2006-09-02 08:06:35 · 5 answers · asked by themang99 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
they were real creatures, back then?
or exaggerations of exotic animals that they may have heard of
elephants, crocodiles, giant squid, cobras etc etc etc
they were "personifications" of natural phenomena?
like storms, floods, earthquake, crop failure etc etc etc
they were symbolic representations of behaviors that their society found "ugly" , harsh, unfortunate?
revenge, early death, "hubris", apostasy etc etc etc etc
or maybe, just like the "super heroes" of today....
their heros had to fight and conquer "super" arch enemies, just to heighten their hero's image etc
or to explain an "old" legend
like ...the origin of the signs of the zodiac, the downfall of the gods, the need for priests and seers to intercede with the gods
etc etc etc
or possibly
just as fictional reading just like today
Harry Potter, LOTR, sci-fi, James Bond, Superman, X-men etc etc
2006-09-02 10:46:27 · answer #1 · answered by Gemelli2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People probably saw something like the aligator a long time ago then they twisted the tails like it was 30 feet long, then some one else come along tell the same story now it is 50 feet long and has wings and breathes fire, not nessisaraly to scare people mainly missunderstandings
2006-09-02 15:44:08 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are the same reasons that some folks believe in the devil..it strike fear into a human and to make them bend to anothers will.
2006-09-02 15:10:40 · answer #3 · answered by G-Bear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lack of Understanding of marine life or fauna. If you didn't know about humpback whales and one decided to surface next to your boat what would you think!
2006-09-02 20:22:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
to frighten children into respecting their parents and elders
2006-09-02 15:08:47 · answer #5 · answered by maria u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