Recently I was asked to write a short answer to the question: What is mythology? That might seem a simple enough assignment to some; to me, however, it was a bit of a mind-bender, and before I could compose a cogent answer within two to three hundred words, I had first to write this (which wouldn't have answered quite suitably to the task):
What the heck is mythology? That's the real question! And the answer: It is a flawed, oft-misunderstood, made-up term, wrenched into English from a couple of Greek words, the first being the root of mythos, which (put into English letters) is mu, which means sounds made with the mouth, or in other words: words. This, combined with another nifty Greek word — logos — (and you'll just have to believe me, I've gone several rounds with this one) which is not necessarily logic or study always, but can easily be waltzed into English as communication or speech, or in other words, particularly in ancient times: words. So one possible and not entirely unrealistic diving board upon which one could stand before the depths of the known myths of all the known cultures past and present, could be the phrase: words about words.
This is not as absurd as it might at first sound, because in this regard it would seem that it is the attitude of the diver that is the most pertinent thing to consider. Is the potential diver really but an armchair explorer who wishes only to look upon the scenery while never quite making a personal, inner leap at all from the board? Or is the diver a person who makes the leap, seeking marvelous immersion in the sensational sea of shared stories, the generated symbols and ideas of humanity present in deep traditions in cultures everywhere, laughing and playing in the shallows, wary and alert and often well-instructed farther down, puzzled and troubled and challenged in the various hells and heavens lurking in the depths? Or is the rare diver perhaps of one purpose from head to toe: an animated and persistent 'will to perceive and merge' religiously, regardless of necessary requirements, with all humanity, all of creation, in the water seas and air oceans of the eternal now?
Mythology can be all of this. It will support and reward any attitude with which it is approached.
"Mythology" therefore is a vague word with no clear definition, no matter who comes at it, or how. Scholars have been (usefully) squabbling over this for nearly 150 years — and that's just in modern terms, otherwise we might confidently say that educated folks have been kicking the subject about for nearly 3,000 years. The word, even the idea, has simply never had one clear and readily applicable definition, ever.
Now it ought to be pointed out, in light of the above, that a handful of writers in ancient Grecian times did use the word mythologia, and thus began all this trouble. Plato was the first on record, and since he has been the brightest star amongst them I say let him shoulder the responsibility; it won't harm his reputation, and I for one would feel a heck of a lot better for it.
