As a mythology fan, I have grown to appreciate the beauty of human cultures throughout the world.
In my time, I have come across various theories proposed by experts on how certain mythical stories came about.
For example, I have read that dragons were based on dinosaur bones and cyclopes were inspired by dwarf elephant skulls.
As I have researched further into myths and legends, I have come up with my own theories on why people told the stories they did.
Take, for example, the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus.
I believe that this because Athena is the mind of Zeus.
As Greek goddess of wisdom, she represents the human mind.
Thor's marriage to the grain goddess Sif may represent the life-giving power of storms.
Sif's literal golden hair is a symbol of the glimmering fields of grain.
Once thunder and rain washes over the land, the crops are in bloom once again.
Hel's half-decomposed complexion symbolizes the boundary between life and death.
When I watched my college friend's vlogs of her trip to Japan, she noticed how lawful a place it was.
This embroiled within me a theory about Japanese Yokai legends.
Perhaps the reason the legends of the Yokai creatures are so chaotic is because the Yokai exist in a space outside of traditional Japanese society.
How else can you get a turtle-goblin with a hole in its head that likes cucumbers, a critter that licks baths clean with its unnaturally long tongue, and inanimate objects that come alive?
As I learned about legends of merpeople from around the world, I have noticed how many of them resemble stereotypical merpeople with human torsos and fish tails.
I have my own Occam's Razor explanation for the worldwide similarities:
Water is a thing in all human societies.
Ergo, fish are a thing in all human societies.
Human-animal hybrids are a thing in all human mythologies.
The aquatic half-fish version, of course, would be a merperson.
Once upon a time not too long ago, myths and legends were dismissed as backward superstition (and, unfortunately, still are in some areas).
Take for example, this excerpt from a book series that was published in 1980.
It's called Charlie Brown's 'Cyclopedia, and I used to read it all the time as a child when I visited my grandmother on my mother's side.
Nowadays, I have seen all kinds of theories of how people's real-life experiences led to our mythical and legendary tales.
In addition, a new generation of fellow mythology masters is emerging on the Internet, and our coverage of myths and folktales around the world is making people of many different cultural backgrounds feel visible.
One time, I was reminded by my former behavioral specialist how popular mythology is right now among young men such as myself.
In other words, everything that's really really old is new again!
This re-emergence of stories as old as humanity has brimmed within me a newfound optimism.
I believe that these ancient tales may end up benefitting our modern-day world, from our environment to our psyche.
For example, a lot of legends about fairies legends revolve around respecting nature.
Thus, revival of fairy lore can help save our Earth.
Tales of the end of the world from Norse Ragnarok to Hindu Kalkin promise a new world after the cataclysm.
By seeing how we will always persevere in the face of destruction, we can rid ourselves of delusional hopelessness and strive for a better future.
Most of all, by looking at folktales from different cultures and seeing how similar in theme they are, as well as relating to the characters in these folktales, we can all learn to see each other as human beings like you and me.
Perhaps someday,...
Multicultural mythology will be the new way to sound smart.
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