What Is the Origin of ‘Silver Bullet’?
In werewolf myths, silver is one method to kill the powerful creatures, so a silver bullet is sometimes the hero’s weapon of choice. When “silver bullet” is used in everyday English, however, it is usually in the negative sense: “There is no silver bullet for …” You can complete that
sentence with any seemingly intractable, complex problem. How did a silver bullet earn a reputation as an all-powerful weapon? There’s a long tradition in folklore and literature. The ancient Greeks believed that silver was a gift from the moon goddess, Selene, and that it had mystical powers. In Norse mythology,...
