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The hypothesis of archetypes in the collective unconscious belongs to the class of those scientific ideas,
that seem strange at first, but quickly turn into well-known and familiar concepts….
The myths of Ancient Greece are excellent material for archetype research for the following reasons
Greek mythology features a variety of gods, heroes and monsters, each of whom embodies certain human qualities and traits (such as wisdom, jealousy, bravery, cunning, etc.). This makes myths convenient for analysing the various archetypes found in psychology and cultural studies.
The myths of ancient Greece often follow clear plot structures with conflicts, trials and resolutions, making it easy to trace archetypal roles such as ‘hero’, ‘sage’, ‘lover’, but with the example of the heroes of the myths of ancient Greece. This gives a more complete illustration, and complements substantially the classical system of archetypes and their interaction in the development of the plot.
Greek myths are deeply rooted in Western culture and have been reinterpreted and adapted by philosophers, writers and artists over the centuries. This enables researchers to draw on a centuries-long tradition of interpretations and analyses that help to better understand the archetypes in myths.
Many of the themes raised in Greek myths (love, war, greed, search for truth, etc.) remain relevant in modern society. They continue to attract attention because the archetypes depicted in myths are easily found in everyday life and popular culture. The use of archetypes in fashion is based on the knowledge of myths and psychological knowledge that has been refined over time.
