CREATION MYTHS
Creation Myths explain the creation of
the world/universe
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The myth can be personal or impersonal, linear or cyclical
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Personal –speaks of a specific god like Gaea
Impersonal – some great force like chaos
Linear – creation to life and death
Cyclical – creation to death to creation again
Chaos can be the enemy or the source of creation
The world can be created of nothing, of matter [existing earth
or water], of self [part of a god or being]
The creative act can be solitary [single god] or communal
[group of gods], sexual or asexual
Creation Myths establish a model of the
creative process
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Creation can come from firmament [ as in Gilgamesh /
Endiku] & Genesis [man from Earth]
Creation via separation [Genesis: woman created by
separation of rib from Adam]
From Chaos [Hymn of the Sun & Genesis]
Michael Angelo
Creation Myths Build up a world-view, a
hierarchy of values, "first things first"
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In Genesis: god is male, the first human is male and the
female is derivative.
In Plato's Symposium there is an evolution from unity to
diversity and back towards unity. [Aristophanes story of
Androgeny – humans originally had 2 heads, 4 legs and 4
arms and were very powerful. They were sexually she/she,
he/he/ or she/he. Zeus was afraid humans were too powerful
thus cut them in half. Thus, we are all looking for our other
half – explains sexual preference.]
In many Goddess stories, creation comes from the female
Goddess, then female humans, then last of all male humans.
Sometimes the male God is entirely absent or he can be a
rotating consort [Greeks: Gaea is mother Earth, Theogony]
In Creation Myths, sexuality is often linked to
salvation or shame
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In Genesis we have both – be prosperous and
multiply as well as sex= fall, fault, shame. Covering
of nakedness; sexuality is desacralized and
disconnected from the fertility of the earth.
Gilgamesh – sexuality = civilization but innocence is
lost [Endiku becomes civilized through sexuality but
loses connection with the wild beasts]
In Plato's Symposium, sexuality is linked to our
original unity, [Aristophanes tale of Androgeny]
Apache Creation
Shows a
mother
goddess
giving birth
to man and
providing
the waters
for a fertile
earth.
Creation Myths explain how and why
bad things happen
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Genesis: The description of the Fall tells us who to blame as
well as the first murder [Cain & Abel] and the flood [Noah]
establish right vs. wrong
Gilgamesh – the killing of bull and its repercussions [death of
Endiku]
Coyote stories of the Native Americans blame Coyote: a
sometimes dangerous but comic figure who is somewhere
between the gods and humans. [Coyote’s wife died and he
was told he could reclaim her if he didn’t touch her. But poor
coyote could not resist trying to touch her and thus death for
everyone means we cannot see, hear or touch those who have
died].
Creation Myths show patterns of divine/human
interaction and establish ethics models
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The Genesis myth sanctifies obedience.
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The Prometheus myth sanctifies rebellion.
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Because Prometheus disobeyed Zeus, man has fire and
can survive.
Gilgamesh sanctifies balance
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Man must obey God’s will or suffer punishment
Gilgamesh not a good ruler until her is both powerful and
compassionate.
Hymn to the Sun sanctifies Akenaten
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Hymn establishes Akenaten as true ruler as he is the son
of God.