What purposes did myths serve to ancient people?

Myths served a number of purposes for the Greeks. Many myths were etiological; i.e., they explained the origins of natural phenomena (e.g., "Where do spiders come from?") and social customs ("When we sacrifice to the gods, why do we get the meat while they get stuck with the bones wrapped in fat?") Many Greek city-states -- Athens, Mycenae, Sparta and Thebes, inter alia -- had foundation myths. These stories typically involved the gods and/or heroes such as Heracles. Foundation myths were important in that they helped to foster a sense of community.

the completion of the erie canal spurred the first great westward movement of american settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the appalachians and made new york the preeminent commercial city in the united states.