The academic discipline that studies myths, legends, and folklore from different cultures to identify common patterns, themes, and structures. It seeks to understand universal human experiences and psychological archetypes reflected in mythological narratives across civilizations.
The field emerged in the 19th century with scholars like Max Müller and James Frazer, combining 'comparative' (from Latin 'comparare,' to pair together) with 'mythology' (from Greek 'mythos' and 'logos'). It developed alongside anthropology and psychology as scholars sought scientific approaches to understanding religious and cultural phenomena.
Try Another Word