About the Mythology Index
With this project we endeavor to map the vast, intricate landscape of world mythology, unveiling new connections and perspectives in the realm of comparative mythology.
Inspired by the Aarne-Thompson-Uther (ATU) index which revolutionized the study of folktales by providing a comprehensive categorization framework, our project aims to achieve a similar feat for the rich and diverse world of myths in a contemporary system of organization for the 21st century.
While the ATU index meticulously catalogs folk narratives, offering insightful lenses into cultural motifs and storytelling archetypes, mythology, with its deep roots in religious, cultural, and historical contexts, has long eluded such a universally recognized classification system. Existing methods, including motif analysis and thematic categorization, have provided valuable insights but often focus on specific aspects or regions. Our project endeavors to create a new, holistic system for organizing human mythology, facilitating unprecedented comparative studies and deeper understanding of the shared human experience as reflected in our most ancient and enduring stories.
See also The Importance of Myths or What is Mythology?
