Daniel 7, mythology and the creation combat myths

Mythology was designed to help man cope with human predicament, to help people find their places in the world and their true orientation. A myth is true when it is effective, when it provides new insight into the deeper meaning of life. It is argued that the author of Daniel 7 was familiar with the Ancient Near Eastern myths about the combat against chaos and used themes from these myths to enhance the rhetorical effect of his eschatological work.