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The word mythology (from the Greek µ???????a mythología, meaning "a story-telling, a legendary lore") refers to a body of folklore/myths/legends that a particular culture believes to be true and that often use the supernatural to interpret natural events and to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. Mythology also refers to the branch of knowledge dealing with the collection, study and interpretation of myths, also known as mythography. The study of myths from multiple cultures is called comparative mythology. The Greek compound µ???????a mythología "a story-telling, a legendary lore" is derived from µ??????e?? mythologein "to relate myths", from µ???? mythos, meaning "narrative, speech, word, fact, story" + ????? logos, meaning "speech, oration, discourse, quote, story, study, reason, argument". The term mythology has been in use since at least the 15th century, and means "the study or exposition of myths".[1] The additional meaning of "body of myths" itself dates to 1781.[2] In extended use, the word can also refer to collective or personal ideological or socially constructed received wisdom[3] The adjective mythical dates to 1678.[4] Not all traditional stories are myths in contrast to legends or folktales, myths are narratives involving the sacred, either gods or near-gods[7] or the distant past, particularly the creation of the world. By contrast, legends are stories about the (usually more recent) past, which generally include, or are based on, some historical events; generally focussed on human heroes and folktales/fairytales (or Märchen, the German word for such tales) are stories which lack any definite historical setting and often include such things as fairies, witches, a fairy guide and animal characters.[8][7][9]
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