h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Hares in Mythology - A2418536
Author: Frenchbean <star> one pound down - U236943

I've been watching hares boxing in the fields recently. One thing led to another and I decided to find more out about their mythology.

Here is the result of my exploration.

I'm not sure about using capital H for Hare throughout, but thought it might be confusing to mix it up. Texts use H for the mythical beast and h for the real thing I fancy not going there!

Anyway, peer away and let me know what you think.


F/b

Another good one Fb

I doubt that 'H' should be used in most instances of the word, and it wouldn't be too difficult to determine where lower case and upper case should be used If it's being used as a noun, lower case; as a proper name, upper case. A handful of other uses could be debated one way or the other.

One typo I saw: rcdcmption - redemption

I smell another edited entry

Like it

Mind you its hares in your soup you've got to worry about.

Do you sleep, F/b? You just keep coming up with great entries... I suppose you'll at least have time to deal with my suggestions, eh?

place. . --> place.

Don’t forget to use the tags in between the tags in the unordered lists you use.

Should the Hare, cat and partridge story be in a blockquote?

Some possible entries you may want to link to-
The Moon A399909
Chocolate Easter Eggs A545636
China A2122507
death A5103
Earth A18541 or A18541

Hello there

Thanks for the comments...

I've done some work on the Hs and am happier the way it looks now Gosho

McKay: I worry more about hares in my brain

Jodan Story now in blockquotes. and now added to lists. And I've put in a couple of the h2g2 links.


Frenchbean

Good entry

There's some local mythology about hares niggling at the back of my mind, but I can't think what it is

You need to take out the spaces before your footnotes...

Hello Kerr Avon

footnote spaces sorted out

If you remember what your local hare myth is, let me know. I'm always happy to add stuff to entries...


f/b

F/b

If you're going for completeness, there's a rather backward mythology which originates in the middle east which specifically bars its followers from eating hares, declaring them "unclean".

I say "backward", because the reason given for not eating hares is that they chew the cud.

Leviticus, chapter 11, verse 6.

Oh, and Deuteronomy 14:7

Thanks Rem...

I don't have a bible, so will have to find one and check out the text.

However, if there are references to the bible, isn't that theology, rather than mythology? Am I running the risk of upsetting people with that?


F/b

Hi Frenchbean! This is a very interesting entry. There are a few minor points that need attention:

Western Siberia is not Europe, it is in Asia.

You say that Lepus was the Boat of Osiris. I don't understand this. Do you mean that the constellation that we call Lepus was considered to be a boat by the Egptians? In that case, it is not really about Hares in Egypt, is it?

You don't seem to mention "Mad as a March Hare" anywhere.

I detest the word 'commonality'.

'in a wigwam in the on a floe of ice' - there's something missing, but I don't know what.

In the story of the hare, the partridge and the cat, you switch a number of times between calling the cat 'him' and calling the cat 'it'. You should stick to one or the other.

hare's genitals --> Hare's genitals

pet bird into a Hare --> pet bird into a hare

"However, if there are references to the bible, isn't that theology, rather than mythology?"

I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. What's the difference? (Serious question)

"Am I running the risk of upsetting people with that?"

Anyone who is upset by the truth... deserves to be. Don't they?

Mythology is all about myths, ie things that aren't real. Theology is all about religion, ie things that people believe are real.

Theology is all about religion, things that _some_ people believe are real.

Well, yes.

Agreed. But I prefer not to argue with 'em.

Me neither Six! Having set that hare running I shall now try to slip away quietly. I'll add something about the bible reference once I've found a bible to refer to ...

Gnomon How lovely to have you around and thank you for those comments. I can always rely on you to pick up some good errors It all helps make it a better entry, so you know I welcome your contribution.

*Buttering up Gnomon in the hope she'll persuade him to keep on commenting on her PR entries*

I'll get onto the edits later today.


F/b

I agree it's best not to argue with people who have such a history of violence against people they disagree with.

If you need a bible to refer to, there are plenty online:

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?SearchType=AND&language=english&searchpage=0&search=hare&version=KJV

"Mythology is all about myths, ie things that aren't real. Theology is all about religion, ie things that people believe are real."

Um... yeah.

Or how about:

Mythology is about things people USED to think were real, even though there was no evidence for them. Theology is about things people STILL believe are real, even though there is no evidence for them.

Or even:

Mythology is about religions which have died out. Theology is about religions which haven't died out yet.

Or even:

Mythology is what you may safely call a belief system whose adherents are all dead and therefore won't object. Theology is what you have to call a belief system that still has adherents who have access to firearms and explosives.

In the end what I'm getting at is that all these things we write off as "mythology" were once as mainstream and respectable as Christianity or Islam are now, and for as long. Some of the greatest buildings of the ancient world were temples to gods people really believed existed. The only difference is time - Christianity and Islam just haven't had time to die out yet. Anyone trying to pretend that "religion" and "mythology" are different things is kidding only themselves.