.jpg)
The Beginning of Everything
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, which were formless and empty, with darkness covering the deep and the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. God created light, separating it from darkness, and created day and night. He separated the upper waters from the lower waters. God gathered the waters together in one place, revealing the dry land and creating vegetation. He also created the Sun, the Moon, and the stars to govern the day and night. God made living beings emerge from the waters, created the birds of the air, the land animals and, finally, made man from clay in his image and likeness and from the rib of man he created woman. All this in just six days.
Maybe you are already familiar with Genesis, the first book of the Holy Bible that deals with the creation of the world and humanity according to the Judeo-Christian perspective. But this article is not about that, but rather the various mythological explanations for the creation of the world.
The Creation of the World According to African Mythologies
In the Yoruba tradition, Olodumare (or Olorun) created the world with the help of his Orisha children. The beginning was a sea of waters, and Orunmila brought the earth, while Obatala shaped the soil from the waters, with other Orishas contributing to the creation of the world. In Central Africa, the Dongo, who had an advanced knowledge of astronomy, believed that the supreme god Amma created the universe from the primordial chaos and shaped the earth with the help of the Dogom God (or Nommo).
Olodumare and other African gods - Pinterest
Among the Bantu, creation is attributed to a supreme god, such as Mulungu or Nzambi, who created heaven, earth and, in some versions, humanity. The creation of the world is seen as a continuous process, with gods and spirits sustaining the universe. The Akan attribute the creation of the world to the god Nyame, who brought order to the universe from the primordial chaos and created the sun and moon.
The Creation of the World in Chinese Mythology
In the beginning, there was the primordial chaos called "Wuji". Pangu, the first being, emerged and separated heaven and earth with a stone axe. He continued to grow for 18,000 years, increasing the distance between them. His body became the world: his hair became trees, his bones formed mountains, and his blood gave rise to rivers and seas.
Pangu, the first being and Nüwa, goddess of the serpent body - Pinterest
After his death, Pangu contributed to the world: his breath became the wind and clouds, his eyes became the sun and moon, and his limbs formed mountains and valleys. Nüwa, a goddess with the body of a serpent and a human face, repaired the torn sky with colored stones and created humanity by molding figures from clay. In some traditions, Fuxi and Nüwa are siblings and partners, associated with creation and civilization.
The Creation of the World in Arab Mythology
In pre-Islamic Arab mythology, polytheistic beliefs were strong and there was no religious repression. There were magical beings who often helped the inhabitants of the region. Pre-Islamic Arabs worshiped sacred objects and forces of nature. They believed in the intervention of evil spirits. To promote their beliefs and rituals, the Bedouins went to coastal cities that housed many of their symbols and sacred objects.
Quran and Hadith, the holy books of Islam - Pinterest
In contrast, the Islamic tradition, which is the main source of creation in the Arab context, is based on the Quran and Hadith. Islamic cosmogony describes the creation of the world as a divine act, reflecting the power and wisdom of God. The Quran presents the creation of the world and humanity as signs from God and instructions for living according to His will, like the description found in the Christian Holy Bible and the Jewish Torah.
The Creation of the World in Norse Mythology
The world emerged from Ginnungagap, a primordial void between two opposing realms: Niflheim, the realm of ice, and Muspelheim, the realm of fire. The interaction between the ice of Niflheim and the heat of Muspelheim caused the ice to melt and form Ymir, the first giant, a hermaphrodite creature who fed on the milk of the primordial cow Audhumla and who also emerged from the melted ice. Borr's sons, Odin, Vili, and Ve, rebelled against Ymir and created the world from him. This creation reflects the interaction between the opposing elements and the emergence of the first life forms. They killed Ymir and used his body to create the world: blood formed the seas and oceans. Flesh formed the land. Bones formed the mountains. Teeth formed rocks and stones. Hair formed vegetation. Brains formed clouds. Skulls formed the sky.
Niflheim, the realm of ice, and Muspelheim, the realm of fire - Pinterest
To protect the world from the giants, the gods used Ymir's eyelashes to build a wall, creating Midgard, the world of humans. They built Asgard, the home of the Aesir gods, connected to Midgard by the bridge Bifrost. The universe was structured into nine worlds supported by the tree Yggdrasil. The first humans, Ask and Embla, were created from tree trunks found on the beach. Odin gave them life and souls, Vili gave them understanding and feelings, and Ve gave them senses and speech, making them the progenitors of humanity.
