Myth refers to a narrative form that explains reality through story. Myths address origins, divine activity, human identity, social order, and the structure of the world. They are not intended to function as modern historical reports, but this does not mean they are fictional or deceptive. Instead, myths communicate truth through symbolism, pattern, and shared cultural understanding. In ancient societies, myth was a primary way of expressing theology, cosmology, and values. Identifying a text as myth describes how it conveys meaning and worldview, not whether the events it describes are historically factual.
Intertexts
References
- Stuckenbruck, Loren T., The Myth of Rebellious Angels: Studies in Second Temple Judaism and New Testament Texts
- Kister, Menahem, "Observations on Aspects of Exegesis, Tradition, and Theology in Midrash, Pseudepigrapha, and Other Jewish Writings" in Reeves, John C. (ed.) Tracing the Threads: Studies in the Vitality of Jewish Pseudepigrapha
- Kvanvig, Helge S., Primeval History: Babylonian, Biblical, and Enochic: An Intertextual Reading
Search
Find connections using this term
Search "myth"
Search texts, references, and tags