why is thirteen such a bad number?

Answer 1

The nuber thirteen evokes feelings of uncertainty and uneasiness. Triskaidekaphobia means fear of the number 13. Tradition traces this fear of 13 back to the table of the Last Supper where Jesus dined with 12 apostles. The inference was that someone was going to die within a short time. Judas, overcome by guilt. hung himself.

Mythology has it own story. The Norse gods were having a banquet for 12 at the Valhalla when Loki, one of the evil gods crashed the party. Balder was the god of light, joy, and reconcilliation. He jad a blind brother whom Loki tricked into throwing a sprig of mistletoe on Bladers chest which killed him. Mistletoe was the only earthly thing that was fatal to Balder.

Into the Middle Ages, the stigma against Friday the 13 grew stronger. On Friday October 13, 1307, King Phillip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Grand Master of the Knights Templar and his senir knights and other members, They were tortured to compel them to admit to wrongdoing. And they were executed. Sympathizers condemned friday the 13th as an evil day.

Later in the 18th century, this belief was again reinforced. The British ship HMS Friday was launched on Friday the 13th, with a captain named Jim Friday. The ship was never seen from or heard from again.

Again with the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. It was launched on 1313 hours from pad 39 (13x3) 3 of the sleeping arangements were to start at 13 minutes past the hour. On April 13th the first of several setbacks to Appollo 13 occured.

Many hotels do not have a floor 13 and many hospitals dont have an operating room 13. This is to spare the patients the anxiety of being wheeled to floor 13.

But why is 13 given such a negative implication? This dates back many centuries and still holds today. Perhaps the anxiety of 13 makes it a self fulfilling prophecy. Why could it not be any number?

Answer 2

The roots of this one go back quite a long way, further back than most of the tales to which this particular superstition is attributed (several of which have been noted here by others already).

The belief that all numbers and their multiples had mystical significance became wide-spread during the time of Pythagoras (circa 582-500 BCE). All numbers were believed to have power, but most especially the number of 1 to 13 (inclusive).

Today, the most common survival of these beliefs is that the number 13 is said to be very unlucky.

It has be attributed to there having been 13 present at the Last Supper, but the belief antedates this event, dating from remote pagan times. The ancient Romans held 13 in as much—if not more—disfavor than we do today, and considered it to be a symbol of death, destruction, and misfortune.

Another attempted explanation is that this comes from the supposition that all covens of witchs had 13 members, though records from the witch trails do not support this. This one was generally believed, however, and has helped perpetuate the general dislike of the number 13.

It has been thought that having 13 people sit together at one table is rather ill-omened. The person who rises first is supposed to die—or meet some other serious misfortune—within the year. (Sources conflict on just whom the misfortune would fall, the first to rise from the table, the last, or anyone present at random.) This one has evolved repeated over the centuries, with the first example in print being from the bible (circa 100 CE), and the latest—in the sources I have at hand—being from a woman Glasgow, Scotland (1985 CE).

As others have noted, it was at one time (and still might be in places) common for hotels to refuse to mark a room as number 13, and would often mark such rooms as 12a or 14. In more recent times, this idea can be found in certain buildings which lack a floor numbered 13.

The thirteenth day of any given month is thought to be an unlucky day to begin a major enterprise (including marriage, or any major travel). The effect is said to be doubled if such a date falls upon a Friday. (The date of Friday, 13 May is thought to be the worst day of all to be married, according it this belief).

It is thought, however, that for one to be born on the thirteenth of a month is rather harmless, and in some places is even thought to be a lucky day for the newborn. When such is the case, the child is often expected to succeed and prosper in anything he or she should begin on the thirteenth day of the month later in life.

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Answer 3

There are a lot of reasons listed above, but one more is that 13 comes after 12, and thus starts the '-teen' numbers. Some people beileve that the number 12 is the last number of a whole. But, 13 is also my favorite number, so I'm forced to beileve that it's all superstition.

Answer 4

This is 2 reasons why 13 is unlucky.

***Alexander wanted to be a God and accordingly made a 13th statue on the place of his capital. He died and people considered that his will to be a 13th God (12 gods, one for each month were known) was the reason of his death. After that this number was considered as unlucky.

***According to historians, there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper and Christ was crucified on Friday 13th. So, Friday 13th is considered as Unlucky.

Answer 5

It is not for some
13 broken down is 1+3=4 which means Balance


Love & Blessings
Milly

Answer 6

if you notice the old apartment buildings that were build over 50 and on the apartment list 12,then 12a it was and still is consider 13 a bad luck number

Answer 7

Many Christians have long believed that Friday grow to be unlucky simply by fact it grow to be the day of the week whilst Jesus grow to be crucified. The style 13 grow to be believed to hold undesirable success simply by fact there have been 13 human beings on the final Supper. on condition that there have been 12 tribes of Israel, that style grow to be seen fortunate.

Answer 8

the number 13 is one of the devils numbers.

Answer 9

it has a lot to do with superstion. but i have to say that 13 is my favorite number. and i dont have anything bad happen to me.

Answer 10

its only superstition, 13 aint that bad