The Creation of the World in the Mythologies of Pre-Columbian America
Mayan Mythology – "Popol Vuh" is a sacred text of the K'iche' Maya that describes the creation of the world and human beings. In the beginning, there was only the sky and the sea in silence and darkness. The creator gods Tepeu and Gucumatz (or Kukulkan) formed the earth from the waters, and from the primordial chaos they created mountains, valleys, and vegetation. They tried to create humans from clay and wood but failed. Finally, they created humans from corn, which they succeeded in doing and considered to be the true ancestors of the Maya.
Aztec mythology – the creation of the world is seen as a cycle of ages or "suns", each ruled by a different deity. In the First Sun, under Tezcatlipoca, the world is created and destroyed by a cataclysm. In the Second Sun, under Quetzalcoatl, the world is recreated and destroyed again. In the Third Sun, ruled by Tlaloc, the god of rain, the current age is seen as unstable and subject to change and destruction.
Gucumatz and Tlaloc - Pinterest
Inca Mythology – Viracocha is the creator god who forms the world and living beings from the primordial chaos. He creates human beings from stone, who are destroyed, and then human beings from clay, who are successful and receive guidance to live in harmony with the world.
Iroquois Mythology – the creation of the world is associated with the myth of the turtle. Originally, there was only water. A woman who falls from the sky is helped by a turtle to create land at the bottom of the sea. She plants seeds in the created land, and the vegetation grows, expanding until it forms a habitable continent.
The Creation of the World in the Mythologies of Oceania
Polynesian Mythology – in Polynesian mythology, especially in the Maori culture of New Zealand, the world began with Te Vaka, the sky god, and Rangi, the earth goddess, united in a tight embrace. Their god children found this union unbearable and decided to separate them, creating the space between heaven and earth. After the separation, they shaped the world, creating mountains, rivers, and other land features, as well as playing important roles in the creation of humans and the organization of the cosmos.
Te Vaka, the sky god, and Rangi, the earth goddess - Pinterest
Melanesian Mythology – In the myth of Bunjil, from Australian Aboriginal mythology, Bunjil, an eagle, is the creator who shaped the earth and created life. He traveled the world, using his wings to form valleys, mountains, and rivers, and created human beings, establishing traditions and laws for people’s lives.
Micronesian Mythology – In Micronesian traditions, the creator god Fatu shaped the world from primordial chaos. Fatu created islands and organized the natural environment, helping to establish order in the universe and providing the essential elements for life.
The Creation of the World in Greek Mythology
In the beginning, there was only Chaos, a primordial state of disorder and emptiness. From Chaos emerged primordial entities: Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (abyss), Erebus (darkness), Nyx (night) and Eros (love). Gaia alone gave birth to Uranus (Sky), the Mountains and Pontus (Sea). Uranus became partners with Gaia, and together they fathered the Titans, Cyclopes and Hecatonchires. Out of fear for his children, Uranus imprisoned them. Because of this, Gaia gave weapons to Cronus, her youngest son, to start the rebellion against Uranus.
Mount Olympus, the home of the gods and Zeus, the supreme leader - Pinterest
Cronus castrated Uranus and separated the sky from the earth. From the blood of Uranus came the Erinyes, Giants and Meliades. From the genitals of Uranus that fell into the sea, Aphrodite was born. To avoid a prophecy that he would be overthrown by a son, Cronus devoured his children, but Rhea hid Zeus and gave Cronus a stone to swallow. Zeus grew up in hiding, returned and forced Cronus to vomit up his brothers. They joined Zeus in the Titanomachy, a ten-year war against Cronus and the Titans. With the help of the Cyclopes and Hecatonchires, they defeated the Titans, who were imprisoned in Tartarus. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades divided the world and established the order of the gods on Mount Olympus.
Pandora was the first woman created by the gods as punishment for humanity after Prometheus stole fire. Made by Hephaestus and endowed with divine gifts, Pandora was given a box with the instruction not to open it. Driven by curiosity, Pandora opened the box, releasing all the evils and suffering into the world. Only hope remained inside the box, as a consolation to humans during adversity.
The Birth of Venus - Sandro Botticelli - Pinterest
Since this space is too small to cover all these topics, in the next article I will make connections between these mythologies and their presence today. You can learn a little about these mythologies through the links below ֎
֎
댓글