I was talking to Andrea today about the fact that you have to do some research about Numerology. I decided to help you out a bit, and give you a short introduction about the 'magic number', 3.
You will find that there are several references to special nubers in literature and folklore. Most of these derive from the recurrent allusions to certain numbers, ranging from Ancient Greece to various religions. In addition, many philosophical or scientific themes or concepts come in threes.
Here are some examples from The Book of Threes:
In Greek mythology, the number three is is associated with different trios. The clearest example is how the universe was ruled by three gods - Zeus ruled the sky, Poseidon the seas and Hades the underworld. The Three Graces were daughters of Zeus- Euphrosyne, Aglalia, Thalia. The Three Fates were three sisters who decided the fate of men and gods - Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos. The three Furies were feared goddesses - Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera. There were also three Cyclopes, representing thunder, lighting, and the lighting bolt - Brontes, Steropes, and Arges. There are also creatures for which the number three is significant: The Chimaera has three heads - lion, goat, and snake; or the Cerberus, a three headed dog with a snake tail and snake heads protruding from his back.
In other cultures, we can find different examples. In Asian folklore there are three wise monkeys - Mazaru: Speak no evil, Mizaru: See no evil, Mikazaru: Hear no evil. In Norse Mythology, the world had three levels, and the world tree had 3 main roots going to each level. In Muslim legends, the Genie can grant three wishes. Even in children's folk tales, we can think about the 'Three Little Pigs' or 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'.
Many examples come from religion. In Christianity, many concepts are tripartite: The Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the three temptations of Christ; the Holy Family - Mary, Joseph and Jesus. In Islamism, there are thre Holy Cities - Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem. In Hinduism, there is the Trimurti - Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. In Buddhism, there is the Triple Gem - Buddha, Dharma, Sangha. In Judaism, there are Three Patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. And the list goes on...
Nowadays, we still have some supperstitions connected to the number three: 'third time's lucky', 'third time's a charm', 'the third man gets caught' or 'three strikes and you're out'.
So I'd like you to browse The Book of Threes and find examples that you find interesting about the significance of number 3 in different areas: Art, Literature, Politics, Philosophy, Science, Sport, etc. Choose 3 examples, explain them in your own words, and discuss why you find them interesting in a comment below.
The Ironman Triathlon - Swim, bike, run.
ReplyDeleteThe Olympic medals are three: 1st place - gold, 2nd Place - Silver, 3 place - bronze
Ways forward in a football in rugby and football: running, kicking and passing
I chose these three because first, my uncle runs Iromans, and I had not paid attention to that, in second place in the Olympics since shortly begin in London in 2012, and finally, the rugby and football because I play these sports and had not thought of number three, though it is very true, these are the ways forward in these sports.
Thanks Valentin.
DeleteIt is interesting to note that this is also present in other sports. Thanks for sharing the info!
The meals of a day, Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These are the basics meals that a person should eat in order to be healthy.
ReplyDeleteI founded interesting that are only 3 countrys named with food: greece, chilli and turkey.
there are three cutlerys, knife, spoon and fork
I choose these three and founded interesting because I like cooking and everything about the cuisine world, so I really enjoy reading and learning this.
That's great, Guadalupe, ant they are everyday things that everyone can relate to!
Delete1)Art - Design
ReplyDeleteWe use threes in art to define structures like primary, secondary and tertiary colors on a color wheel.
2)Entertainment
"Lights, Camera, Action"
3)Mathematics
Mathematics uses many concepts in threes. The first structure mathematically is a triangle. There are acute, right, and obtuse angles.
I found those three examples very interesting because I´ve never noticed about it. One of the most interesting is the one of the colours, because I really like to paint and those art things. There must be a lot of another things with the number three that we don´t know.
Yes, Julieta, very interesting endeed!
DeleteNature is filled with threes. Land, sea, and air
ReplyDeleteLanguage is based in threes. Sender, message, receiver.
Knife, Fork, Spoon
Cutlery has not always been used when eating. People originally ate with their hands. Kings, Queens, the rich, and the poor all ate with their hands. However, the creation of cutlery sets divided the upper and lower classes in the way they ate their meals.
I found this three things interestings.
First, I have never think that the principal things in the nature are that, i think of it and it's true.
Secondly, in School the language teacher always teach us that these three items (Sender, message, receiver) are the principal, and it was important to know that.
Finally I find interesting that the cutlerys are three, it's something we see all days but now I read it i realised it. This three are the most important and it's a coincidence that there are three
Thanks Malena, I agree that we see these things every day, it's interesting to notice how this 'magic number' is everywhere!
DeleteIn Literature, the model story counts with 3 main parts: introduction, climax and ending. (Although this is the most used strategy of writing, not all stories count with these elements. Modern literature plays with the meaning of these elements and changes the shape of an ordinary story.)
ReplyDeleteThe concept of time is also divided in threes: past, present and future.
In history, during World War II the country blocks were divided in threes. “The Allies": England, France and Russia, and "The axis": Germany, Italy and Japan.
First, I chose to describe the concept of literature having 3 main elements because I like literature a lot. I searched the website that you had given us but it said nothing about the explanation above, so I find it would be interesting to stand it out.
