myths
Stories, not history
Myths are traditional stories, typically involving supernatural beings or events, that explain natural phenomena, origins, or cultural beliefs.
Greek myths explain how the world came to be; creation myths appear across cultures.
By extension, a myth is any widely held but false belief: the myth that we only use ten percent of our brains.
Something mythic has the grandeur or archetypal quality of ancient stories.
Didactic animal stories
- parablesDidactic allegorical tales
- allegoriesSymbolic narrative works
- sagasExtended heroic narratives
- epicsLong heroic narratives
lore · mythos · legends · tales · creation · cosmogony · heroes · quest
Symbolic tale with deeper meaning
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
- totemSpiritual clan symbol
- iconPictorial screen symbol
parable · personification · sacred · ritual · transcendence · collective unconscious · symbolism · motif
Extended adventurous journey
- homerOut-of-the-park hit
- troyPrecious metals weight standard
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- minotaurBull-headed humanoid creature
centaur · sphinx · medusa · cyclops · argonauts · muses · titans
Exposed as fraudulent
- urban legendUnverified viral story
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- fallacyError in reasoning
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
misinformation · folklore · old wives tale · busted · misconception · popular belief · fake · pseudoscience
Sleep phase with visions
- coyoteWild North American canid
- ravenLarge black carrion bird
- thunderbirdSpirit bird causing tempests
- tanukiEast Asian wild canid
fables
Didactic animal stories
- parablesDidactic allegorical tales
- allegoriesSymbolic narrative works
- sagasExtended heroic narratives
epics · lore · mythos · legends · tales · creation · cosmogony · heroes · quest · journey
allegory
Symbolic tale with deeper meaning
icon · parable · personification · sacred · ritual · transcendence · collective unconscious · symbolism · motif · universal
odyssey
Extended adventurous journey
minotaur · centaur · sphinx · medusa · cyclops · argonauts · muses · titans
debunked
Exposed as fraudulent
- urban legendUnverified viral story
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- fallacyError in reasoning
hoax · misinformation · folklore · old wives tale · busted · misconception · popular belief · fake · pseudoscience · conspiracy
dreamtime
Sleep phase with visions
- coyoteWild North American canid
- ravenLarge black carrion bird
- thunderbirdSpirit bird causing tempests
dragons
Mythical fire-breathing reptiles
- unicornsMythical one-horned equines
- phoenixSelf-immolating, regenerating bird
- griffinsLegendary eagle-lion hybrids
mermaids · centaurs · minotaurs · chimeras · hydra · kraken · basilisk · cerberus · pegasus · selkie
valkyries
Slain-warrior selectors for Valhalla
- runesOld Germanic script
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- world culturesholidays, flags, world music, traditional clothing, ethnic food
- cultural heritagefolklore, traditions, customs, folk music revival, museum collections
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
- folklore fictionfairy tales, folktales, legends, fables, sagas
- literary workspoems, novels, poetry, fiction, plays
mythsfacts
Verifiable pieces of truth
truths · realities · actualities · hard facts · verities
mythshistory
Record of past events
histories · historical accounts · historical records · evidence · records
- mythical beastsImaginary animals from lore
- mythical creaturesImaginary beings from folklore
- traditional mythsInherited cultural narratives
- Greek mythAncient Aegean folklore
- urban mythFalse story believed widely
- Greek mythologyAncient Greek divine narratives
myth, mythical, mythic, mythology, mythologize, mythmaking, mythically, mythicized