Did you know ...

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 14

Did you know ...

Ghostly

beginnings

Scary ghost tales are popular — with some people. The very first record of a ghost comes from an old Babylonian tale, written in 2000 B.C. called the Epic of Gilgamesh. Drawn on clay tablets it tells of the hero, Gilgamesh, and the ghost of a dead friend of his. The first “ghost,” appeared as a transparent shape. A seasonal pact According to Greek lengend the year became divided into seasons

following the disappearance of Persephone, daughter of the goddess of nature, Demeter. She had been captured by Hades, god of the underworld, who had fallen in love with her. Hades and Demeter made a bargain. Persephone was to spend half of the year with Demeter, the other six months with Hades. The Greeks believed that during spring and summer, when Persephone was with her mother, the Earth bloomed with flowers, trees and fruit.

When she left to return to Hades’ underworld, autumn started, then winter set in.

Lucky ladybird

The humble ladybird, one of the most appealing of the insect population, has for centuries been regarded as lucky. It is thought that the superstition comes from the seven spots of the commonest ladybird. Seven is regarded as a lucky number. There are about 4000 species in different parts of the world. Ladybirds are important insects as they feed on aphids and help keep this pest under control.