How the phobia of the number 13 created a profession

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Abstract

ps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskaidekaphobia">Triskaidekaphobia</a>, which is the phobia of the number 13, is visible in today’s architecture. Many buildings don’t have a 13th floor, hostpitals no 13th room, airports no 13th gate. Some airlines refuse to have line number 13.</p><p id="620f">The fear of the number 13 has many origins and seems to have been so widespread that there was a professional group dedicated to it. At the end of the 19th century, a profession named <i>Quatorzième</i> emerged in Paris private societies.</p><h2 id="d1e8">Job description</h2><p id="fc25">As a Quatorzième your job is simple to disarm number 13. Whenever a group of 13 people runs into the danger of sitting together at a table, the Quatorzième is there to help. A Quatorzième is paid to visit a society with appropriate clothing to prevent 13 guests from sitting at a table.</p><p id="6d47">By his mere presence, he could avert this unfortunate situation.</p><p id="21e6">Quatorzième means the 14th, his job is to be a guest.</p><p id="50f5">Not only does he prevent gatherings of 13 people, but he also balances conversations as well. No one will be like a spare pick at a wedding.</p><p id="338a">Quatorzièmes attracted attention to their profession with signs on their apartments.</p><p id="db6c">In an obituary, John Andrew Malketh left 500.000 Francs behind after working 35 years as Quatorzième.</p><p id="c0b9">Would you like to become a professional guest? Unluckily, the job doesn’t exist anymore, but can still be used as party

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The Quatorzième

There are numerous possible origins for the number thirteens bad reputations.

Some trace is back to Norse mythology. In a story, 12 gods were invited to a feast in Valhalla. The uninvited trickster god Loki got to the party as 13th guest and somehow arranged Höðr to shoot and kill Balder.

The number thirteen was from now on linked to this unlucky day.

In Christianity, the 13th guest, apostel Judas, was the one who betrayed Jesus on the Last Supper.

The number 13 was associated with the devil in ancient Rome. Witches gathered in a group of 12, so the 13th part of the group must be the devil.

Superstition and Triskaidekaphobia, which is the phobia of the number 13, is visible in today’s architecture. Many buildings don’t have a 13th floor, hostpitals no 13th room, airports no 13th gate. Some airlines refuse to have line number 13.

The fear of the number 13 has many origins and seems to have been so widespread that there was a professional group dedicated to it. At the end of the 19th century, a profession named Quatorzième emerged in Paris private societies.

Job description

As a Quatorzième your job is simple to disarm number 13. Whenever a group of 13 people runs into the danger of sitting together at a table, the Quatorzième is there to help. A Quatorzième is paid to visit a society with appropriate clothing to prevent 13 guests from sitting at a table.

By his mere presence, he could avert this unfortunate situation.

Quatorzième means the 14th, his job is to be a guest.

Not only does he prevent gatherings of 13 people, but he also balances conversations as well. No one will be like a spare pick at a wedding.

Quatorzièmes attracted attention to their profession with signs on their apartments.

In an obituary, John Andrew Malketh left 500.000 Francs behind after working 35 years as Quatorzième.

Would you like to become a professional guest? Unluckily, the job doesn’t exist anymore, but can still be used as party trivia.

This is my 18th post for the ILLUMINATION 30-day writing challenge by Dr Mehmet Yildiz described in this article.