海外文化:英美民俗 神奇的數字:3

【英文原文】

摘要：數字3 3對於古希臘人是個神祕數字。哲學家畢達哥拉斯說3是完美無缺的數字，因爲世間萬物無不有首、中、尾三段。因而它與神有關。

Ancient Greeks believed the number was sacred. Pythagoras calls three the perfect number, since everything has three parts — beginning, middle and end. Therefore it is a good symbol of anything related to gods. In Greek and Roman mythology, the world was supposed to be under the rule of three gods, that is, Jupiter(Zeus), the ruler of Heaven; Neptune(Poseidon), the ruler of the sea; Pluto(Hades), the king of the Underworld. Jupiter’s weapon was three-forked lightning, Neptune’s, a trident, and Pluto’s, a three-headed dog. The Fates were three, the Furies three, the Graces three. Superstitious people believe that man is made up of three parts, that is, body, soul, and spirit. Most Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, that is, God is in three persons: the Father, the Son(Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit. Some Christians also believe that the enemies of man are three: the world, the flesh, and the devil. In the Bible, the baby Jesus was visited by the three Magi; before the cock crowed, Peter denied Jesus for three times. When things are difficult, people think they will be successful the third time.

【中文譯文】

數字3 3對於古希臘人是個神祕數字。哲學家畢達哥拉斯說3是完美無缺的數字，因爲世間萬物無不有首、中、尾三段。因而它與神有關。古希臘羅馬神話裏，有三個大神統治世界：朱庇特（宙斯）統治天界，尼普頓（波塞冬）君臨海洋，普路託（哈得斯）稱王冥界。朱庇特的武器是三叉閃電；尼普頓的武器是三叉戟；普路託的武器是三頭狗。命運女神有三；復仇女神有三；美惠女神有三。迷信的人認爲人由三部分構成，即身、魂、靈。大多數基督徒信三位一體之說，即上帝本位爲一，但又是聖父、聖子（耶穌基督）和聖靈三位。某些基督徒認爲人有三大敵人：人世、肉身、魔鬼。《聖經》裏，參拜幼子基督的博士有三個；雞鳴前，彼得否認耶穌三次。難辦的事，頭兩次失敗，一般人認爲第三次準能成功。

題外話：數字三在中國文化裏同樣是神祕的。如：“三才”天地人，“三光”日月星，“三星”福壽祿，“三友”松竹梅。