Today, people have scientific answers or theories for many of these questions about the world around them. But in earlier times, along with some places in the world today, lacked the knowledge to come up with these explanations. They therefore explained natural events in stories about gods, goddesses, and heroes. Creation myths are those that try to explain the origin of the world, the creation of human beings and the birth of gods and goddesses. Explanatory myths are those that try to explain natural processes or events and also some deal with illness and death.
Mythical beings fall into several groups.
Many gods and goddesses resemble human beings even though they do have supernatural powers. These divinities are called anthropomorphic, from the Greek word meaning, in shape of a man. Another group of mythical beings include gods and goddesses who resemble animals. These characters are called theriomorphic, again from the Greek word meaning in the shape of an animal. The last group of mythical beings has no specific name.