Intro to Mythology Terms Overview

Describes a society based around agriculture (farming, raising animals, etc.)

• agrarian

• urban

• kingdom

• empire

• tribe

A piece of land ruled by a monarch (king or queen)

• agrarian

• urban

• kingdom

• empire

• tribe

An extensive group of countries under a single supreme authority (brought together by conquering)

• agrarian

• urban

• kingdom

• empire

• tribe

a society consisting of families or communities linked by social, cultural, and linguistic ties

• agrarian

• urban

• kingdom

• empire

• tribe

related to or inhabiting the underworld (often coded as evil or at least scary)

• oral tradition

• syncretism

• primordial

• psychopomp

• chthonic

"guide of souls"; a figure whose job is to ferry newly-dead souls to the afterlife

• oral tradition

• syncretism

• primordial

• psychopomp

• chthonic

existing before or at the point of the world's creation; often seen as outside the natural order

• oral tradition

• syncretism

• primordial

• psychopomp

• chthonic

the process of different cultures coming together and beliefs adding together or changing from the cultural exchange.

• oral tradition

• syncretism

• primordial

• psychopomp

• chthonic

the process of passing down beliefs, history, and aspects of culture through repeated, generational stories

• oral tradition

• syncretism

• primordial

• psychopomp

• chthonic

A partial divinity who is able to do things normal humans can't, but is limited and separated from the gods by mortality.

• demigod

• god

• pantheon

• demiurge

• creator