Mythology: The Foundation of Belief and Culture

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16 Jan 2024

Mythology: The Foundation of Belief and Culture

A significant portion of contemporary society's beliefs and culture is rooted in mythology. Virtually every society possesses its unique mythology, consisting of stories that transform into legends with characters. Let's delve a bit deeper into what mythology is and explore some examples of famous mythologies.

One of the crucial rules for a society to exist is having a shared culture and belief. While this shared culture may sometimes revolve around religion and history, mythology is often considered the most important factor. Mythology encompasses extraordinary stories that, while largely fictional, reflect all the characteristics of the society it belongs to.

Almost every society has its distinctive mythology, and when delving into the depths, one can encounter thousands of different mythologies, many of which have traversed thousands of years through oral communication to reach us today. Let's take a closer look at what mythology is and explore some famous mythologies that continue to influence us even today.

What is Mythology? Characteristics of Mythological Legends:

Mythology Definition:
Mitology, in a clear definition, refers to shared narratives present in a culture, often used to explain the unknown. It comprises various characters and the stories told about these characters. In Turkish, terms like "söylenbilim" and "söylencebilim" are used interchangeably with mythology.

The term "mythology" has its roots in the Greek words "mithos," meaning spoken word, and "logos," meaning speech. While it was initially used in Ancient Greece to denote the repetition of past words, in Eastern languages, it evolved to convey meanings such as legend, myth, and tale in Western languages.

Mythology is primarily formed through orally transmitted stories, including legends and fairy tales. However, not every tale and fable falls under the category of mythology. Essential characteristics such as being a common cultural element, being transmitted through centuries, and the characters appearing in other stories form the basis of mythology.

Characteristics of Mythology

Mitologies are conveyed through traditional oral narratives. The characters in mythological stories include gods, demigods, nobles, brave heroes, beautiful women, and ordinary people. Since a society's mythology serves as an indicator of its beliefs and culture, it is often approved by rulers or religious figures of that era.

Mythology often shapes the religion of its time, and for these stories that illuminate the unknown to be accepted by the majority of society, they must explain how the society came into existence. Thus, encountering numerous supernatural events in these tales is common.
Mythological stories often narrate the beginning of everything—how the world came into being, how that society emerged, and how events led to the present day. To make a subtle distinction, myths focus more on explaining the origins, while fairy tales are often told to elaborate on existing details.

Some Famous Mythologies

Turkish Mythology:
Ancient Turkish culture's foundational narratives are recounted in Turkish mythology, with one of the oldest works being the "Dede Korkut Stories." Due to the diverse beliefs held by Turks throughout history, scholars prefer to use the broader term "Turkish mythologies" rather than categorizing all these stories under a single mythology.

Prominent Turkish myths include the Bozkurt Epic narrating the birth of the Turks, the Ergenekon Epic depicting the revival of the Turks, the Oghuz Khan Epic narrating the tale of the ancestor Oghuz Khan, the Manas Epic—world's longest epic, and the Alp Er Tunga Epic describing the significant Turkish bey Alp Er Tunga. Other known Turkish epics include:

Göç Epic
Kırk Kız Epic
Yaratılış Epic
Şu Epic
Türeyiş Epic
Edigey Epic
Köroğlu Epic
Davut Aziz Baytekin Epic

Chinese Mythology:
According to the Oxford-published "Dictionary of Asian Mythology," Chinese mythology is defined as a blend of history, legend, and myth. Estimated to have begun around the 12th century BCE, Chinese mythology is examined through source texts such as Shan Hai Jing, Shui Jing Zhu, Hei'an Zhuan, Fengshen Yanyi, and Baishe Zhuan. Chinese mythology hosts thousands of different gods, goddesses, and heroes.

Hindu Mythology:
Hindu mythology not only forms the basis of Indian culture but also shapes the belief system of Hinduism. Regarded as the sacred texts of Hinduism, the Vedas are crucial sources of Hindu mythology. Hindu mythology generally comprises stories of encounters between different individuals and gods and goddesses.
Greek Mythology:
Undoubtedly, Greek mythology constitutes the foundation of Western beliefs today. The stories told in ancient Greece shed light on the formation of the world and its mysteries. Greek mythology includes twelve main gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hephaistos, Ares, Hermes, Dionysus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hera, Athena, and Apollo, considered as the causes and consequences of everything happening in the world.

Persian Mythology:
The basis of the belief and culture of the society living in the region known as Iran today is formed by Persian mythology. Covering a vast geography due to its location, Persian mythology stories also nourish the Zoroastrian belief system through sacred texts.

Norse Mythology:
Influencing some of the most well-known myths in popular culture today, Norse mythology narrates the pre-Christian era of the societies in the region. Odin, Thor, Tyr, Njord, Frey, and Freya are some of the essential gods and goddesses of Norse mythology. The most significant story in Norse mythology is Ragnarok, believed to be the end of the world followed by its rebirth.

Mesopotamian Mythology:
Although labeled as Mesopotamian mythology, the stories told actually relate to the Sumerian civilization that disappeared around 400 BCE. According to Mesopotamian mythology, humans were initially created to serve the gods and later liberated to form the civilization we know.

Egyptian Mythology:
Forming the foundation of one of the most important civilizations at the beginning of history, Egyptian culture is rooted in Egyptian mythology. The majority of Egyptian mythology stories focus on the creation of the world, the creation of humanity, and how the world is governed by the gods. Metaphorical narratives in Egyptian mythology stories have laid the groundwork for rulers and priests.

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