Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. The fear or the phobia of number 13 has existed for many centuries. It was not influenced by pop culture or movies depicting Friday the 13th as an inauspicious day.
Triskaidekaphobia is a term that originates from four Greek words: tris which means 3, kai which means and, deka which means 10 and phobos which means fear. The fear of Friday the 13th is a subtype of triskaidekaphobia where the number 13 may not be the sole cause of fear but the combined factor of a Friday being the 13th. This condition or fear of the number 13 on a Friday is known as paraskevidekatriaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia.
Is fear of the number 13 real or is it just a superstition or a false belief that people have harbored through the centuries?
The truth is very simple but yet it is unacceptable to most people who suffer from triskaidekaphobia or the fear of the number 13. There have been numerous arguments and counterarguments in favor and against of the phobia. Those who propagate the authenticity or legitimacy of the fear try to reference numerous instances in history wherein the number 13 has been held to be unlucky, a vice and evil. But there are as many counterarguments if not more that debunk all the arguments and state facts to substantiate that the number 13 doesn’t actually reflect anything evil or unlucky. It is purely a manifestation of some people which have influenced the psyche or thoughts of generations thereafter.
There are biblical references drawn by the believers, almost all of which have been debunked. From Judas being the 13th person to sit at the table during the last supper to the numerous translations of the Code of Hammurabi leading to contrarian views, there are many historical artifacts and evidences which compel one to believe that the fear of the number 13 is unfounded.
In recent history, the Apollo 13 incident and some minor incidents in certain regions around the world have reinforced the belief of some people. But largely, most people look at the technical realities and rationales instead of fuelling triskaidekaphobia.
Whoever is suffering from the fear of the number 13 can easily avoid using that number and all mentions of it if that makes him or her comfortable, lucky, safe and at ease. Truth is often not what the reality is; there is more than one perspective of truth.