This course examines mythology as a historical, cultural, and religious phenomenon. It examines the origins, functions, symbolic structures, and role of myths in human history. It focuses on the fundamental themes of world mythologies: creation, heroism, deity designs, cosmology, and ritual. The aim is to equip students with the ability to analyze mythical narratives using a comparative method and to evaluate the impact of mythology on religion, culture, psychology, and social structure.

The definition of the concept of myth, its origins, and its field of scientific research. The function of myths, their relationship to ritual, symbol, and cosmology. Creation myths, god and hero motifs, the order of the universe, posthumous beliefs, and cultural memory. The fundamental themes of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Scandinavian, Central Asian, Anatolian, and African mythologies. The relationship between mythology and religion; the role of myth as a sacred narrative. The psychological interpretation of mythology; the concept of the archetype and modern interpretive movements. Myth in modern society, literature, art, identity, and popular culture. Comparative myth analysis and contemporary myth criticism.