The article examines the unconscious as a key element of the human psyche, its reflection inmythological systems and its influence on the formation of human nature. The role of the unconscious isanalyzed in the context of the philosophical and psychoanalytic theories of Freud and Jung. The importance ofmyth as a collective projection of the unconscious, containing archetypal symbols and narratives reflectinguniversal aspects of human existence, is emphasized. Special attention is paid to the study of the symbolism ofmyths as a means of access to a deep understanding of individual and collective consciousness. Using theexample of the analysis of the image of Siegfried from R. Wagner's opera cycle «The Ring of the Nibelung», themanifestation of archetypal aspects of the unconscious in mythological plots is demonstrated. It is concluded thatthe study of the unconscious and its reflection in myths contributes to the deepening of scientific knowledgeabout the psyche, the formation of value orientations and the spiritual growth of personality.