Commonalities in religious myths?

Question

I've noticed a few myths that have a lot in common, and I was wondering if anyone had an idea as to why.

The first is the legend of Persephone and the legend of Eve. Eve was tempted by a fruit and took it, then was banished from the Garden for eternity. Persephone was "tempted" by the pomegranate, and took it, and was banished to the underworld for six months.

The myth of Persephone also has a lot in common with the story of Isis and Osiris. In both, another god betrays someone (Persephone is abducted by Hades; Osiris is chopped up by Seth). Isis taught people how to harvest; Demeter was the goddess of harvest. In both legends, the woman seeking the victim does not reveal that she is a goddess, and is asked to tend to a child whom she wishes to make immortaI by throwing him in the fire; in both, the mother of the child walks in, breaking the spell. In both, the victim ends up ruling over the dead.

Why do these myths have so much in common?

Yes, I KNOW they're all myths. That's what I said. But look BEYOND that. Why did these societies all find these themes so important?

Do you think it had to do with climate? Do you think they developed these myths from one another, since they were all mediterranean cultures?

Answer 1

Myths are anthropomorphosized explanations for natural phenomena and cultural conventions. In locations that have annual cycles of seasons, divine figures perform actions that have magical consequences. Days become shorter and plants die because the person in charge of these things is out of commission for six months. (In cultures with a dry season / monsoon cycle, the symbology would be different.) Every culture will adapt elements of a similar culture's myths to fit their own situation. Nomadic herders, steppe agriculture and river agriculture may have similar characters but their functions will be adapted to local conditions.

The reason for these myths to to make it easier to remember what happens every season. A story is more memorable than a list, and it provides reassurance. These events aren't chaotic acts of nature, it's just Set tricking Osiris again. Nothing will get too far out of hand.

Not all myths are climatic. Some deal with the nature of human relationships. Why is there evil in the world? What are the responsibilities of tribe members and why? No human being would be able to claim the authority to establish universal rules of conduct, or to have brought about the prevailing moral conditions, so the reponsibility is placed on long-dead heroes and divine superbeings.

The commonalities of myths are sometimes superficial (same act, different meaning), but they are all effective images that help fix cultural stories in peoples' minds. Caves, fires, knives are all dramatic items that everyone understands. Seduction, betrayal and abandonment are themes that allow change to happen, usually to explain why things aren't as good as in the old days.

Rituals are another way of telling these stories, acting them out by strict cultural rules. Sometimes the ritual overshadows and obscures the original story, such as when the culture changes and the original story no longer fits its communal life. There's still a connection with the past, but the past is no longer recognizable. We do and say these things at this time and place because that's what we do. Current Western culture is not as connected to the land and climate as people were before supermarkets, central heating and airline travel, but there are vestiges in the holidays we celebrate. We always do it, but we're not sure why.

Answer 2

The myths have much in common because they are all descended from the same ancient story. For example all cultures have a flood myth not because the earth was completely flooded by God at one time, but because in the ancient world a flood meant complete disaster for the community.

Answer 3

They always went around borrowing ideas for things to believe in back in antiquity. The bible has a lot of borrowed myths in there as well, you pointed one out with the Eve story. I think also it had to do with being conquered, once one group of people were conquered they were introduced to a new belief system.

Answer 4

Yeah, sort of interesting that every culture has the same story, developed at different times by different people, but it's ALL a myth?

Answer 5

You can always find the source in the stars. Myths tend to be tales about constellations and major astronomical events.

Answer 6

the bible is a bunch of stories and there are many taken from prior religions.

Answer 7

Because they all happen to be myths...