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check_yes_or_no t1_jap7gk2 wrote

More evidence a cultures myths were a primary means of documenting natural phenomena across generations.

It makes sense because when bound books didn’t exist (or in very small volume), articulating the precise details of a concept (such as a baleen whale that uses this hunting technique) is incredibly tedious and not very memorable. Inserting a monster-parallel into myth is a way of ensuring future generations will be able to appreciate concepts previous generations found inspirational or important to understand.

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[deleted] t1_jarprgu wrote

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CurveBallcomes t1_jaseafx wrote

Good point, reminds me of how many different cultures refrence the biblical floods. They're all probably refrencing the younger dryas period.

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mangalore-x_x t1_jbzyzqh wrote

There is a sadly not much mentioned/elaboration that Greek mythology directly refers to Ancient Greek fossil finds, e.g. mammoth thigh bones => cyclops/giants, dinosaur bones => hydra/gryphon. Aka that they had such things in temples as tourist attractions and used it as validation that their mythological age was real.

I found that quite fascinating proposition by a historian in a documentary years ago.

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