3 + 9, x (7+12) Divided by Eleventy-one... oh dear - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 08-20-2005, 05:37 AM

Sorry if I'm repeating somebody because I've only read the first half of the posts, but on why Tolkien would "pervert" the number seven....

That's a strange way to word it. But anyway, six is considered by many christians to be the number of IMperfection. Maybe Jews too, but I don't know about that. So 7 is perfect, and the failure or fall of something that started out at 7, well, just fits. It starts out perfect, and gets ruined or falls into disrepair or is stolen by
Sauron, what have you.

**The Saucepan Man** · 08-20-2005, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

But anyway, six is considered by many christians to be the number of IMperfection. Maybe Jews too, but I don't know about that. So 7 is perfect, and the failure or fall of something that started out at 7, well, just fits.

So why aren't there six deadly sins, rather than seven?

littlemanpoet · 08-20-2005, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

So why aren't there six deadly sins, rather than seven?

A perfect number of sins? Got me. I'm no theologian. ::LMP shrugs::

Estelyn Telcontar · 08-20-2005, 08:14 AM

Regarding the number of 7 as meaning perfection - think "complete", not "flawless". That would explain the 7 deadly sins, as a complete number of them, also the 7 palantíri, etc.

08-20-2005, 05:37 AM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Perverting Seven Sorry if I'm repeating somebody because I've only read the first half of the posts, but on why Tolkien would "pervert" the number seven.... That's a strange way to word it. But anyway, six is considered by many christians to be the number of IMperfection. Maybe Jews too, but I don't know about that. So 7 is perfect, and the failure or fall of something that started out at 7, well, just fits. It starts out perfect, and gets ruined or falls into disrepair or is stolen by Sauron, what have you.

08-20-2005, 08:14 AM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Regarding the number of 7 as meaning perfection - think "complete", not "flawless". That would explain the 7 deadly sins, as a complete number of them, also the 7 palantíri, etc. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'