GENERALDEFINITIONOFMYTH:
Mythstellstoriesinwords(e.g.inepicpoetry)orimages(e.g.invase
paintings).Mythsaresacrednarrativesbecausetheydealwithgodsand
religion.Theirfundamentalfunctionisaetiologal(see#1below).
Myths
1.provideexplanations.Theygiveaccounts(aetiologies)whytheworldis
asitis,whyfoundationstookplace,etc.;
2.dealwithorigins.Theytellaboutbeginnings,e.g.ofnaturallifeforms,
andaboutsocialorculturalfoundations,e.g.ofcults,rituals,cities;
3.addressmajoraspectsofreligion.Theyexplaintheimportanceandpower
ofsuperiorandsupremebeings(heroesandgods)inhumanaffairsandin
theworldatlarge;
4.arethereforesacred(becauseoftheirreligiousaspects)andmoral
(becauseoftheethicalimplicationsinthestoriesandtheirapplicationsto
lifeinsociety).
5.canalso,andoftendo,fulfilldemandsforpopularentertainment.Their
moralaspectsorlessonsareusuallycontainedinthestoriesthemselves.
Mythsdonotpreachsermonsbutleaveittotheirhearersorreaderstodraw
appropriateconclusions.