What do we think when we hear the word myth: old stories, legends and lores that are no longer useful and have stayed in the past? In our world of science, technology, and facts, why should anyone still care about gods, monsters, or magical heroes? Yet these stories have survived for thousands of years for a reason and no matter what we think of them, it is still shaping our understanding of the world we live in.
Myths are not only important because they tell us interesting and fun stories. They matter because they tell us something about ourselves. Throughout the history we all have experienced fear, love, loss, hope, and learned how to cope with these difficult situations. Although our world has changed, these human experiences have not. Myths remind us that people have always searched for meaning, just as we do today.
Many myths also show that life is full of uncertainty. Heroes often make mistakes, and even powerful gods are not perfect. Contrary to our modern society, which often expects people to be successful all the time, myths suggest something different. They show that failure, suffering, and doubt are not signs of weakness but natural parts of being human. A person often grows through struggle rather than comfort.
Another reason myths are still valuable is that they ask questions instead of giving simple answers. What is true courage? Can power make someone happy? Is it possible to escape fate, or do our choices create our future? These questions do not belong only to the ancient world. They still challenge us today, even if we answer them in different ways.
Finally, myths connect us with people who lived long before us. They remind us that, despite different cultures and centuries, humans have always dreamed, feared, and hoped for a better future. In this sense, as Campbell and Moyers (1991, p. 65) said: “All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells are within you.” We carry humankind’s knowledge within ourselves, and myths are just a window to look at it.
We still need mythological stories because they help us understand what it means to be human. Facts explain how the world works, but myths explore why life matters. That is why they continue to speak to us, even in the twenty-first century.
References
Anonymous. (n.d.). Illustration of a Greek vase showing Dionysus leading three revelers [Line drawing reproduction of an Attic red-figure bell krater, ca. 440–430 BCE]. The Stapleton Collection. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-papyrus-details-hangover-cure-180955085/
Campbell, J., & Moyers, B. (1991). The power of myth. Anchor Books.