Where Did Myths Come from?

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Where Did Myths Come from?

• Here are some mythological origin theories.
• None of them answer all the questions scholars
  have about mythology, but they all provide
  interesting ideas concerning the mystery of
  mythology.

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I. Euhemerus Greek Scholar from B.C.times

• Developed one of the oldest known theories about
  myths origins
• Suggested all myths were based on historical
  factin some way or another
• Believed scholars need to strip away the
  supernatural elements to get to the facts

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II. Muller language scholar from 1800s

1. Suggested all gods and mythological heroes were
   really representations of nature deities, and
   heroes were originally a symbol for the sun in
   one of its phases.
2. Today, few scholars take his theories seriously.

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III. Tylor anthropologist from 1800s

1. Believed myths began through mans efforts to
   explain dreams
2. Believed mans 1st idea about the supernatural
   was his belief that they had a soul that would
   wander freely during dreams
3. Believed animism (all living things have a soul)
   was the beginning of myth

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IV. Malinowski anthropologist from 1900s

1. Emphasized the psychological conditions that lead
   man to create myths
2. Believed man created myths when they couldnt
   find a scientific answer to questions
3. Believed man had to create myths to decrease
   tension caused by not knowing why something was
   happening

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V. Frazer anthropologist from 1800s-1900s

1. Believed myths begin in the great cycle of
   naturebirth, growth, decay, death, rebirth
2. Wrote that societies around the world sacrificed
   symbols of their gods to keep these godsand the
   worldfrom decaying and dying. Instead, the
   sacrifice would lead to death then to rebirth
   with strength again.