海外文化:英美民俗 神奇的数字:3

【英文原文】

摘要：数字3 3对于古希腊人是个神秘数字。哲学家毕达哥拉斯说3是完美无缺的数字，因为世间万物无不有首、中、尾三段。因而它与神有关。

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.

【中文译文】

数字3 3对于古希腊人是个神秘数字。哲学家毕达哥拉斯说3是完美无缺的数字，因为世间万物无不有首、中、尾三段。因而它与神有关。古希腊罗马神话里，有三个大神统治世界：朱庇特（宙斯）统治天界，尼普顿（波塞冬）君临海洋，普路托（哈得斯）称王冥界。朱庇特的武器是三叉闪电；尼普顿的武器是三叉戟；普路托的武器是三头狗。命运女神有三；复仇女神有三；美惠女神有三。迷信的人认为人由三部分构成，即身、魂、灵。大多数基督徒信三位一体之说，即上帝本位为一，但又是圣父、圣子（耶稣基督）和圣灵三位。某些基督徒认为人有三大敌人：人世、肉身、魔鬼。《圣经》里，参拜幼子基督的博士有三个；鸡鸣前，彼得否认耶稣三次。难办的事，头两次失败，一般人认为第三次准能成功。

题外话：数字三在中国文化里同样是神秘的。如：“三才”天地人，“三光”日月星，“三星”福寿禄，“三友”松竹梅。