Mythologem

Origin

First used in 1949 by Carl Kerenyi in "Prologomena" (published in Science of mythology: Essays on the myth of the divine child and the mysteries of Eleusis, edited by C. G. Jung and C. Kerenyi). From Ancient Greek (mythologema, "mythical narrative"); (mythologein, "to tell mythical tales"); mythos (myth) & -logos (word or speech).

Full definition of mythologem

Noun

1. A basic core element, motif or theme of a myth.