In The Beginning
When I started studying classics and anthropology in my first year of university our study of myth began right at the very beginning, with aetiological myths.
Aetiology is the study of causes, origins, reasons. In mythology, an aetiological myth explains, superficially at least, the reasons why a certain state affairs exists. For example, Hesiod states that the story of Prometheus trying to trick Zeus by offering him only bones concealed in fat “explains” why humans offer sacrifices of bones to the gods. [Greek, aition, cause + logos, word, the study of.]
I’ve been thinking a lot about aetiological myths lately since I have been working on Lionheart. It is the first time in ages where my world-building does not mean building on the real world (such as I did/do in Blood Bound, Bones etc.), even though it and its cultures do have real-world counterparts (kind of like how the various nations and locales in Tamora Pierce’s books have societal counterparts).
So why have I been thinking about aetiological myths these past few days? Well, it has to do with my current project Lionheart and one of its in-universe aetiological myths. Also, as the cultures in Lionheart are based on Roman, Greek, Celtic and other cultures from before the Dark Ages, and are polytheistic in nature, I have to develop the deities and their means of worship. So far only one has actually come into play, with main character Gretel referencing Gitta Fire-Dancer and dancing around a fire with a group of travelers in worship of her. It’s a different experience, to be sure, and while fun can also be very frustrating.
But right now my focus is on the aetiological myth of the founding of their current city, and the hows and whys of social norms. In this case, the founding story is very similar to one of the Athenian stories. As for which one? Just wait and see.
Mirrored from Catherine-Haines.com.