Myths are stories that narrate the structure and origins of a culture.
While the figures and deeds that myths portray may seem fanciful or bizarre, myths reveal the symbols, meanings and values that make up the foundations of a culture. The term mythology can describe a body of myths, as in those of the Romans, Greeks, Native Americans , or Egyptians. Mythology also means the study of myths. While some references describe ancient myths as illogical or irrational attempts to define the physical and spiritual world, myths actually dealt with the very real and essential concerns of the cultures that created them. Mythology gave people the means to understand, as best they could, nature and the spiritual realm.