How would you interpret national mythology?

Answer 1

A national myth is an inspiring narrative or anecdote about a nation's past. Such myths often serve as an important national symbol and affirm a set of national values. A national myth may sometimes take the form of a 'national epic'. A considerable amount of related material is at civil religion.

A 'national myth' may be mythical in the sense of being false, but it may be mythical in other senses as well (Renan 1882). It might simply over-dramatize true incidents, omit important historical details, or add details for which there is no evidence; or it might simply be mythical in the sense that it tells a fictional story that no one takes to be true (see Abizadeh 2004). The national folklore of many nations includes a "founding myth", which may involve a struggle against colonialism or a war of independence. In some cases, the meaning of the national myth may become disputed among different parts of the population.

In older nations national myths may be spiritual in tone, and refer to stories of the nation's founding at the hands of God, gods, or other supernatural beings.

National myths serve many social and political purposes. In totalitarian dictatorships, national myths often exist only for the most shallow purposes of state-sponsored propaganda. The leader might be given, for example, a mythical supernatural life history in order to make himself seem god-like and "above" mere mortals (see also cult of personality). But national myths usually also exist in more liberal regimes, serving the purpose of inspiring civic virtue and self-sacrifice (see Miller 1995), or shoring up the power of dominant groups and legitimating their rule.