This meaning has historic boundaries, that is, the meaning changes from period to period. Within a social crisis time, myths strengthen social solidarity.
Collective memory is a collection of data and outlook regarding the future of a specific society.
On the other hand, Durkheim and Shils say that collective memory explains current society according to past thoughts. B. Schwartz states that both viewpoints coexist in most societies. Collective memory includes events that were not necessarily experienced directly, but transferred from generation to generation by various means of communication. Myths can be divided into historic myths, that are related to a specific past event, and to geographical myths, that are connected to a specific place. Massada is both a geographic and a historic myth.