Creation Myths01

Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures

Carlos Diaz

HUM/105

03/07/2016

MATTHEW HITECHEW

Cosmic Creation Myths across Cultures

The biggest mystery yet to be solved is how the world came to be, however there are countless stories that have been developed across cultures that interpret how the world was created. Those stories are known as creation myths which can be defined as a “symbolic narrative of the creation and organization of the world as understood in a particular tradition” ("Creation myth," 2012). This paper will focus on Africa and Rome creation myths by giving a brief explanation of which world or worlds, such as sky, earth, and underworld, are represented in the myths and the elements of these worlds. This paper will also describe the creators and what they created as well as the role of cosmic occurrences or natural phenomena. In addition to those topics this paper will compare the similarities and differences of the creators in myths, their creations and the cosmic elements. To conclude this paper will explain why creation myths are important to a culture and what if any value they bring.

Africa Creation Myth

Africa has many different cultures that have existed for thousands of years, which have been the result of different creation “myths and legends that explain how the universe or cosmos was created” (Bankole, 2009). Yoruba creation myth consist of several gods known as “Olorun who is the ruler of the sky; creator of the sun; most powerful and wisest god; Orunmila is the oldest son of Olorun; god of prophecy; advisor to Obatala; Obatala is the favorite of Olorun; creator of land and human beings; Olokun is the ruler of the sea and Eshu is the messenger God” (Rosenberg, 2006 p. 535). According to the Yoruba creation myth the universe was made up of sky, water and marshland. Olorun “ruled the sky, while the goddess Olokun ruled the endless waters and wild marshes” (Rosenberg, 2006 p.536). Obatala was dissatisfied...