Myths

Myths are culturally derived narratives or legends that are shared by the members of a society. Mythopoeia, the making and perpetuating of these myths, were generally done by, or with the support of, secular and or religious leaders. Mythopoeia can be understood as products of the imagination of those members of society, especially the secular and religious leaders, with power and influence. These leaders sought to enhance conditions that were favorable to governing and expanding their societies. Myths created a structure that gave an enhanced meaning to people's lives and provided benefits for everyday living. Myths also provided a context for individuals to explore their own identities and define their own existence within a particular society. Myths are cultural universals that emerge in different cultures at historical periods to fulfill basic emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. It is generally accepted that all societies have myths, and the evidence of their existence dates from antiquity to preliteracy and finally to Common Era (CE). In antiquity, myths survived and were passed on through cave paintings, other forms of mythography, masks, totems, and orality. Later in Greek, Roman, and other European societies, as literacy developed and spread, myths became an integral part of their literary traditions. And today, in non-literate societies, as well as among citizens who are not literate but live in literate cultures, myths continue to exist as part of the oral traditions. Currently, in literate societies, especially those that now use science as the lens through which to view their social and physical environment, myths have been reinterpreted as fiction, old wives’ tales, stories that have been lost in their retelling, or just plain superstitions.

Myths cover topics ranging from angels to zombies and involve peoples of Africa; Asia; Australia; Europe; North, Central, and South America; and the islands and territories in between. Their major functions were carried out through a system of gods and goddesses as well as a variety of rituals. Myths provided explanations for the mysteries of the present world as well as the world beyond. Many myths describe the mysteries of nature such as rainfall, wind, droughts, oceans, and celestial bodies; the relationship to the animal and spirit worlds; love, beauty, and desire; questions of death, the afterlife, and immortality; the connection between humans and animals, and the sacred. Myths also inculcated the values of social life and offered guidance in matters of human emotions such as love, fear, jealousy, anger, hate, and retribution. Additionally, myths offered solutions necessary to fulfill emergent needs during difficult periods such as famine and other threats from nature, as well as threats from warfare. Furthermore, often in conjunction with requisite rituals, myths provided the moral guidance deemed necessary to please or appease the gods with hope that they will influence nature in the human's favor, inflict evil on others, or ameliorate evil in society. Myths were usually audience- and situation-specific. For instance, some were designed for political leaders, children, young adults, elders, families, farmers, religious leaders, and community members. Others were designed to encourage loyalty, create fear, and demonstrate power or influence over nature. In essence, myths, especially those of antiquity and the prescientific and preliteracy era, provided guidance about survival in a world in which humans were at the mercy of nature and the elements, and in which they had little understanding or control over their physical, social, or spiritual worlds.

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