Mythopoeists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Creators who invent elaborate narratives that establish a unique mythology
2. Individuals engaged in the art of weaving stories that form an original mythological framework
3. Artists who construct intricate tales that contribute to a distinctive mythological canon

Etymology: The term emerged in the 20th century, particularly associated with writers who deliberately crafted new mythologies. It draws directly from the Greek roots "mythos," meaning "myth" or "story," and "poiein," meaning "to make" or "to create." This combination literally translates to "myth-makers," referring to artists who create fictional mythologies from scratch rather than retelling existing ones. Among the earliest and most influential figures linked to the concept are J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, members of the literary group known as the Inklings. Tolkien, in particular, is often credited with popularizing the modern sense of the word through his extensive world-building and invented legends in works like "The Silmarillion." These writers saw themselves not merely as storytellers but as creators of entire mythic frameworks that could stand alongside traditional cultural myths. The suffix "-ist" in this context denotes an agent noun, a person who practices or is concerned with a particular activity. Thus, the plural form refers collectively to individuals engaged in the art of myth-making. This formation follows a common English pattern, attaching "-ist" to a base derived from Greek to signal practitioners of a craft or ideology. While the making of myths is ancient, this particular term crystallized during the 20th century literary revival of mythic storytelling, reflecting a self-conscious effort to craft new mythologies for modern audiences. It’s a word that captures a specific artistic vocation, bridging the creative impulse with the scholarly recognition of myth as a form.