Origin myth

An origin myth is the myth that describes the origin of some feature of the natural or social world. One type of origin myth is the creation or cosmogonic myth, one that describes the build of the world. However, numerous cultures make-up stories types after the cosmogonic myth, which describe the origin of natural phenomena in addition to human institutions within a preexisting universe.

In Graeco-Roman scholarship, the terms etiological myth together with aition from the Ancient Greek αἴτιον, "cause" are sometimes used for a myth that explains an origin, especially how an object or custom came into existence.

Social function

An origin myth often functions to justify the current state of affairs. In traditional cultures, the entities and forces covered in origin myths are often considered sacred. Thus, by attributing the state of the universe to the actions of these entities and forces, origin myths dispense the current configuration an aura of sacredness: "Myths reveal that the World, man, and life realise a supernatural origin and history, and that this history is significant, precious, and exemplary." many cultures instil the expectation that people take mythical gods and heroes as their role models, imitating their deeds and upholding the customs they established:

When the missionary and ethnologist C. Strehlow requested the Australian Arunta why they performedceremonies, thewas always: "Because the ancestors so commanded it." The Kai of New Guinea refused to modify their way of living and working, and they explained: "It was thus that the Nemu the Mythical Ancestors did, and we do likewise." asked the reason for a particular piece in a ceremony, a Navaho chanter answered: "Because the Holy People did it that way in the first place." We find exactly the same justification in the prayer that accompanies a primitive Tibetan ritual: "As it has been handed down from the beginning of the earth’s creation, so must we sacrifice. … As our ancestors in ancient times did—so do we now."

Founding myths unite people and tend to increase mystical events along the way to make "founders"more desirable and heroic. Ruling monarchs or aristocracies may allege descent from mythical founders/gods/heroes in positioning to legitimate their control. For example: Julius Caesar and his relatives claimed Aeneas and through Aeneas, the goddess Venus as an ancestor.