Secondly, I found interesting that the concept of time is divided in threes. Time is a man’s creation; so actually, we were the ones that decide how to divide time. Also, the moments of the day are morning, afternoon and night. Again this is divided in threes.
Finally, I decided to explain the alliances of the European countries during World War II because I like history a lot, and I haven’t noticed since now that all the political blocks of that time were divided in threes.
There are many things which are organised in threes in Literature; besides what you mentioned, there is the typical hero-heroin-antihero trio (For example, in Harry Potter)
DeleteAs regards time, apart from morning, afternoon and night, we have traditionally understood time in terms of another tree-fold concept: past-present-future!
What you mentioned about WW2 is quite intriguing as well!
In art and design we use threes to define different things, and in the book, it gives the example of the primary colours. I also know that there are three types of vanishing points, used to achieve perspective. It is also known that humans always look for threes in aesthetics because it has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
ReplyDeleteIn language, there a lot of things that are grouped in threes, and so it says it is indeed based on this number. For example, sender, message and receiver, or subject, verb, object.
In science, you can see three laws of motion, the three stated of matter, liquid, solid and gas. Even the code Morse is based in only three signals.
Also, in science fiction literature, Isaac Asimov is known for his three laws of robotic.
I think this is interesting because it intrigues me about its reliability. I mean, I believe that humans always try to find order in chaos, as our minds cannot handle it. This is not the only case in which we search for repeated numbers. Have you heard about the different references of the 11/09/01? Or about the golden radio? I think the last has more arguments backing it up though.
However, I think that there is something about the number three that has a lot to do about the ..rhythm, it has, I think. It is true that it has a beginning, a middle and an end, and that makes it feel "complete", also, it is not too much, not too little. At least that's how I feel it.
Very interesting reflection, Paula. This is by no means a theory, so I don't know if we can discuss it's reliability... but there must be a reason why many concepts or ideas created by mankind seem to come in threes. I agree with your idea of completeness, it seems that we can somehow grasp reality better in this way.
Deletehaha I ment "golden ratio", not radio. It's also called the golden number.
DeleteAmh, I commented on the previous post a little late last week, because when I did the homework I though I'd sent it, but the next day I realised I'd closed the window without noticing. I'm telling you just in case you haven't seen it :)
Thanks Paula, I'll check!
DeleteIn art and desing number three is used to define structures like primary, secondary and tertiary colors. And we use also to refer the three Greek column classifications that are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
ReplyDeleteIn mathematics there are many concepts of number 3. First the structure of a triangle and there are acute, right, and obtuse angles. Second The Rule of Three in diferent exercises.
In the case of Mythology there the Three Graces to the Three Fates to the Three Furies.
Thanks Guadalupe. Why did you choose these?
DeleteIn sports the principaly structure is relationated whith number three. For example in baseball, there are three strikes and you are out, three outs to an inning, and a trinity of trinities.
ReplyDeleteReñigion also is involved with number three: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost
A lot of part of maths is vinculated with numbrer three. The first stucture is a triangle, which has three sides, and is like 'the perfect figure'. Also it studyes trigonometry.
It findthis interesting more than art and the other things because i like maths and i think numbers are very interesting and many times they can show you things that you would never imagine
thanks, Mariana!
Delete1)Humor: Many stories have you heard start out, "There was a priest, a minister and a rabbi ... ." Three characters seems to work well when you are populating your own stories to make them funnier.
ReplyDeleteI had never realized that jokes often use 3 characters or objects, as protagonists of stories.
2)Language: Language is based in threes. Sender, message, receiver. Subject verb object. A language involves a semantic system, a phonological system, and a syntactic system. Phonetics study the sounds of languages from three basic points of view.
It is true that the sender, the message, and the receiver, are the key factors in communication.
3) Entrertaiment:
“Lights,Camara,Action”
In conclusion, sometimes the numbers are associated with real facts and that causes us surprise.
Thanks Andres!
DeleteWhy we count up up to three when we are indecided to do something? For example on children, when it's the first time on a pool, we attemp to sing them "one, two, and... three!!" to let them into the water hahaha.
ReplyDeleteBesides I found some number three on the Bible.
Three, therefore, stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. All things that are specially complete are stamped with this number three:
God's attributes are three: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.
There are three great divisions completing time: past, present, and future.
Three persons, in grammar, express and include all the relationships of mankind.
Thought, word, and deed, complete the sum of human capability.
Three degrees of comparison complete our knowledge of qualities.
The simplest proposition requires three things to complete it; viz., the subject, the predicate, and the copula.
Three propositions are necessary to complete the simplest form of argument: the major premise, the minor, and the conclusion.
Three kingdoms embrace our ideas of matter; mineral, vegetable, and animal.
I've found this on this website (http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/3.html)
very interesting info, Santiago!
DeleteFor exaple in rugby, when the players go for the scrum, its divided in three parts before the start pushing one against the other. "crouch, force, enganched"
ReplyDeleteThe movie about "The three musketeers" which they were unstoppable.
Three Primary Colors - using the three primary colors all other colors can be produced including white
The surface of the earth - is one third land, two thirds water.
Three stages - the number of stages of a rocket necessary to best achieve orbit for heavy loads.
Visit this page is quite intresting the story of number three (http://www.greatdreams.com/three/three.htm)
Thanks very much Manuel, I'll have a look at the link :)
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