Mythology

Home > History by Field > Religious history > Mythology

Study of the myths and legends of various cultures and religions, exploring their history, significance, and interpretation.

Creation myths: Origin stories from various cultures explaining how the world and humans were created.
Pantheons: Groups of gods and goddesses worshipped in various cultures, including Greek, Roman, Norse, Egyptian, etc.
Heroes and Demigods: Legendary figures with superhuman abilities who performed heroic feats such as Heracles (Greek) or Thor (Norse).
Mythical Creatures: Fantastic beasts such as dragons, unicorns, centaurs, and mermaids that were a part of the mythology of various cultures.
Afterlife beliefs: Beliefs about what happens to the soul after death, including reincarnation, ascent to heaven or descent into hell.
Mythological symbols: Symbols that represent various mythological concepts such as the serpent, eagle, or the phoenix.
Sacred texts: Religious texts that contain mythological stories and beliefs such as the Bible, the Quran, and the Bhagavad Gita.
Mythological rituals: Ceremonies, sacrifices, and customs that were a part of mythological traditions such as feasts or festivals.
Mythological Artifacts: Mythological representations through architecture, sculpture, painting and literature.
Moral codes: The moral principles or ethical teachings of a particular religion, often expressed through mythological tales or religious texts.
Greek Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Greeks about their gods and heroes.
Roman Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Romans about their gods and heroes.
Norse Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Germanic and Scandinavian peoples about their gods and heroes.
Celtic Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Celtic peoples about their gods and heroes.
Egyptian Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Egyptians about their gods and pharaohs.
Hindu Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Indians about their gods and heroes.
Chinese Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Chinese about their gods and heroes.
Japanese Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Japanese about their gods and heroes.
African Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by various African tribes about their gods and heroes.
Native American Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by various Native American tribes about their gods and heroes.
Polynesian Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by various Polynesian peoples about their gods and heroes.
Australian Aboriginal Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Australian Aboriginal peoples about their gods and heroes.
Inca Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient South American Incas about their gods and heroes.
Aztec Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Mexican Aztecs about their gods and heroes.
Mayan Mythology: This is a collection of myths and legends that were told by ancient Central American Mayans about their gods and heroes.
"The myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths."
"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."