SUPERSTITIONS: THE NUMBER 13

The number 13 has a long superstitious history that runs deep in Western culture as it is
associated with terrible luck. While no solid data exists to support the idea that it is, in fact,
an unlucky number, studies show that a little over 10% of United States citizens fear the
number!

In Christian theology, the number 13 relates to the number of dinner guests at the Last
Supper where Christ is said to have been betrayed. As a result, it is said that some
Christians see this as an unlucky number. As a result of this belief, Friday the 13th is often
considered to be the unluckiest day in the Western world. The Last Supper is said to have
taken place on a Thursday, with Christ’s crucifixion taking place on a Friday, making it a
doubly unlucky date!

Similarly, in Norse mythology, it is said that 12 gods were gathered at a dinner party and
were attacked by an evil god named Loki. As he was the 13th to arrive, and his presence
brought turmoil and evil to the world, the number was also interpreted as unlucky in this
context.

Some people are so fearful of the number 13, that there is even a phobia named after it.
Triskaidekaphobia, recognized in 1911, is the the medical name of the fear of the number
13. People with this condition avoid bad luck by keeping away from anything that uses the
number. Based on this fear, some airlines do not have a 13th row, and some tall buildings
skip the 13th floor.

In the ancient world, mathematicians and scientists

often considered the number 12 a “perfect” number.
In fact, they developed a numerical system on the
use of 12 that we still use for measuring time today!
For example, a calendar year is 12 months and
each day is comprised of two 12 hour half days.
Some argue that 13 is a disturbance of this
balance and is considered an “imperfect” number.

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 SUPERSTITIONS: THE NUMBER 13
Answer the questions in complete sentences using information from the reading.

1. Why did Christians see 13, particularly in reference to Friday the 13th, as an unlucky
number?
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Christians see the number 13 as a unlucky number because there were 13 people at the last
Supper. Also Christ was supposedly crucified on a , making it a unlucky number according to the
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text
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2. What evidence is there that superstitions and fear exist around the number 13?
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According to paragraph 3 in Norse mythology there are 12 gods at a dinner party and the evil god
shows ups named Loki which makes it 13. Some buildings don't have the number 13 in it. Ther is
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even a medical condition surrounding the number 13.
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3. Why did early scientists and mathematicians see

13 as an imperfect number?

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Even scientists and mathematician even find the
number 13 as a imperfect number because 12 is
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consider as a "perfect" number and 13 is a
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disturbance in the balance of power.
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