In one story, a man saves a fish, and out of gratitude, the fish warns the man of an upcoming flood. In another, two humans who have been living with gods in the sky decide they want to explore the Earth below. In yet another, a girl must spend time each year in the underworld, and when she does, winter is unleashed above ground.
What do these three stories have in common? They are all ancient myths. The first story offers an explanation for why floods occur; the second addresses the origin of humans on Earth; and the third explores what causes the seasons to change. These myths come from different places and time periods, but they share common elements, including an attempt to make sense of the world at large.
So what is a myth, exactly? This is a challenging question. Myths share similarities with other forms of storytelling such as legends, folktales and fairy tales. The important thing to remember about myths is that they are stories whose action occurs in a remote past, before we kept track of time. Myths are ancient, complex stories. They were first told aloud and in this way they were shared from one generation to the next. They explain the origins of humans, animals and the supernatural. They also describe the adventures and interactions of humans and gods. Some myths clarify mysterious events or natural phenomena such as fire or floods. Since myths have been passed down for thousands of years, it’s fair to assert that one key distinction between myths and other kinds of stories is their enduring quality. They have survived for millennia! Myths also set themselves apart from other narratives because they attempt to answer big questions like “How did the world begin?” and “Why do people die?”
Almost every culture has its own set of myths. Those mythologies offer a world view of a group of people. Myths are rooted in specific cultures and belief systems. It’s important to remember that some myths are closely tied to a culture’s religion. Some readers may be tempted to think of a certain myth as “just a story.” However, for those who are part of the culture out of which that myth emerged, the same myth may be viewed as sacred. Some may even use the myth to govern how they live and behave.
Take, for example, the Indian myth of Rama and Sita. This myth comes from the epic poem, “The Ramayana.” It tells the story of Rama, who is a divine ruler. He is exiled from his kingdom for many years. On the eve of his return to the throne, Rama’s kingdom is lit up with candles. This is done so that he may find his way home in the dark. Today, many Hindus incorporate this story into their religious practice during the Indian holiday of Diwali. They light diyas, or tiny candles, to remember how Rama and his wife Sita found their way home. This is an example of a myth that endures. It is woven into the religious practice of its culture.
Why Were Myths Created?
Many scholars believe that myths emerged as a way to explain basic facts of human life, such as birth and death. Myths also offer explanations for elements of the natural, physical world around us. They use storytelling to explain how the world was made, for example, and why storms, floods, fires and earthquakes occur. Some people see ancient myths as a form of scientific observation. Many myths reflect the kinds of questions people may have been asking about the natural world around them. For instance, what would ancient people—lacking technology or scientific methods—make of an erupting volcano, emitting steam, ash and lava? Occurrences like this were often explained to and by ancient people through mythological stories. An example would be the story of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire. The stories of Pele help to make scary and mysterious parts of nature more understandable.
Types of Myths
If you read enough myths, you will notice certain recurring types. Creation myths, pantheon myths and hero myths are just a few examples.
Creation myths are also known as origin myths. They attempt to explain how the universe came to be, or how an element of the universe emerged. Many different cultures have their own creation myths. One example of a creation myth is that of the Efik origin story from Nigeria. This myth explains how humans first came to Earth. Another example of an origin myth is “How Grandmother Spider Brought Fire.” This story is part of Choctaw mythology. The myth explains why the sun, the moon and the stars exist in the sky.
There are numerous myths that feature gods and goddesses. These are sometimes referred to as pantheon myths. Some of the most popular pantheon myths are the stories of the Greek gods of Mount Olympus. These stories feature deities (think Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite) who interact with human beings on Earth in positive and negative ways. Even today, the Mount Olympus myths are constantly being reimagined. For instance, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a wildly popular YA novel. It follows a young demigod who struggles to grow up in the shadow of his dad, the Greek god Poseidon.
Another popular type of myth is the hero myth. These myths focus on individuals who have special powers or abilities. Some perform superhuman actions, usually in an effort to save the world from evil and destruction. Many hero myths contain fantastical details. They feature characters who are larger than life and who are often fatally flawed. A good example of the hero myth is the tale of Icarus. He is a skilled inventor who creates wings that enable him to fly. Icarus’ excitement at his achievement compels him to fly closer and closer to the sun. The heat of the sun ultimately melts his wings and drops him back down to Earth.
How Were Myths Passed On?
Myths were initially part of an oral tradition. In such traditions, stories were told aloud and in this way passed down from one generation to the next. Due to this long history of oral transmission, myths have inevitably changed over time. The fact that myths were not written down right away suggests that they are subject to retellings and reinterpretations. A myth may certainly change from one retelling to the next. It should not be surprising, then, to discover that there can be many different versions of a single myth. Some scholars argue that it is this very openness that has helped myths endure across millennia. Over time, myths began to be recorded in writing. Now it is possible to find written versions of many myths in books or online.
Why Read Myths?
Today we rely on science to help us understand phenomena in humans and in nature. So you may be wondering why we continue to read and study myths. There are plenty of reasons why! Myths are action-packed and highly engaging. They have long influenced popular culture, and they continue to inspire contemporary artists, authors, filmmakers and poets. Perhaps you've read the Marvel comics or watched movies such as Thor: Ragnarok. Thor is actually a Norse god who appears often in Norse mythology.
Indeed, once you become familiar with myths, you will find mythological stories referenced and alluded to in numerous places—from comics and novels to movies and television series. Myths continue to play a big part in how we understand our world.