Pseudo-mythology

Pseudo-mythology (Russian: кабинетная мифология or kabinetnaya mifologiya, "office mythology", literally "cabinet mythology") are myths and deities which do not exist in genuine mythology and folklore or their existence is doubtful or disproved. It may be created by researchers who liberally interpret scarce sources.^[2]^[3]

Pseudo-mythology should not be confused with the term "false mythology" in the derogatory meanings of "false beliefs" or "false/fabricated stories".

Philosopher Vincent Descombes maintains that "a myth is what is told as a myth and what is transmitted as a myth". Therefore, in his opinion, the correct term would be "poor mythology" or "insipid mythology", rather than "pseudo-mythology".^[4]

^ Richard Sermon, "From Easter to Ostara: the Reinvention of a Pagan Goddess?"
^ Топорков А. Л. Кабинетная мифология // Славянская мифология: Энциклопедический словарь. Изд. 2-е, испр. и доп. М., 2002.
^
H. J. Rose, "Italian Pseudo-mythology", In: A Handbook of Greek Mythology, Routledge.
- Quote: "The mythologist <...> must share the disgust of the historian when he realizes that the overwhelming majority of them are not genuine popular native traditions at all, but comparatively late, artificial tales, put together either by Greeks or under Greek influence"
^ Vincent Descombes, A foreword to the translation of Jacques Bouveresse's Wittgenstein Reads Freud, 1995, ISBN 1400821592, p vii

[1] Richard Sermon, "From Easter to Ostara: the Reinvention of a Pagan Goddess?"

[2] Топорков А. Л. Кабинетная мифология // Славянская мифология: Энциклопедический словарь. Изд. 2-е, испр. и доп. М., 2002.

[3] H. J. Rose, "Italian Pseudo-mythology", In: A Handbook of Greek Mythology, Routledge.
Quote: "The mythologist <...> must share the disgust of the historian when he realizes that the overwhelming majority of them are not genuine popular native traditions at all, but comparatively late, artificial tales, put together either by Greeks or under Greek influence"

[4] Quote: "The mythologist <...> must share the disgust of the historian when he realizes that the overwhelming majority of them are not genuine popular native traditions at all, but comparatively late, artificial tales, put together either by Greeks or under Greek influence"

[4] Vincent Descombes, A foreword to the translation of Jacques Bouveresse's Wittgenstein Reads Freud, 1995, ISBN 1400821592, p vii

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]