Authenticity Quote by Norman F. Cantor
““National historical myths are a way of giving identity and more authenticity to a people. Exodus flattered the Jews half a millennium after it allegedly took place by making them feel like heroic refugees from slavery, and righteous conquerors of a land corrupted by paganism, wealth, and sex. The Illiad made the politicians, merchants, sailors, farmers, and schoolteachers of Athens in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. into the heirs of austere, remorseless, honorable, courageous warriors, a race of demigods. Contrast this with the real Athenians of ca. 375 B.C. -- their bellies full of fishcakes, their throats bloated with cheap resined wine, their far-flung sharp commercial deals a laughable, reverse mirror-image of the noble warriors of the Trojan War era.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Myth of the Eternal Return, Norman F. Cantor, 1995
Myths shape collective identity by casting peoples as heroic or divine, often distorting historical reality.
In simple terms: Myths give people a heroic story but can be inaccurate.
Key Takeaway
Question myths critically and seek factual history.
Themes
identity
mythmaking
history
culture
perception
Mood
reflective
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- public discourse
- media analysis
- political rhetoric
- heritage tourism
Key Concepts
collective memory
nationalism
narrative construction
Questions to Reflect On
- How do myths influence modern national policies?
- What responsibilities do storytellers have?
A Different Perspective
Myths can oversimplify complex societies and ignore ordinary lives.
![“In response to [the Philistine] threat [in the ninth century B.C.], the Hebrews could no longer rely on the leadership of 'judges,' ad hoc military leaders (some of them, peculiarly, women; perhaps reflecting as feminists claim, and earlier matriarchal society).” quote by Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/norman-f-cantor-15048_feminisim_in-response-to-the-philistine-threat-in_626699.jpg)
