What is Mythology?
Origin
Ancient Greek and Roman mythology began as a way for the ancient people to answer their questions about the universe, and more specifically, the
immediate world around them. Unlike a religion with a universal guideline, Christianity for example, mythology was a collection of multiple interpretations that varied in each town. Its stories and ideas were passed on throughout generations with different altercations and interpretations. Although it did not have a centralized book to be based upon, there are a few pieces of literature that give a solid backing for this religion. Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad, along with Hesiod’s Theogony, are the most famous and accepted backgrounds of mythology because of their convincing arguments. Overall, Greek mythology was more of a cloud of ideas, rather than an actual authoritative religion.
Mythology was a useful way for ancient society to explain natural phenomenon without the use of science by bending facts to suit theories rather than creating theories to support facts but then it evolved in to something more, something that defined the society as a whole. And Mythology isn't just from Greece and Rome but from all of ancient culture all across the world from Egypt to China to India ranging from all beliefs to all cultures in overall affecting everyone's life in one way or another but we chose to focus on Greek an Roman mythology since they're the most influential towards Western Culture and have had the biggest impact on the world. It has influenced the creation Democracy and the Republic (along with all other government sprouting thus forth), has helped develop Western/ Hellenistic culture, and is responsible for the morals and societal standards that we hold true today.
immediate world around them. Unlike a religion with a universal guideline, Christianity for example, mythology was a collection of multiple interpretations that varied in each town. Its stories and ideas were passed on throughout generations with different altercations and interpretations. Although it did not have a centralized book to be based upon, there are a few pieces of literature that give a solid backing for this religion. Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad, along with Hesiod’s Theogony, are the most famous and accepted backgrounds of mythology because of their convincing arguments. Overall, Greek mythology was more of a cloud of ideas, rather than an actual authoritative religion.
Mythology was a useful way for ancient society to explain natural phenomenon without the use of science by bending facts to suit theories rather than creating theories to support facts but then it evolved in to something more, something that defined the society as a whole. And Mythology isn't just from Greece and Rome but from all of ancient culture all across the world from Egypt to China to India ranging from all beliefs to all cultures in overall affecting everyone's life in one way or another but we chose to focus on Greek an Roman mythology since they're the most influential towards Western Culture and have had the biggest impact on the world. It has influenced the creation Democracy and the Republic (along with all other government sprouting thus forth), has helped develop Western/ Hellenistic culture, and is responsible for the morals and societal standards that we hold true today.
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