Origin myth

An origin myth is a myth that purports to describe the origin of some feature of the natural or social world. One type of origin myth is the cosmogonic myth, which describes the creation of the world. However, many cultures have stories set after the cosmogonic myth, which describe the origin of natural phenomena and human institutions within a preexisting universe.

In Western classical scholarship, the terms etiological myth and aition (from the Ancient Greek αἴτιον, "cause") are sometimes used for a myth that explains an origin, particularly how an object or custom came into existence.

Nature of origin myths

Every origin myth is a tale of creation: origin myths describe how some new reality came into existence. In many cases, origin myths also justify the established order by explaining that it was established by sacred forces (see section on "Social function" below). The distinction between cosmogonic myths and origin myths is not clear-cut. A myth about the origin of some part of the world necessarily presupposes the existence of the world—which, for many cultures, presupposes a cosmogonic myth. In this sense, one can think of origin myths as building upon and extending their cultures' cosmogonic myths. In fact, in traditional cultures, the recitation of an origin myth is often prefaced with the recitation of the cosmogonic myth.

Creation myth

A creation myth is a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it. While in popular usage the term myth often refers to false or fanciful stories, formally, it does not imply falsehood. Cultures generally regard their creation myths as true. In the society in which it is told, a creation myth is usually regarded as conveying profound truths, metaphorically, symbolically and sometimes in a historical or literal sense. They are commonly, although not always, considered cosmogonical myths—that is, they describe the ordering of the cosmos from a state of chaos or amorphousness.

Creation myths often share a number of features. They often are considered sacred accounts and can be found in nearly all known religious traditions. They are all stories with a plot and characters who are either deities, human-like figures, or animals, who often speak and transform easily. They are often set in a dim and nonspecific past that historian of religion Mircea Eliade termed in illo tempore ("at that time"). Creation myths address questions deeply meaningful to the society that shares them, revealing their central worldview and the framework for the self-identity of the culture and individual in a universal context.

Podcasts:

PLAYLIST TIME:

Latest News for: origin myth

‘Too sticky. Too saucy. Too weird’: could I persuade my son to eat the food of my heritage?

The Observer 06 Apr 2025
Because amba’s origin myth is that it was invented by Sassoon’s great-grandfather David Sassoon who was born in Baghdad in 1793,loved Indian mangoes so much that he wanted to find a way of exporting ...

10-year-old concerto composer anticipates upcoming La Jolla performance

San Diego Union-Tribune 05 Apr 2025
The 12-piece concert entitled “Black Myth – 黑神话,” will feature five original compositions for strings, vocal and piano; ensemble pieces for piano and strings conducted by Li; and arranged solo piano pieces by Li herself.

‘Too sticky. Too saucy. Too weird’: could I persuade my son to eat the food ...

AOL 05 Apr 2025
Because amba’s origin myth is that it was invented by Sassoon’s great-grandfather David Sassoon who was born in Baghdad in 1793, loved Indian mangoes so much that he wanted to find a way of exporting ...

Debunking Common Myths About 4/20

East Bay Times 04 Apr 2025
The term “4/20” has long been associated with cannabis culture, but over the years, several myths have clouded its true origins ... Let’s clear the air and debunk some of the most common myths surrounding this infamous date and number.

Television writer Charlie Covell on redefining worlds, breaking boundaries in ‘Kaos’

The Brown Daily Herald 04 Apr 2025
Covell was on campus this past week for two events hosted by the Classics Department ... Covell has received criticism from those who remain loyal to the original myths ... “The myths themselves are inherently very queer, very diverse,” they told The Herald.

‘Blame’ review: Three Covid-19 scientists fall victim to truth-twisting narratives

Screen Daily 04 Apr 2025
Verified facts rarely impede the spread of a fanciful conspiracy myth. In , Swiss director Christian Frei explores the falsehoods that have grown up around the origins of the Covid-19 virus.

Navratri 2025 Day 8: Who is Maa Mahagauri, Ashtami Tithi and Significance

The Times of India 04 Apr 2025
The eighth form, Mahagauri, is one of the most revered and significant incarnations of the goddess ... Her origin story is closely tied to the myth of Goddess Durga and her battles against the demons who disturbed the balance of the universe ... .

Kirby Air Riders for Switch 2 is the sequel we’ve been waiting for

Polygon 02 Apr 2025
At long last, it’s finally happened. Kirby Air Ride is getting a sequel ... The game is being directed by the man, the myth, the legend himself, Masahiro Sakurai, who also directed the original game (and is, y’know, Kirby’s original creator) ... ....

Coming to a Louisville stage in April: 'Cinderella,' '\u0026 Juliet' \u0026 5 more must-see shows

Courier Journal 01 Apr 2025
Show Caption. Hide Caption. PNC Broadway in Louisville 2025-26 season ... WHEN. April 22-27 ... "Pygmalion" asks the question, is perfection worth the cost? The brand new production weaves the original myth into an empowering opera reimagined by Tara Branham.

Harold Toliver’s “Mythic Worlds and the One You Can Believe In” Offers a New Lens ...

GetNews 31 Mar 2025
... myths and how they sustain nationalism and terrorist movements ... Toliver argues that through its 13.8 billion years, the universe has shown no inclination to be at all like any of the myths of origin.

Popular Colombian Myths and Legends

Colombia One 29 Mar 2025
Colombian mythology blends indigenous, African, and European traditions, resulting in an incredible wealth of myths and legends over the centuries ... Colombian myths and legends ... The myth of El Dorado originated in Colombia.

Gauguin, Theosophy, and Comparative Religion

Bitter Winter English 29 Mar 2025
The text is Gauguin’s strongest anti-Catholic tirade, and sees Jesus Christ, in Massey’s tradition, not as a historical figure but as the embodiment of a myth of Egyptian origin.

Shrewsbury mini murals created to celebrate Shropshire folklore

BBC News 27 Mar 2025
The designs were inspired by myths, legends and folk tales in Shropshire and will be followed up with a storytelling series to be launched on the Original Shrewsbury website ... .

Would you pay £180 for strawberries? Inside the TikTok trend of expensive food

AOL 27 Mar 2025
"I don’t think I’ll ever eat a better strawberry like this ever again in my life ... Let that sink in… ... "The 'look at me' effect is similar to the original Greek myth of Narcissist who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool ... .

Greek Actor Simon Kassianides Joins Cast of Netflix’s Blood of Zeus

Greek Reporter 26 Mar 2025
Though Heron himself is an original character created exclusively for the series, the existence of such demigods born of the union between a god and a human is implied to be common in the original myths.
×