--> Abstract: Exploring the Diffrence between Myth and Paramyth and Between Myth and Historical Fact, by Stavros P. Papamarinopoulos; #90072 (2007)

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Exploring the Diffrence between Myth and Paramyth and Between Myth and Historical Fact

Stavros P. Papamarinopoulos
University of Patra Greece, N/A, Greece

Many usually set the erroneous question “Myth or reality?” By doing this they destroy the possibility to study seriously the myth which is a very different concept from the paramyth. Both are well defined in the ancient Hellenic literature. The conflict between the two opinions occurs because many ignore that the ancient Hellenes had defined the concepts of Science and Mythology separately, as two reputable entities of knowledge. Plato, for instance, was the very first man who defined Science, in Phaedros, and Mythology, in Timaeos. In fact he divided and defined the myth as logos (ëüãïò), in other words a man's true memory of a past prehistoric event and a fabricated one which contains no memory and consequently has no scientific interest. However, intellectuals in ancient Greece sometimes used fabricated myths (gëáóôïýò ìýèïõò) in order to attract the young to search for the truth and deliberately “covered” a philosophical or scientific truth behind their invented fabricated myth. The historians Herodotus and Thucydides defined the principles for studying the historical facts as well.
Bibliography: Plato 4th century B.C: Timaeos, Phaedros, Republic Herodotus 5th century B.C: Histories

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90072 © 2007 AAPG and AAPG European Region Conference, Athens, Greece