Myth in Construction of National Identity

The article regards the role of myth in constructing national identity. The analysis of this problem supposes the consideration of myth as an unity of unconscious and rational. The crisis of rational foundations of interpretation of reality results in appeal to archaic strata of the world perception. Myth is universal and that is why it carries the existential function. It is one of the means of transferring national-cultural experience from generation to generation and at the same time of providing the preservation of "national memory" thus being a powerful consolidating factor. Myth can create an "appropriate past" interpreting historical memory so the problem of mythologizing of history acquires significance especially in the situation of formation of new states on the post-Soviet space.