Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures

Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures

Joy Martin

Hum/105

February 22, 2016

Megge Fitz-Randolph

Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures

Two creation myths that I find fascinating are the Navajo creation myth and the Zulu creation myth. Both of these myths are talking about how the earth and its people came to be. Also, the Navajo and Zulu myths tell how the sun, moon, water, and food all began. One difference between the two myths is that the Zulu myth talks about how the chameleon was to bring the message of everlasting life, but he was too slow, so Unkulunkulu sent a lizard with the message of the arrival of death.

The creator in the Zulu myth was a man, “Unkulunkulu”.  Once Unkulunkulu grew too heavy for the reed, he fell out and began picking other people and animals out of the reeds. Then he created the sun, moon, and stars; he also made the mountains, trees, and streams. Also, Unkulunkulu taught his people to grow corn and other vegetables.

In the Navajo Myth there were six beings in the beginning; first man, first women, salt women, fire god, Coyote, and Begochiddy, the child of the sun. The six beings traveled through each world beginning with the first which was there was no light and the first beings left. They traveled through a giant reed which was created by Begochiddy to the second world which was blue. The beings liked this world, except for the fact that they had to share it with the cat people whom they fought with every day. The beings finally decided to leave that world and travel to the third world which was beautiful. They made their homes and had many children; Begochiddy created the sun, the moon, and mountains and the beings lived their happily. They were happy until the day coyote found the water monsters baby by the water and stole it. The water monster got infuriated and began to flood this world, and the water rose to the firth world. the beings escaped the third world through the reed once more. The fourth world was lovely and the Begochiddy created the sun, moon, stars, and mountains and taught the beings to grow vegetables and harvest their food. Although the fourth world was nice, it was not as beautiful as the third world, but this is where they built their homes, grew their families, and made their harvest. In all, I believe that Begochiddy was the creator of all in the Navajo myth.