In Exploring Origins , the Genesis mission Web site explores ideas about the origins of the solar system held by various cultures throughout the ages. We know that different cultures over time described the sun based on what was important to them. These relationships and perceptions of the sun show us that people have always seen the sun as important. The Genesis mission carries on this curiosity through its exploration. If you made the study of mythology your life s work, you would say that a myth is a story from the past that interprets some aspect of the world around us.
Myths offer an explanation, interpretation, or meaning.
Althaea, the Greek goddess who gave birth to the sun, is a myth. This is different from legends . Legends are stories from the past about someone, some place, or something that is believed to have been historical. They attempt to offer factual information. Merlin, the magician in King Arthur s court, is a legendary figure.