Personal Mythology Essay
Personal Mythology
All cultures bear some form of legend, folktale and fable in a desire to pass on the teachings of their people. Traditionally myths passed down from generation to generation are beneficial because they offer; positive role models, values, accepted social behavior, explain the unexplainable, offer escape from reality and connect people through shared beliefs.
Myths exist in all cultures however; I associate myths most with the Greeks, Romans and the Norse. Greek mythology focuses on the origins of the world, gods, heroes and rituals of the ancient Greeks. “These tales were commonly viewed as true accounts however; in the 5th - 4th century BCE Plato recognized that these tales were basically fictitious” (Encyclopedia Mythica, 2007). One of the most famous Greek gods is Zeus.
Norse mythology combines myths from Scandinavians, Sweden, Demark, Norway and Iceland (Encyclopedia Mythica, 2006). Norse mythology has three sections Asgard, Valhalla, and Norse Sagas. These myths are solemn and focus on Norse and Teutonic deities, giants, monsters, rulers, dwarfs and Vikings. One of the Norse myths most famous characters is Thor (Timeless Myths, 2006).
Celtic mythology is the “religious beliefs and practices of ancient Celts an ancient Indo-European people” (Encyclopedia Mythica, 2006). “Many Celtic myths come from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Cornwall and Brittany France (Timeless Myths, 1999). These myths portray Vikings, kings, fairies, heroes, and Irish Gods and are social classes made up of clans (Gods, Heroes, and Myths, 2007). One of the Celtics famous characters is King Arthur.
Roman mythology is “the beliefs and practices of the inhabitants of the Italian peninsula from ancient times until the ascendancy of Christianity in the 4th century CE” (Encyclopedia Mythica, 2006).This mythology has two parts it combines the religion of early Rome and the beliefs of Greek mythology. Roman...