Myths were true stories passed along and forgot the origins..thus..

...Velikovsky/Ackerman scenario. Three Predominant Mythological Themes The global origin of myths is reinforced by three common themes that run through all cultures. These are (1) the myth of destructions, (2) the cosmogonic myth - stories of the origin or rebirth of the ‘world,’ and (3) the myth of the eternal return. In Firmament we reveal that these derive from hundreds of close encounters with ...