Page Sec1:20 - Labyrint 2013 - English Edition

The power of myths
The word “myth” often makes you
think of dusty, ancient stories about
gods and heroes. These were the stories
people shared around the fire in the
olden days, when they had neither
decent TV entertainment nor scientific
explanations for the mysteries of life.
Yet newmyths emerge all the time,
especially when it comes to our search
for an identity as a people or a nation.
“Nation-building myths often deve­lop
in a time of crisis, for example if there
is a war, or a period of great political
or ideological upheaval,” says Roald E.
Kristiansen, associate professor at the
Department of History and Religious
Studies at the University of Tromsø.
“After such a time of turmoil, it feels
important to create unity and a national
identity. There is a desire to create a
future by looking back on past ide-
als. There will almost be a period of
national romanticism, where the myths
you share say something about who
you wish to be as a people,” he says.
”True myths”
Kristiansen points out that it is irrele­
vant to think of myths as “true” in a
scientific or historic context.
“However, they are ‘true’ to the extent
that they contribute to realize the ideals
they advocate,” he says.
Similarly, myths don’t always have to
be supernatural fantasy stories. Some-
times myths are based on real people
or events, where the stories eventually
develop a mythical character. Saint Olaf
is an example of an historic person who
appears in countless ­Norwegian myths.
He is also an example of howmuch
power myths can hold.
“Saint Olaf fought to gather and convert
Norway under one king, and on the
basis of one religion – ­Christianity. This
was at a time of enormous ideological
change. The Viking era was coming
to an end, and the new Norway was
emerging. Myths played a large role in
determining which ideology would win
the hearts and minds of the people,”
says ­Kristiansen.
“Most people have heard the myth of
how Saint Olaf’s hair and nails contin-
ued to grow after his death. This was
considered by many as clear divine
proof that he was right in his choice of
religion. Christianity was introduced,
and his grave in Nidaros became a
popular pilgrimage for large parts of
Western Europe,” he says. The myths surrounding Saint Olaf’s death may not be 100 per
cent historically correct. Nevertheless, they were of the upmost
importance in the building of Norway as a nation. Here from the
altar at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
Few things are as effective as a good myth
when it comes to uniting a people or building a nation.
20 ••• Labyrint E/13 – University of Tromsø
Text: Linn Sollied Madsen
Just because something is a myth,
doesn't necessarily mean it is untrue.
“