"The myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths."
The role of myth and symbolism in religious belief systems, ritual practice, and cultural expression.
Creation myths: Stories from various cultures about the creation of the world and humanity.
Deities and pantheons: The gods and goddesses worshipped by different civilizations, their respective myths and attributes.
Heroes and epic tales: The stories of legendary figures, their heroic deeds, and mythical quests.
Archetypes and symbolism: Recurring themes, motifs and symbols that are found in myths, literature and art.
Rituals and ceremonies: The ceremonies and customs involved in traditional religious practices.
Sacred spaces and architecture: The architecture and design of sacred spaces intended to facilitate religious practices and create a connection with the divine.
Esoteric traditions and mystical practices: Alternative understandings of spirituality, and methods of achieving transcendence.
Comparative mythology: The study of similarities and differences across various religious and mythological systems.
Mythological iconography: Representations of myths and their religious ideas through imagery.
Patterns of myth and religion: The analysis of common patterns, themes, and structures in religious mythologies across cultures and geography.
Creation myths: These myths explain how the world and everything in it came into existence.
Fertility myths: These myths revolve around the idea of fertility, either of the land or of human beings.
Hero myths: These are stories about brave and noble heroes who go on a quest or complete seemingly impossible tasks.
Divine myths: These stories tell about gods and goddesses and their deeds, powers, and relationships.
Trickster myths: These stories portray mischievous and sometimes dangerous figures who outwit others for personal gain.
Nature myths: These myths are about the relationship between humans and the natural world.
Eschatological myths: These myths deal with the end of the world or the afterlife.
Mythical beasts and creatures: These are stories about legendary animals, such as unicorns or dragons.
Anthropomorphic myths: These myths describe gods or animals with human characteristics.
Ritual myths: These myths explain the origins and meanings of religious or cultural ceremonies.
Historical myths: These stories are about actual events but have been embellished or exaggerated over time, becoming almost legendary.
Cosmic myths: These myths depict the universe and the workings of the cosmos.
Allegory myths: These stories contain symbolic elements that convey a moral or ethical lesson.
Sacred space myths: These myths explain the significance of specific places or locations.
Legend myths: These stories are about historical or heroic individuals, often including supernatural elements.
Folklore myths: These myths are traditional stories that have been passed down through generations and often reflect cultural values and beliefs.
Mythical archetypes: These are recurring patterns or characters found in mythology across different cultures, such as the hero or the trickster.
Symbolism in art and literature: These symbols can represent various ideas and concepts, such as fertility, death, or rebirth.
"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."