Do you suffer from hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia ?
If so, you fear the number 666: the so called number of the beast. If you do, you are not alone; this series of three sixes strike fear into the hearts of many who ecounter it, even causing some people to protect themselves with the sign of the cross, although they may not enteirely be sure of the reason why.
This number first occurs, other than as a natural phenomenon, in the First Book of Kings in the Old Testament, and refers to the amount of wealth that came to King Solomon, possibly because of his partnership with the Queen of Sheba. However, much of the superstition associated with this number stems from a chapter in the New Testament Book of Revelation:
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of man; and his number is Six Hundred Threescore and Six. (Revelation, 13:18)Since then, there have been many theories about to whom, or what, this description refers. For Christians, it has come to represent a catch-all idea of an Antichrist, a title conferred at different times to various enemies of the Christian religion, including the Emperors Nero and Domitian, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, and Hitler. Even the Roman Catholic Church and various popes have been identified as the Beast.
Latter day notions about the meaning of the number result in speculation that it might provide some kind of code whereby the Devil will
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