3. 波斯黄道十二宫的传说
Ancient Persians believed the twelve constellations in the Zodiac controlled the months of the year, and each ruled the earth for a thousand years at the end of which the sky and earth collapsed in chaos. Therefore, the thirteenth is identified with chaos and the reason Persians leave their houses to avoid bad luck on the thirteenth day of the Persian Calendar, a tradition called Sizdah Bedar.
古代的波斯人相信天空中的黄道十二星座掌控着一年的十二个月,而每个星座会统治地球一千年。等到十二个轮回结束,天空和大地就会崩塌。因此,第十三就和混乱联系了起来。波斯人在波斯历上的第十三天会外出、以避免厄运,这个传统被称为“Sizdah Bedar”,意思是“十三户外”。
However, the number 13 is not uniformly bad in the Judeo-Christian tradition. For example, the 13 attributes of God (also called the thirteen attributes of mercy) are enumerated in the Torah. Some modern Christian churches also use 13 attributes of God in sermons.
除此以外,不吉利的13还有很多传闻,包括汉莫拉比法典(code of Hummurabi)的第13条法规、十字军东征时的13圆桌骑士以及Friday the 13th(十三号星期五)等等。不过,也不是所有基督教传统的国家都认为13是不吉利的,在某些基督教祭典中还有13信条的仪式.