"The myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths."
A collection of stories or beliefs related to gods, supernatural beings or heroes, often used in religious rituals.
Creation Myth: A story that explains how the world and its inhabitants came into existence.
Death and the Afterlife: Beliefs and customs surrounding death, dying, and the afterlife.
Rituals and Ceremonies: Religious or social customs that involve a prescribed set of actions and/or symbols.
Sacred Places: Locations that are considered to be holy or have spiritual significance.
Gods and Goddesses: Deities that have powers over various aspects of the world and human life.
Heroes and Legends: Myths and stories about individuals who are celebrated for their courage or exceptional abilities.
Symbolism: The use of images or objects to represent abstract ideas, emotions, or beliefs.
Cosmology: An explanation of the structure and organization of the universe.
Ancestors: The veneration of one's forebears, often in the form of ancestor worship.
The Divine Feminine: The worship of female figures, as well as the recognition of feminine energies and values.
Sacrifice: The act of offering something valuable to a deity, often to obtain their favor or blessings.
Magic and Shamanism: The use of supernatural powers to achieve desired outcomes or to bridge the gap between the natural and supernatural worlds.
Mythological Creatures: Beings that are part human, part animal, or have other extraordinary physical attributes or powers.
Folklore: Stories and legends that are passed down through generations within a particular culture or region.
Ritual Objects: Items that are used in the performance of religious or ceremonial practices, such as altars, candles, and incense.
Divination: The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or of the unknown through supernatural means, such as tarot cards, astrology, or the casting of lots.
Taboos: Behaviors or actions that are considered immoral, forbidden, or unclean within a particular society or religious tradition.
Mythological Themes: The recurring patterns, motifs, and archetypes found in myths and legends across cultures and time periods.
Festivals and Holidays: Celebrations and observances that are tied to the cycles of nature or historical events, often featuring religious or ceremonial components.
Mythological Influences: The impact of mythology on art, literature, and popular culture, both historically and in contemporary society.
Greek mythology: Greek mythology originates from ancient Greece and consists of stories about gods and goddesses and their relationships with humans.
Roman mythology: Roman mythology is similar to Greek mythology. It is influenced by Etruscan, Latin, and Sabine cultures, and comprises tales about deities that ruled Rome in the past.
Norse mythology: Norse mythology comes from the northern European countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. It involves battles, gods, and mythical creatures like elves and trolls.
Egyptian mythology: Egyptian mythology is one of the oldest mythologies worldwide. It consists of stories that explain the creation of the world and the gods and goddesses that inhabit it.
Mesopotamian mythology: Mesopotamian mythology developed in the Mesopotamia region (modern-day Iraq) and includes stories about gods, demons, and magical beings that once roamed the ancient world.
Hindu mythology: Hindu mythology originates from India and involves a vast range of stories related to the gods, goddesses, and their divine powers.
Chinese mythology: Chinese mythology comprises the legends, oral traditions, and stories that belong to Chinese culture.
Japanese mythology: Japanese mythology is a combination of Shintoism and Buddhism beliefs, and it involves mythology originating in Japan.
Native American mythology: Native American mythology involves a vast range of stories, folklore, and religious beliefs of indigenous tribes in North America.
African mythology: African mythology covers a wide variety of tales, legends, and beliefs from different regions of the continent of Africa.
Celtic mythology: Celtic mythology belongs to the people of Ireland, the United Kingdom and contains stories related to gods, goddesses and supernatural beings.
Aztec mythology: Aztec mythology belongs to the Aztec people and provides various stories related to gods, goddesses and the creation of the world.
"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."