Myths and History

The differences between myths, legends and historical stories are often murky. Each is based in some element of human experience, whether an ancient religious belief or an actual historical occurrence. Over time, as a story is retold, it may become embellished with some element of myth or legend, making it difficult to distinguish reality from fiction. Defining Myths, Legends and Historical Stories By... Read more >

Mythology and Religion

The relationship between religion and mythology is one of continuing debate. While some historians stress that religion and mythology have similar origins, others emphasize the theological divide between them. With the many stories, folklores and legends that have been passed down through generations, the difference between religion and mythology can be, at times, hard to distinguish.   Generally speaking... Read more >

Impact of Mythology

Long before the existence of the printing press, personal computers, the Internet and other modes of modern communication, people documented their world through storytelling and the oral tradition. An important part of that process was the creation of mythology, collections of stories that were created to explain a culture’s origin, history, deities, and heroes. These myths were passed on through generations to... Read more >

Cultural Mythologies

Many of the world's diverse mythologies possess uncanny similarities. The same stories appear again and again in different types of mythology, but each culture adds its own interpretation of these universal myths. Greek Mythology In the community of cultural mythologies, the Greek gods could be dubbed the "dysfunctional family." Adultery, betrayal and tragic pride make Greek mythology's tales an exciting... Read more >

Urban Myths

Urban myths and legends have been around for years. While some scary urban myths have evolved from campfire ghost stories or tall tales, others are the result of miscommunication. In some instances, urban legends reflect a primal need in human nature: the need to make sense of the complicated world we live in.   Regardless of how each myth came into existence, here is an overview of some popular urban myths... Read more >

Greek Mythology

Greek mythology's impact on modern societies cannot be understated. Modern language, industry, arts and culture all demonstrate the impact of Greek mythology in today's world. For example, most people who have no formal knowledge of Greek mythology still know that Hercules was a strongman and that Venus (the Roman version of the Greek Aphrodite) is the goddess of love. The Impact of Greek Mythology on... Read more >

Norse Mythology

Norse mythology, which originated in Scandinavia, consists of a system of gods and beliefs adapted by the Scandinavian people before they were exposed to Christianity. Scandinavians living in Iceland also worshipped the Norse gods, and most of our written records of Norse mythology come from Iceland.   Norse mythology is rooted in the beliefs and stories that were once told by Northern Germanic tribes. The... Read more >

Egyptian Mythology

Egyptian mythology was strongly linked to the belief that gods and goddesses were like humans with real emotions and lifestyles. These gods were so strongly revered, that using a god's name in any negative manner would result in punishment.   Egyptian gods were often linked to an element of nature. Different regions relied on the god that best fit their needs, but only a few gods were worshipped throughout... Read more >