The authors strive to open the way to deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which archaic societies ensured social unity and identity in situations where traditional forms of communication could not fully perform their functions. Studying such proto-media mechanisms is becoming particularly relevant in today's media space, as it enables us to understand the underlying processes of collective consciousness and social identity formation that underpin contemporary communication practices. The novelty of the approach lies in the authors' introduction and revelation of the concept of the 'imaginary middle', demonstrating its pivotal role in the organisation of social communication and the symbolic identification of archaic social milieus. Based on the structural approach of the Parisian Cultural and Anthropological school, the article analyzes in detail the storyteller's activities using the example of the eighth book of Homer's Odyssey. For the first time, the storyteller is considered not only a translator of mythological plots, but also a figure triggering the mechanisms of emotional and aesthetic impact necessary for the identification of the hero and the social "reboot" of the community. The novelty also lies in the approach proposed by the author to the analysis of socially marked spaces, where the narrator, together with the king, provides management of the symbolic resources of the group. The storyteller uses a system of emotional triggers to activate collective memory and identity, while the effectiveness of the imaginary middle ground depends significantly on the specific social and symbolic context. The authors conclude that the imaginary middle is a fundamental mechanism of social communication, protomedial in nature, as it structures collective representations and meanings in the same way as modern media do, creating the basis for common understanding and social integration.