Comparative mythology

Various myths Comparative mythology is the comparison of myths from different cultures in an attempt to identify shared themes and characteristics.[1] Comparative mythology has served a variety of academic purposes. For example, scholars have used the relationships between different myths to trace the development of religions and cultures, to propose common origins for myths from different cultures, and to support various psychological theories. Comparativists versus particularists[edit] The anthropologist C. Comparative approaches to mythology held great popularity among eighteenth- and nineteenth-century scholars. Joseph Campbell in his many writings on what should constitute a total science of mythology describes the difference in the two approaches: "For, as a broad view of the field [of mythology] immediately shows, in every well-established culture realm to which a new system of thought and civilization comes, it is received creatively, not inertly. Linguistic[edit] Structural[edit]

Pre-modern theories 19th Century theories 20th Century theories Geomythology Geomythology is the study of alleged references to geological events in mythology. The term was coined in 1968 by Dorothy Vitaliano, a geologist at Indiana University. "Geomythology indicates every case in which the origin of myths and legends can be shown to contain references to geological phenomena and aspects, in a broad sense including astronomical ones (comets, eclipses, meteor impacts, etc.). As indicated by Vitaliano (1973) 'primarily, there are two kinds of geologic folklore, that in which some geologic feature or the occurrence of some geologic phenomenon has inspired a folklore explanation, and that which is the garbled explanation of some actual geologic event, usually a natural catastrophe'." The claim is that oral traditions about nature are often expressed in mythological language and may contain genuine and perceptive natural knowledge based on careful observation of physical evidence. See also[edit] Notes[edit] Further reading[edit] Hamacher, D.W. (2014).

Joseph Campbell Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience. His philosophy is often summarized by his phrase: "Follow your bliss Life[edit] Background[edit] Joseph Campbell was born and raised in White Plains, New York[2] in an upper-middle-class Irish Catholic family. While at Dartmouth College he studied biology and mathematics, but decided that he preferred the humanities. Europe[edit] While in Europe, he was highly influenced by the period of the Lost Generation, a time of enormous intellectual and artistic innovation. It was in this climate that Campbell was also introduced to the work of Thomas Mann, who was to prove equally influential upon his life and ideas. Great Depression[edit] Another dissident member of Freud's circle to influence Campbell was Wilhelm Stekel (1868–1939). Public outreach[edit]