Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts, vol. 10, nr. 3 (2026), devoted to De causa et natura mythorum, brings together a set of contributions that interrogate the origins, functions, and transformations of myth across literary, artistic, and intellectual traditions. Moving beyond reductive or purely structural readings, the volume approaches myth as a dynamic and historically situated form of knowledge, shaped by transmission, reinterpretation, and cultural negotiation.
The essays collected here explore myth as a space in which language, imagery, and belief converge, revealing its capacity to generate meaning across temporal and disciplinary boundaries. Particular attention is given to the processes through which myths are reconfigured in different contexts—medieval, early modern, and modern—highlighting both continuity and rupture in their reception.
By combining philological rigour with theoretical reflection, this issue aims to restore complexity to the study of myth, resisting simplifications that isolate narrative from its material and cultural conditions. The volume thus contributes to a broader understanding of myth not as a fixed corpus, but as an evolving interpretative framework through which societies articulate identity, memory, and authority.
Published in Open Access, this issue reflects the journal’s commitment to the wide dissemination of high-quality research while preserving the intellectual independence and rights of its contributors.