Myth
What is a Myth?
A symbolic narrative, usually of unknown origin and at
least partly traditional, that ostensibly relates actual
events and that is especially associated with religious
belief.
What is a
Myth?
Myths are sacred tales that explain the
1
world and man's experience.
The subjects of myths reflect the universal concerns of mankind throughout
2 history: birth, death, the afterlife, the origin of man and the world, good and
evil and the nature of man himself.
3 A myth taps into a universal cultural narrative, the
collective wisdom of man.
It is distinguished from symbolic behaviour (cult,
ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons).
Myths are specific accounts of gods or superhuman
beings involved in extraordinary events or
circumstances in a time that is unspecified but which
is understood as existing apart from ordinary human
experience. The term mythology denotes both the
study of myth and the body of myths belonging to a
particular religious tradition.
The Three Types of
Myths:
Aetiological,
Historical, and
Psychological
1. AETIOLOGICAL MYTHS
Aetiological (sometimes spelled etiological)
myths explain the reason why something is
the way it is today. The word aetiological is
from the Greek word aetion (αἴτιον),
meaning “reason” or “explanation”. Please
note that the reasons given in an
aetiological myth are NOT the real (or
scientific) reasons. They are explanations
that have meaning for us as human beings.
There are three subtypes of aetiological
myths: natural, etymological, and religious.
NATURAL ETYMOLOGICAL RELIGIOUS
AETIOLOGICA AETIOLOGICAL AETIOLOGIC
L MYTH MYTH AL MYTH
explains an explains the origin of a explains the origin of a
word. (Etymology is the religious ritual. For
aspect of nature. example, you could explain
study of word origins.) For
For example, you the Greek religious ritual of
example, you could the Eleusinian Mysteries by
could explain
explain the name of the saying that they originated
lightning and goddess Aphrodite by when the Greek goddess
thunder by saying that she was born Demeter came down to the
saying that Zeus in sea foam, since aphros city of Eleusis and taught
the people how to worship
is angry. is the Greek word for sea
her.
foam.
Historical Myths
Historical myths are told about a historical event, and they
help keep the memory of that event alive. Ironically, in
historical myths, the accuracy is lost but meaning is gained.
The myths about the Trojan War, including the Iliad and
the Odyssey, could be classified as historical myths. The
Trojan War did occur, but the famous characters that we
know from the Iliad and the Odyssey (Agamemnon,
Achilles, Hector, etc.) probably did not exist.
Psychological
Myths
Psychological myths try to explain why we feel and act the way we
do. A psychological myth is different from an aetiological myth
because a psychological myth does not try to explain one thing by
way of something else (like explaining lightning and thunder with
Zeus’ anger does). In a psychological myth, the emotion itself is
seen as a divine force, coming from the outside, that can directly
influence a person’s emotions. For example, the goddess Aphrodite
is sometimes seen as the power of erotic love. When someone said
or did something that they did not want to do, the ancient Greeks
might have said that Aphrodite “made them” do it.
What is the Importance
of Myth?
Myth has existed in every society. Indeed, it
would seem to be a basic constituent of human
culture. Because the variety is so great, it is
difficult to generalize about the nature of
myths. But it is clear that in their general
characteristics and in their details a people’s
myths reflect, express, and explore the
people’s self-image. The study of myth is thus
of central importance in the study both of
individual societies and of human culture as a
whole.
Examples of
Myths
Hercules and the Namean
Lion
The first task was to slay the Nemean Lion, the ferocious
monster of Nemea who lurked in the hills of Tretos. Because
arrows couldn't penetrate the lion's coat, Hercules stunned
the lion with a club and strangled it to death. He then wore
the lion's head and used the skin as his new armor.
Lesson:
Heracles had to use all his strength to strangle the Nemean
Lion with his bare hands, as arrows would bounce off his
tough skin. Sometimes we have to roll up our sleeves and
deal with challenging situations using a hands-on approach.
Mangkukulam
Modern popular culture also depicts mangkukulam as
mainly doing only love potions and malicious curses, but
more extreme depictions claim they can summon ghosts to
haunt dolls, raise the dead (or at least control dead bodies),
and other things related to necromancy.
The term “Mangkukulam” holds a deep and enduring significance within the cultural
tapestry of the Philippines. It is a reference to those who engage in “kulam,” a form of
witchcraft or sorcery. This article aims to explore the fascinating realm of the
Mangkukulam, their rituals, and their integral role in Philippine folklore. The concept
of the Mangkukulam predates the era of Spanish colonization, as witchcraft had
already established a firm presence across the Philippine archipelago. In contemporary
times, these practices are notably concentrated in regions such as Siquijor, Cebu,
Davao, Talalora, Western Samar, and Sorsogon.
Noah’s Ark
In the Judeo-Christian flood story, God became angry with the sins of mankind. He told
his faithful servant, Noah, to build an ark large enough for his family (which included eight
people; his wife, his three sons and their wives) and two of every creature on earth. God
delivered the promised deluge, killing everyone and everything on earth except the
population of the ark.
After the flood, the ark came to rest on a mountain top, a detail that is repeated in many
stories across different cultures. This was an attempt to show the immense depth of the
water, that it was higher than the mountains. Noah and his family were the only humans
alive and are presumably the origins of the current human race.
Trojan War
The Trojan War definition in
history describes a conflict
between Mycenaean Greeks and
the city of Troy sparked by Paris,
son of the King of Troy, abducting
Helen, the queen to a Greek
Spartan king, and fleeing back to
Troy. The story of the Trojan War
is a mix of legend and some
historical accuracy
Practice!
Write down your
favorite story of
(myths) from your
childhood, and tell
the class what it is
about and it’
significance to you.
Performance Task
Research and read the myth
“Daedalus and Icarus”. Create a
short essay ab0ut your
understanding on the cause and
effect that is represented in the
story and write in the essay, on
the significance of the story in
your life.
Deadline: April 1, 2024
