Why does the Number 13 have such bad connotations?

Answer 1

Currently 13 is considered to be an unlucky number. However, I am told it used to be--and in some earth-worshipping, i.e., pagan, religions still is--a lucky and magical number. Consequently there were 13 months and 13 zodiac signs (the Gemini twins had separate identities). Knowing how Christianity and other god-as-a-man-based religions were prone to say that what the pagans (Earth-and-god-as-a-woman) considered good was bad, I wonder if this was the case with the number 13. And why was 13 singled out of an infinity of numbers in the first place? Also, if the number 13 is so bad, why is it reflected so many times on the U.S. $1 bill-- 13 levels in the pyramid, 13 stars, 13 arrows, 13 stripes, 13 leaves, and 13 olives.

What I've read suggests that in ancient times 13 either was considered in a positive light or, more commonly, wasn't considered at all. I note, for example, that the Gnostics of the early Christian era totted up 13 Conformations of the Holy Beard. The significance of the Holy Beard is not entirely clear to me, but I gather it's something you wanted on your side.

But 13's stock dropped like a rock in the middle ages. The proximate cause of this apparently was the observation that Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, made 13 at the table. Other great medieval minds, I read here, pointed out that "the Jews murmured 13 times against God in the exodus from Egypt, that the thirteenth psalm concerns wickedness and corruption, that the circumcision of Israel occurred in the thirteenth year," and so on.

Pretty thin excuse for maligning a number that never meant any harm, you may think. I agree. We must inquire further, and if we do we conclude that while open hostility to 13 may be relatively recent, folks have had their suspicions about it for quite a while. Thirteen is a prime; primes have always attracted attention (compare 7). What's worse, 13 is one past 12, the dozen, almost universally regarded as a perfect number, signifying harmony and all good things. Thirteen, by contrast, is a number of transgression, taking matters one step too far, turning harmony into discord.

A bit of a stretch? Maybe. But consider how often 13s seem to intrude on our tidy arrangements of 12. In many a twelvemonth, to use an old term, there are 13 full moons, and a woman on a 28-day menstrual cycle will be "unclean," as Leviticus has it (this being a big deal for hissidic jews), 13 times a year. The moon has long been a female symbol, and the full moon, chroniclers tell us, is when witches fly (chroniclers who are male and witches historicaly female). I hesitate on that evidence alone to ascribe triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) to the fell hand of the patriarchy (men). But 13's bad reputation may have more to do with fear of women, witchcraft (the thirteenth card in the tarot being number 13), and disorder than is commonly supposed.

Would this be a good or bad time to say i'm a guy? even though this could sound like something said by a feminist, it is in fact history.

Answer 2

Many Christians have long believed that Friday was unlucky because it was the day of the week when Jesus was crucified. The number 13 was believed to bring bad luck because there were 13 people at The Last Supper. Since there were 12 tribes of Israel, that number was considered lucky.

Answer 3

For two reasons:

First, Pagans consider 13 a holy number because it is the number of full moons in one year.

Second, The Knights Templar were ordered to be arrested on Friday the 13th and once under arrest they were tortured to death because the king of France and the Pope didn't like how powerful their order had become.

Answer 4

Nothing bad number in islam. there are in islam is good number and better number. all of them at review from yours iman and yours prays to yours Allah. Tidak ada angka yang buruk dalam islam, yang ada adalah angka bagus dan angka yang lebih bagus. Dalam islam semuanya berdasarkan iman mu dan Ibadahmu terhadap Allah SWT. Perhaps the Allah SWT bless you

Answer 5

It's superstitions or stupidstitions. I was once working on the 14th floor because there was no 13th floor but seriously, everyone knows it is 13th floor. But you know what actually? It was kinda spooky and hellish there...mmm...go figure.

Answer 6

see Stephen's answer as this one is the one I'm very familiar with.

Answer 7

because some people are not open minded