Mythicus

Mythicus is a term used in contemporary fiction and scholarly discourse to denote a central mythic figure or a composite of mythic traits that recurs across cultures within a narrative system. The word is formed from Latin-inspired roots relating to myth and characterizing something archetypal.

In fictional settings, Mythicus is often portrayed as a shapeshifter or custodian of stories, embodying multiple legendary archetypes such as creator, trickster, and guardian. Descriptions vary by work, but common roles include preserving cultural memory, mediating between worlds of mortal and divine, and testing storytellers to reveal truths about a culture's values.

Academic usage: Mythicus is used as a heuristic device to analyze how myths converge across civilizations, or how a single narrative frame can accumulate motifs from disparate sources. It can function as an umbrella term for a family of mythic beings that share features such as longevity, omniscience, or access to an archive of legends.

In popular media, Mythicus appears as a named character, artifact, or concept in fantasy novels, tabletop RPGs, and video games, where it may counsel protagonists or challenge them to unlock the meaning of myths.

See also: Mythology, Folklore, Archetype, Mythopoeia.