World Mythology

Creation of Myth

Myths are culturally derived narratives or legends that are shared by the members of a society. Mythopoeia, the making and perpetuating of these myths, were generally done by, or with the support of, secular and or religious leaders. Mythopoeia can be understood as products of the imagination of those member0s of society, especially the secular and religious leaders, with power and influence. Myths cover topics ranging from angels to zombies and involve peoples of Africa; Asia; Australia; Europe; North, Central, and South America; and the islands and territories in between. Their major functions were carried out through a system of gods and goddesses as well as a variety of rituals. Theories about mythology suggest that three distinct types of myths about gods emerged over time. One type relates to the gods of nature who personify rain and fire. The second type refers to the gods of the poets who promote passions in humankind, and the third types of myths are about the gods who are rulers or soothsayers.

In the first type of myth, the gods of nature who personify rain and fire were of vital importance to humanity. Both rain and fire were necessary to the development of human society. In the case of rain, because agriculture was such a widespread means of subsistence and was so dependent on adequate rainfall, the power of the rain gods was affirmed.

The second category of gods, the poets, includes those responsible for the promotion of passion in humans. The Greco Romans produced Aphrodite, the goddess of love, desire, and beauty. She reigned over pleasure and happiness, sex and procreation, and seduction. Eros is a god of desire. He is said to have been so powerful that he could inspire love among the gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines. It is said that neither the divine nor mortal could resist the power of his spell.

The third category of gods includes the gods of the city who are rulers and spiritual leaders. This category of gods can be seen as deeply rooted in the ideas of governance and social control. The example from the Ashanti people of Africa, the myth of the Golden Stool, is instructive. The essence of the myth symbolizes the birth of nationhood but also rulers and religious mediums. (Knapp, 74)

Male and Female Divinity

Through language and imagery, birth has been used as a vehicle to elucidate other concepts, usually new, complex, or controversial. Often, representations of birth are metaphors for creativity or beginnings. Accordingly, birth metaphors appear in creation narratives and holy texts. Writers and other artists have also employed birth imagery to address issues such as feminism and even war.

Identifiable essentialisms are associated with the following phrasings: human nature, gender classifications, racial features, positions within coded rules, such as husband/wife, and hierarchy of ascribed bloodlines, such as aristocrat/serf. More recently, the quest for essential identity assumed the guise of science: DNA codes and genetic composition led to attempts to identify desirable characteristics such as intelligence or physical ...