A founding origin myth is an origin story that is partly based on fictions and is perceived as binding. This type of myth can contain both religious and political elements. The term comes from political sociology.
Examples of religious forms are ideas of divine revelation, chosenness and mission, and providence and fate. Such founding myths are partly based on beliefs, without which their potential for effectiveness pales.
As political myth , founding myths are constitutive for a general self-image in modern nation states. The functions of founding myths are the creation of consensus can be reached, of meaningful values, the generation of collective identity and the legitimacy of power and privileges. They can also play a role in the case of strongly value-oriented political parties as well as in the case of long ago or “legendary” company foundings .
Examples of origin myths
Founding myths occupied a prominent place in Greek mythology. The Greek founding myths establish a special relationship between the deity and the local population. This derived its roots from a heroand saw their traditional legal claims legitimized by the founding myth. The Greek founding myths often embodied the justification for the continued existence of an older social and value system.
The Roman founding myth lets the founders of Rome be suckled by a she-wolf (symbol of wild power) and Romulus immediately defends his city with all his might. Another example is Virgil's Aeneid , in which Aeneas, fleeing from the burning Troy , arrives after many wanderings to Latium, where he becomes the progenitor of the Romans.
The founding myth of the USA that the individual or group can make their fortune against all odds and create law and order (American Dream ) is carried out in many Wild West films.
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