Interview with a Mythologist

1. Why did you start studying myths? What attracted you to them?

Hello, and thank you for inviting me to your channel.

It just so happened that instead of fairy tales, I was read Greek myths at bedtime as a child. That shaped my future interests. Later, in my youth, I came across books that incorporated elements of ancient cultures—both fantasy stories and adventurous novels about lost civilizations and hidden treasures.

When I started writing myself, my fascination with mythology only deepened because it offers an incredible opportunity to explore the worldview and creativity of peoples we will never meet again.

2. Why did people need legends that were far from the truth?

Myths are a unique blend of early attempts to explain natural phenomena and deep symbolism that reflects the fears, hopes, and dreams of entire generations. In these stories, we can recognize hidden archetypes that still influence literature, art, and even our daily lives.

Through myths, people explained thunderstorms, changing seasons, the thirst for power, love, and death.

In a way, myths helped distinguish good from evil, right from wrong, and taught that the world is far more complex than it seems.

3. Which mythical creature seems the strangest to you and why?

It's hard to say because, from a mythological perspective, nothing is truly strange. If we judge from a modern perspective, then, honestly, all mythical creatures are strange! 😄

How do we decide who is the strangest? The Malay Penanggalan, a flying female head with dangling entrails? The Romanian treasure guardian, which hatches from an egg? The Icelandic Draugr, a seaweed-headed undead? Or the Japanese Tsukumogami, household objects that come to life?

And that’s just a drop in the ocean! Each creature is unique and bizarre in its own way—but all of them are absolutely fascinating.

4. Do mythical characters still have a place in modern literature? Do you think that’s a good thing?

Absolutely! Many authors work with mythology, giving it new life.

As a writer who incorporates the myths of different cultures into every book, I think it’s wonderful.

5. How is a myth different from a fairy tale or any other genre?

A myth is not just a story—it’s part of a belief system. In ancient times, people truly believed in gods and monsters, unlike fairy tales, which were told with the knowledge that they were fiction.

Another key difference is that myths don’t have clear-cut distinctions between good and evil. Gods could be ruthless, while monsters could be unfairly punished. In this sense, myths are closer to epics and even religious texts. In a way, myths are an explanation of the world’s structure.

6. In the past, myths and legends played a much greater role in people’s lives than they do now. How was that expressed?

Myths still play just as big a role in people’s lives today. They’ve simply evolved. The stories have changed, but human desires and fears have remained the same since the beginning of time.

7. If you could choose one mythical world to visit, what would it be?

This is as difficult as choosing the strangest creature because every mythical world is unique and incredible.

But if I must choose, I’d pick the mythical world of the Scythian nomads.

Their myths are deeply connected to nature. Swords (akinakes) clash, gold from pectorals gleams in the sun. The great god of war and sky reigns, and their ancestors trace back to a serpent-legged goddess, the mother of the first Scythian kings. In this world, griffins guard treasure, giants roam, and shamans wield the power of the wind.

Why Scythians? Because this is the cultural heritage of the land where I was born and live, so my choice feels natural.

8. Which myth could be based on real events but was later embellished?

I believe the Great Flood myth could be one of them.

It appears in the Bible, as well as in Sumerian, Indian, and Mesoamerican traditions, among others. There’s a possibility that a massive natural disaster—perhaps a tsunami—destroyed settlements. The memory of this catastrophe was passed down through generations, eventually transforming into an epic legend about the wrath of the gods and chosen survivors.

Myths aren’t just ancient fairy tales—they are the foundation of our culture. That’s exactly why I weave them into my books