Creation Myths by Hoda Nada

Task #1

hodanada — 2024-09-08 15:09:31 UTC

Highlight any elements that stand out or seem significant.
Consider:
- Who or what is responsible for creating the world?
- What methods or events are involved?

The Yoruba Creation Myth (West African)

hodanada — 2024-09-08 15:11:06 UTC

In the beginning, there was only the vast, endless sky and a formless sea beneath it. The supreme god, Olorun, ruled the sky, while the god of the sea, Olokun, ruled below. Olorun sent his son, Obatala, down from the heavens to create land. Obatala descended with a shell full of sand, a white hen, and a palm nut. He scattered the sand on the water, and the hen scratched it with her feet, spreading it out to form dry land. Obatala planted the palm nut, which grew into the first tree, and from this land, plants and animals began to emerge. However, in a moment of weakness, Obatala drank palm wine, became intoxicated, and failed in his task of creating human beings. His brother, Orunmila, completed the task, shaping humans out of clay and breathing life into them.

The Enuma Elish (Mesopotamian/Babylonian)

hodanada — 2024-09-08 15:11:28 UTC

Before heaven and earth existed, there was only the swirling chaos of Apsu, the freshwater, and Tiamat, the saltwater. These two primordial beings mingled, giving birth to the gods. The gods began to shape the world, but their noisy existence angered Apsu, who plotted to destroy them. Learning of this plan, the god Ea killed Apsu. From Apsu’s waters, the god Marduk rose to power and, after a fierce battle, defeated Tiamat. Marduk split Tiamat’s body in half—one part becoming the sky and the other the earth. With the defeat of chaos, Marduk organized the universe, setting the stars, creating the rivers, and forming humanity from the blood of a rebel god.

The Enuma Elish

hodanada — 2024-09-09 17:38:56 UTC

In the beginning, there was only a big, watery chaos. There were two powerful beings: Apsu, who was freshwater, and Tiamat, who was saltwater. These two beings created the gods. But Apsu wanted to destroy the noisy gods, so the god Ea killed Apsu first. After that, a powerful god named Marduk fought and defeated Tiamat. Marduk cut Tiamat’s body in half. One part became the sky, and the other became the earth. Then Marduk set the stars in the sky and created rivers. He also made people from the blood of a rebellious god.

The Yoruba Creation Myth

hodanada — 2024-09-09 17:39:26 UTC

In the beginning, there was only the sky and a big, empty sea. The sky was ruled by a god named Olorun, and the sea was ruled by Olokun. Olorun asked his son, Obatala, to go down and make land. Obatala took a shell with sand, a chicken, and a palm nut with him. He poured the sand into the sea, and the chicken scratched at it, spreading it to make land. Obatala planted the palm nut, which grew into the first tree. From there, plants and animals started to appear. But one day, Obatala drank too much wine and couldn't finish making humans, so his brother Orunmila helped him by making people from clay.

Task #1

hodanada — 2024-09-09 17:40:01 UTC

Highlight any elements that stand out or seem significant.
Consider:
- Who or what is responsible for creating the world?
- What methods or events are involved?