Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures

Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures

Veronica King

HUM/150

May 30, 2015

Cheryl Anderson

Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures

In this paper I am going to write about two creation myths from two cultures.  I am going to discuss how the worlds, such as the sky, earth, and underworld, are represented in the myths; along with the elements of these worlds. The creators of these worlds will described as male or female along with the significance of their gender. I will also describe what they created with the steps and cycles of these creations. The destroyers and destruction will also be described; with the role of cosmic occurrences or natural phenomena such as celestial bodies, rain, floods, wind and fire.

The first creation I am going to write about is the Egyptian Creation, and in this creation Nu was the name of the dark and from the water came Atum, and he created himself with his thoughts and the sheer force of will.(www.distanttrain.com)Once he created himself began to create other things, such as a hill because there was  not one.  Atum was alone, and he was not a male or female he had an eye that could see the entire universe. It is strange that he was not female, bur he gave birth to a son by spitting him out; and named him Shu and he was named the God of the air. After the son was created he created a daughter through vomit and her name was Tefnut and was made the goddess of moisture and mist. .(www.distanttrain.com)

Once Atum created a son and daughter and made them a god and goddess he decided to give them a mission to divide chaos into principals of law, direction and firmness. The disorder was divided into light and dark. Once the order was made it was called Maat, and it formed the principles of all life. Maat was light and pure, and it was a feather; after Maat Geb was created and it was the Earth and Nut the Sky, and in the beginning they were one; Nut was a female and was sent to the Heaven by Shu, and she was separated from her mate Geb.