy, in case you couldn’t remember.) There were three Harpies, three Cyclops, and three Hekatoncheires (hundred handed giants).

The Sphinx killed people who couldn’t answer her riddle about the three stages of man.

Sphinx: What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?

Oedipus: Man

Sphinx: Aaaggghh…

Hecate was the three-faced goddess associated with the three phases of the moon. We can talk about her another time.

Speaking of three legs, tripods were sacred to Apollo. You’d think he would prefer a good comfy recliner, but he preferred the three legged stool (probably easier to schlep around and perform from). The priestess at Delphi would sit on a tripod (which makes sense because the oracle belonged to Apollo).

Tune in tomorrow for the threes of sports and St. Patrick’s Day.

Love, Mom