The Role of Myths in the Formation of an Elite Consciousness

Abstract

The article comprehensively analyzes the role of myths in the formation of elite consciousness in various his-torical periods. It examines key theoretical approaches to understanding myth – ritual-mythological, psychoana-lytic, functional, and structuralist – as well as interpretations of the concepts of “elite” and “elite consciousness” in sociological and philosophical thought are presented. The author traces the genesis of mythological narra-tives’ influence on the elite from Antiquity to the present day: from power sacralization in the Middle Ages and from the Renaissance revival of ancient heroes to paternalistic myths of the Modern era and the mythologeme of democracy in the contemporary world. It is concluded that myth is not a primitive explanation of reality but serves as a tool of social regulation, identity construction, and manipulation of consciousness employed heavi-ly by elites to legitimize their status and control over society.