Mythology

What is mythology? Mythology is the study of myths or stories. The myths of a society show the people’s beliefs during a certain point in their past. Most past cultures have myths, but people today are especially familiar with the myths of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Why are people today so familiar with the myths and names of the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses? For one thing, their names are often associated with parts of our modern-day culture. For example, Nike—a familiar brand name—was the goddess of victory in one set of myths. Think about the names of the planets and you will find the names of gods and goddesses from Ancient Rome have been used to name the celestial bodies. Many school mascots also get their names from the myths of ancient Greek or Roman cultures. The professional National Football League’s team the Titans is another modern-day example that owes its name to mythology.

Mythology is connected with another word: theology. Theology is the study of a group’s religion and practices of that religion. Studying the myths of the ancient cultures helps define and explain the group’s religious beliefs and practices, even if those beliefs are not still practiced in today’s culture. Studying the beliefs and the stories of ancient societies can help us understand the past as well as their appearance in our modern-day world.