March 1, 2009There are many types of myths, and from nearly every place in the world! Each country, continent, and culture has different myths, with different gods, humans, and other creatures. Usually, a myth exists for one of three reasons: to teach a lesson, to explain the unexplainable, or to provide entertainment.
I personally like the Irish myths, not only because my family is part Irish but because of my idea of the Irish and myths. I look at things in a very romantic idealistÃÂÃÂs way, and I imagine the shores of Ireland are covered with white knights and damsels in distress looking for their rescuer. Someone that is going to save them from the clutches of a terrible and evil step mother, you get the idea of what I am trying to say I am sure. Below are just a few that I identify with and that is only in the telling of these myths we take as lessons in life.
Many lessons are taught with myths. There was a myth about a lady who was playing in the stream with her child. When she plucked a flower from a tree branch, it turned out that the "tree" was actually a nymph in disguise - and in its anger, it turned the mother into a tree herself. This proves that Greeks treasure nature, and detest anyone who kills or disfigures plant life. The myth teaches us not to hurt nature, but to appreciate it how it is instead.
Another reason myths are passed on is to explain the unexplainable. Creation, for example, no matter what anyone says, there is no proof of how Earth was created. So, people made up ways to explain it. As one African myth said, there were always animals, water, sun, the moon, and etc...