Mythology: Comparative Mythology

Comparative Mythology

is the comparison of myths from different cultures in an attempt to identify shared themes and characteristics. 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. The comparative study of mythologies reveals the trans-national motifs that unify spiritual understanding globally. The significance of this study generates a "broad, sympathetic understanding of these 'stories' in human history". These similarities found within the myths of the world should remind us of the universality in the human experience whilst also bringing attention to, and celebrating the diversity and variation of the creative human spirit.