"The myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths."
Learn about the symbolic meanings behind mythological creatures, objects, and characters in art.
Creation myths: Stories about how the world and its inhabitants were created and their significance.
Deities: Gods and goddesses who rule over various domains and are symbolic of various human traits and emotions.
Heroes and legends: Epic tales of heroic feats that often involve interaction with divine beings and symbolic messages.
Rituals and ceremonies: Practices that involve formalized actions and symbolic meanings within mythological beliefs.
Archetypes: Universal patterns of behavior and psychology that are found across various cultures and are expressed through mythological symbolism.
Symbolism in art: How mythological figures and symbols have been portrayed through different art periods and their meanings.
The role of gender in mythology: How gender roles and stereotypes are reflected in mythology and how these have been portrayed in art.
Cosmic symbolism: Symbols and figures that represent the cosmos, such as the sun, moon, stars, and constellations.
Animal symbolism: The significance of animals in mythology and how they are represented in art.
Myths and their relevance: Understanding the significance of myths and how they are still relevant in modern-day society.
Gods and Goddesses: Mythical beings who ruled over the aspects of the human experience such as love, war, fertility, harvest, death, and more.
Heroes: Individuals who have superhuman qualities and have accomplished great tasks or battles.
Divine Scenes: Representations of mythological events such as creation, the overthrowing of Titans, the war between Gods and Giants, and more.
Creatures and Monsters: Such as centaurs, satyrs, dragons, harpies.
Classical elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, were often depicted to evoke various moods in paintings or sculptures.
Myths and Legends: Scenes derived from popular myths and stories, such as Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, the Aeneid of Virgil, and more.
Iconography: Symbolic objects or items held by the Gods or heroes, such as Athena's shield or Hermes' staff.
Colors: Often used symbolically to represent emotions and qualities, such as red for passion, blue for tranquility.
Classical Architecture: Elements such as columns, arches, pediments, and domes were used to evoke the grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome.
Allegory: The use of personification or symbolism to represent abstract concepts such as Wisdom, Justice, and Virtue.
"Myths play a fundamental role in society..."
"Myths are often endorsed by secular and religious authorities..."
"Myths are closely linked to religion or spirituality."
"Many societies group their myths, legends, and history together..."
"Myths are sometimes distinguished from legends in that myths deal with gods..."
"The main characters in myths are usually non-humans, such as gods, demigods, and other supernatural figures."
"Others include humans, animals, or combinations in their classification of myth."
"Stories of everyday humans, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in legends, as opposed to myths."
"Myths are set in a world of the remote past, very different from that of the present."
"Creation myths take place in a primordial age when the world had not achieved its later form."
"Other myths explain how a society's customs, institutions, and taboos were established and sanctified."
"There is a complex relationship between the recital of myths and the enactment of rituals."
"Myths... usually have no historical basis..."
"Foundational tales or origin myths play a fundamental role in a society..."
"The main characters in myths are usually non-humans..."
"Myths are often endorsed by secular and religious authorities..."
"Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society..."
"Many societies group their myths, legends, and history together, considering myths and legends to be true accounts of their remote past."
"Myths are set in a world of the remote past, very different from that of the present."