Mythology definition

Mythology means “the explanation of myths”–but what is a myth? Since antiquity, people have employed stories in order to explain their social group’s particular values, practices, and beliefs: in other words, their cultural identity. A myth is thus a key element of cultural discourse and fundamental to the larger group activity of world- building. This kind of story-telling produces an understanding of the world and the group’s place within it that is based not on the results of scientific inquiry, but on tradition: what has been handed down over time as constituting “us.” Even today, myth rivals scientific inquiry in offering a meaningful lens through which people understand their lived reality and interact with the world around them, whether or not this understanding of the world accords with facts or the worldviews of other groups. As a basis for forming opinions and taking action, myths have often proven to be more powerful than facts, a phenomenon that should command our urgent attention not just for understanding other times and societies, but for understanding our own, today. In this interdisciplinary minor, students will explore how various cultural traditions, around the world and throughout history, have employed myth.
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Examples of Mythology in a sentence

  • Some courses offered include Introduction to Game Design and Development, World Mythology, Creative Writing, AP Art History, AP Human Geography, Psychology, Physics, American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, and Latin.

  • II (3 credit hours) ENG 102 English Composition II-3 cr/hrs English 1000 Exposition & Argument- 3 hrs MAT 160 College Algebra—3 cr/hrs Math 1120 College Algebra- 3 hrs MAT 175 Introductory Statistics—3 cr/hrs Stat 1300 Elementary Statistics- 3 hrs St. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CC Humanities/Fine Arts (6 credit hours if taken a Literature class) MU Humanities/Fine Arts (6 credit hours if taken a Literature class) LIT 200 World Mythology MISC HUM Miscellaneous Humanity- 3 hrs LIT 210 Amer.

  • Xiao, Xianjin & Dengcheng Qiu 2005 Gun and Yu Mythology and Sanxingdui Site.

  • Mythology as a form of reflection about the world is not superseded with the progress of science.

  • Note: Two courses are required to satisfy Research and Mythology.

  • Qi, Xiaowen & Yiyuan Deng 2012 Interpretation of Han Dynasty Life and Death Viewpoints from the Mythology of Han Dynasty Stone Relief.

  • Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy, Religion, Art, and Custom.

  • Mythology “transforms history into nature” (Barthes, Mythologies 129) by giving “an historical intention a natural justification, and making contingency appear eternal” (Barthes, Mythologies 142).

  • Names of the gods of Teutonic Mythology were used for the other weekdays.

  • Mythology is the means by which individuals and society understand and organize their world and perpetuate their belief system about that world.