Myths, as conveyors of information, are imaginative vehicles for making the inexplicable clear. Even though they deal with things that are not literally true, they are nevertheless truths in some higher sense-spiritual, philosophical, or social. Myths can fall anywhere on a continuum ranging from nearly pure historical account to pure imagination. The content and form of a myth can change to suit the needs of the teller, the audience, and the purpose for which it is being told. A myth can thus take on a life of its own.
Art is often an integral part of mythmaking and telling.
Like the writers and poets who give written form to myths long passed on through oral tradition, artists provide visual forms. An artist's representation provides a concrete mental picture of a myth or mythological character, as in the Antimenes painter's image of Athena meeting Herakles with her chariot. In some instances, as with the memorial tusk from Benin , a work of art can trigger a story. While some representations, such as the Egyptian statue of Thoth , are largely dictated by tradition, others such as Maurice Denis's painting of Orpheus and Eurydice , are more personal. Regardless of why or how it was created, each image contributes an added dimension to our understanding or interpretation of that myth.