Mythological stories transcend time and the cultures/societies that created them. They are, in a word, timeless. I’ve spent a considerable amount of my life dedicated to exploring myth and contemplating their meaning and significance. Despite spending years exploring myths, I remain a novice at best.
Anyone who wishes to learn more about the meaning of myth should read Joseph Campbell. I think that goes without saying. However, there may certainly be people who have never heard of Joseph Campbell or his works.
But this isn’t a post to point you in any particular direction to read about myths. I’m not writing this to educate anyone. I’m writing this as a self-exploration of my own thought processes about what myths are and why they are important.
I think it is important to define what myths are. Myths are often associated with historical societies. Myths are stories that discuss natural phenomena and/or explain rules and norms for a given society.
I said that myths are often associated with historical societies. Cases in point would be ancient Greece or Rome. In the west we are quite familiar with Norse mythology, and, to some extent, the mythologies of the British Isles (i.e. King Arthur). However, some myths are more modern. Stories such as those found in Star Wars or World of Warcraft tell epic tales of heroism while explaining the order of the world and our place within it.
Many people incorrectly refer to myths as being stories about the physical world—vain attempts to explain nature before we were smart enough to know better. There is some truth to this. After all, there are plenty of myths that discuss the creation of the world, explain the passing of the seasons, or describe the sources of springs and rivers. Myths do more than just explain natural phenomena. Even when myths are explaining natural phenomena they teach us about ourselves and how we are ordered within the world.
The real importance of myths is their applicability to create and order society. Myths discuss moral truths that transcend any one culture or society. They teach us how to live a meaningful life, how to behave in civilized society, and the boundaries of what is acceptable and not acceptable within a culture.
Anyone can create a hierarchy of rules that outline what one can or cannot do in society. However, myths entertain. Because they entertain us, myths are easy to remember, which makes them easy to teach others without having to worry about remembering the exact wording of a specific law or rule.
Needless to say, I love myths. I’m a sucker for any mythological story. Although, I’ve never been that interested in Norse mythology and I can’t really explain why. I find Greek, Roman, British, Chinese, Indian, and Japanese myths to be quite compelling.
Some of the more modern day myths that I love include: The original Star Wars films, The Justice League, The Avengers, World of Warcraft, The Lord of the Rings, and Dune.