mythes

Mythes is the plural form of the French term mythe, corresponding to the English word myths. In scholarly and general use, myths are traditional narratives that explain the origins of the world, human beings, and social practices. Myths are often associated with sacred or ritual contexts and are transmitted across generations, traditionally through oral storytelling and later in literary forms. They frequently feature deities, heroes, and supernatural events and are treated as meaningful within a culture, even when they are not considered factual histories by modern standards.

Myths serve several functions: etiological explanations for natural phenomena or customs, accounts of cosmology and divine genealogy, and means of legitimizing social structures, values, and rites. They also shape identity and collective memory. Types include creation myths (cosmogonies), theogonies, hero cycles, etiological myths, and trickster or quest narratives. Distinctions are often drawn between myths, legends (which center on historical figures or events) and fables (which convey moral lessons through animals or simplified plots).

In linguistic and cultural studies, mythes are examined comparatively to understand how different societies construct meaning, how myths evolve, and how they influence art, literature, and media. While "myth" may imply sacred truth in traditional contexts, contemporary scholarship treats myths as symbolic narratives that reveal values and worldviews rather than factual accounts. Prominent myth traditions include Greek and Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Hindu narratives, among many others.