Sargon of Akkad

Humans seem to be preoccupied with the number three. In many folklaws, three is a 'magic' number, and has some kind of particular significance.

Obviously the Trinitys and triple-deities of various religions use three as a number of particular significance, but three seems like an important number in other much more ordinary ways.

For example, if one is giving a speech, it is generally deemed more effective if a three-stage 'verse' is used. Tony Blair's 'Education, education, education' speech would have less impact if it had merely been 'education, education'.

Would 'I came, I conquered' have been as memorable without the 'I saw' in it?

What is it about the number three that makes it so mystical, and can you think of any other significant uses of it?

Salah

I don't have any answers to this question - but you're not alone in pondering it. It seems everybody from Christians to pre-Christian Celtic tribes have an obsession with three, and I've often wondered why.

Zeno

It varies per culture, 'though. to the Aztecs and Maya's 13 was a lucky number (see where it got them ), to Chinese 4 is bad luck, 8 is lucky.

Seven is another 'lucky' number. In regards to seven i've read a theory that there was , when we as a species were infants, a collossal meteor strike which supposedly caused the biblical flood (around 9000 - 10000bc). The meteor would have broken up into seven pieces. (Also responsible for dragon myths - a firy head with a long whipping tail...)

Although it's not about '3', i think perhaps the explanation for it's significance should also be found 'in the heavens'. There's a sun, a moon and an earth.

tjadams

The number three crops up in the bible a lot: (coincidence on purpse?)
-three wise men
-holy trinity
-third day Jesus rose
-three crosses on Golgotha
etc.

Zeno

The rooster, you forgot the rooster!

Edratman

Just a few days ago in the thread on the seven wonders, the number 7 was remarked upon as being a recurring focal point. The same day I read about a similar fascination about the number 300.

I'm just remarking that there are quite a few numbers that could be considered remarkable, if one was to look for multiple iterations throughout history and literature.

And back to the number 3, what about the Blind Mice?

scholar

Well, I'd say the obsession with the number 3 is no greater than that of the number 7, and 1, 5, and 11 are close behind.

vera

As well as 2, 4, 9 and 12. Oh, and 40...

vera

It is also for the Jews.

Zeno

Not good publicity for the number, i'm afraid.