From the Greek pantheon to the Roman Dii Consentes to the Nordic gods and goddesses, mythology has played a major role in human culture for centuries. Evidently, the stories these people told shaped their societies, worldviews, and day-to-day lives, but why did they tell them in the first place?
Mythology explains the world
At its core, mythology is meant to help people better understand, relate to, and connect with the world around them, as well as the conflicts inside of themselves.
Mythology literally explains phenomena in the outside world
Long before the age of reason, people relied on mythology to help them understand seemingly-inexplicable aspects of the world around them.
Mythology metaphorically explains aspects of the human condition
Most myths are metaphors that helped put people into relationships with themselves and others around them. They were not merely created to explain the outside world. Instead, they connect far more intimately to the world that exists within each of us.
By creating common beliefs and encouraging widely-practiced rituals, myths bring entire cultures together.
Mythology brings people together
Mythology strengthens culture by establishing a unifying moral code, providing a form of escapism, and creating a common set of beliefs about the world.
Myths are more than just fairy tales or feel-good metaphors. They are literal tales of divine beings that still live on today.
Myths are literally true
To the practitioners of many modern pagan religions, myths are far more than mere entertainment or metaphors. Rather, they are literal reflections of supernatural deities.
