TITLE
“Analogy in Different Era:A Comparative
Analysis of Ritualism and Euhemirism as
Evolving Theories in the World of Mythology”
INTRODUCTION
Mythology is the study and interpretation of often sacred tales or fables of a culture
known as myths or a collection of such stories which deal with various aspects of the
human condition:good and evil.It tells the stories of ancestors and the origin of
human and the world,the gods,supernatural beings and heroes with super-human,
usually God-given,powers.Myth also describe origins or nuances of long-held
customs or explain natural events such as the sunrise and sunset, the cycle of the
moon and the seasons, or thunder and lightning storms.In this study we will know the
similarities and differences of some of the ancient and modern theories in mythology.
Ritualism in Mythology-according to this theory,all myths are invented to accompany
and explain religous ritual.They decribe the significant events which have resulted in
a particular ceremony.
Euhemirism in Mythology-is an approach to the interpretation of Mythology in which
mythological accounts are presumed.
ANALYSIS
The Ritualism (Ritual Theory)-Modern Theory
Sir James Frazer(The Golden Bough) proposed the ritual theory of myth.This states
that myths are explanations for (more basic,fundamental) religious rituals;a
secondary elaboration of rituals.(Durkein said that the function of rituals, and thereby
of myths,was to unite a social group, to strengthen and cement the ties between
persons in a group.)For a ritaulist school interpretation,the rituals are the most
important part for society.The myths come afterwards.For example, the children
preparing for (and getting!) gifts is the main ritual.But a myth or story developed later.
Rituals often mark transitions from one social role to another.From girl to
woman;from child to adult;from single to married;from stranger to friend;from
stranger to enemy.It is a stereotyped sequence of activities involving gestures,words,
and objects, performed in a sequestered place, and designed to influence
preternatural entities or forces on behalf of actors goals and interests.A ritaulist
definition for myth would be something like:A myth is a story that developed to
explain or accompany a ritual or series of rituals already in practice in a society.This
study also called the Myth-Ritualist Theory of religion and according to it,religion is
primitive science:through myth and ritual,which operate together and constitute its
core,religion magically manipulates the world.These are two components of religious
practice.Rituals are inspired by stories of Mythology passed down through
generations to perpetuate the traditions of a religion and often enclose many ideas of
symbolic meanings.Symbols are often based on specific episodes that are recounted
in myths;signifying a specific certain worldview.On the other hand,The
Euhemirism-Ancient Theory, Euhemerus was an ancient Greek who wrote that
myths about Gods were actually real people from a long forgotten past.A Euhemerist
definition of a myths would be:A myth is a distorted account of an actual event in the
distant past.Euhemirism is an approach to the interpretation of Mythology in which
mythological accounts are presumed to have originated from real historical events or
personages.In the more recent literature of myth,such as Bulfinch’s mythology,
euhemerism is termed the “historical theory”of Mythology.Euhemerus explain about
myth and asserted that the Greek gods originally had been kings,heroes,and
conquerors, or benefactors to the people, who had thus earned a claim to the
veneration of their subjects.As mentioned that Euhemerus was not the first to
attempt to rationalize mythology in historical terms thus,Euhemeristic views are
found in earlier writings however,the enduring influence of Euhemerus upon later
thinkers such as the classical poet and modern author identified him as the
traditional founder of this school of thought.
CONCLUSION
As I read this article,I must say that scholars who actually created their theory have
a common goal is to help us people to open up our mind that mythology is not only
making us to entertain about superstitoius beliefs but there are also aspects that
needs to consider and we can apply it in real life situation.The implication of this
theories is to aide us no matter where it came from,if it is from ancient or in modern
times,the thing is that they want us to know that myth and science are connected to
each other.This attention has sometimes focused on changes occurring in the way
the real world is apprehended by different peoples and how these changes in
“reality” are reflected in myths.This reality changes continually throughout history,
and these changes have especially occupied philosophers and historians of
science.For a sense of reality in a culture is basic to any specific pursuit by that
culture, beginning with the earliest philosophical inquiries into the nature of the
world.Though,it would perhaps be going too far to identify the images and concepts
that make up a culture's scientific sense of reality with myth, parallel between
science and myth, as well as the presence of a mythological dimension to science
are generally reckoned to exist.Therefore I conclude that these two theories that I
chose to tackle have common objectives and plays a big role in the history and in
what is mythology in this current Era.Reading this article about different nature of
mythology is somehow exaggerated and imaginative but the thing is that it is really
interesting and informative that can be save in our mind.
REFERENCES:
● People. Hws.edu
● Symbols in African Ritual (16 March 1973)American Academy of Arts and
Science
● Hesioid,Theogony 133ff
● Robert M. Price “The Empty Tomb:Introduction:The second Life of Jesus”
● Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion Vol. 19. No. 2
● Burkert, W. (1979) Structure and History in Greek Mythology and Ritual
● Eliade, Mircea
● Frazer, James “The Golden Bough” N. Y. McMillan 1967
● Sebeoh,Thomas A. (Editor),Myth:A Symposium,Bloomington Indiana
University Press. 1958
● Segal, Robert A. Myth:A Very Short Introduction Oxford UP 2004