- Humanity has pondered the origins of the universe.
Australian Aborigine Creation Story
The indigenous people of Australia told a story of how when everything on Earth was asleep, the Father of All Spirits was the only one awake and woke the Sun Mother. He commanded her to go down and give the spirits of the Earth forms. She woke the plants, insects, caves, and everything on the Earth until it was finished. The Father of All Spirits was pleased with the Sun Mother’s work. Later, the Sun Mother gave birth to two children, the Morning Star, and the moon. Those two gave birth to the children that later became humanity’s ancestors.
Heliopolis Creation Story
This myth comes out of Ancient Egypt. It states that in the beginning, only a chaotic water existed they called Nun. The sun god Ra appeared from a lotus flower and gave light to the universe. Ra created Shu, the air god, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture. Those two gave birth to the sky goddess Nut and the earth god Geb. From them, the physical universe was formed.
Mayan Creation Story
In Mayan culture, Tepeu the maker and Gucumatz the feathered spirit created the world with their thoughts. They created beings to look after their creation. First, they made animals of the sky and land but needed a being that could properly communicate, so they made man. They made him out of clay, but he crumbled apart. Then, they tried making him out of wood, but he was empty-headed and hearted. Finally, they made men out of corn, and these men were empathetic and intelligent.
Pangu
In Chinese Daoist mythology, Pangu was the first man who came out of chaos with two horns, two tusks, and a hairy body. He separated the seas, put the mountains in their place, and gave the Earth its form using a powerful knowledge of yingyang.
Proto-Indo-European Creation Story
In this myth, a primordial being is sacrificed, killed, and dismembered. Its body parts are used to create the universe. This being’s name is different in all societies. For instance, in Old Norse myth, this being is called Ymir.
Cherokee Creation Story
For the Cherokee, the Earth was a mere island floating in a big ocean. It hung from four cords and the sky formed the ground, but the darkness made it impossible for the animals to see, so the sun appeared to help them find their way. There were seven days and seven nights, and God instructed the animals to stay awake. Some still fell asleep, but those who stayed awake, God gave the ability to see in the dark.
Raven Creation Story
For many cultures, a raven plays a big part in creation. In the beginning, there was no moon or stars at night, and the Raven was the most powerful being. He made all the living creatures on the Earth, including man, but they lived in darkness. The Raven learned a great chief had a daughter who carried the sun, moon, and stars in cedar boxes, so the Raven went and stole all of them, giving them to the world.
Hindu Creation Story
In the Rig Veda, it tells of Purusha, a being who had a thousand heads, eyes, and feet. It could clutch the earth with its feet. The gods, however, sacrificed Purusha and made it into butter that became all the animals, elements, and three gods, Agni, Yayu, and Indra.
Japanese Creation Story
In this myth, the elements were mixed to create one germ of life. When it mixed things around, the heavier part sank and the lighter rose. A muddy sea was created, and a shoot sprang forth and reached the clouds, entering the sky. This created a god, and it grew lonely and created other gods. Two called Izanagi and Izanami were the most remarkable and formed most of the Earth.
Genesis Creation Story
One of the most famous creation stories, in the Jewish Torah and Christian Bible, the Book of Genesis depicts that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Earth was formless, and the spirit of God hovered over the water. He said, “Let there be light,” and light appeared. He created all things, including human beings, in six days and then rested on the seventh day, which He made a special day.
Mande Creation Story
For the Mande of West Africa, in the beginning, only Mangala existed. Mangala is a big and energetic presence. Within him were the four divisions, four days of the week, four elements, and four directions. He put a part of himself into a seed and let that become the creation of the world. The seed, however, blew up and Mangala started again, creating two more seeds. Eventually, he created the animals and humanity.
Mongolian Creation Story
For the Mongols, Udan the lama is the one who created the world. At age 500, he lived in a world that hadn’t been created yet and at age 1,000, he separated the heavens and the earth, creating a nine-story heaven, a nine-story earth, and nine rivers. Eventually, Udan made humanity out of clay, and the entire human race descends from them.
The Golden Chain
A story from Yoruba tradition says that before any people were created, all life existed in the sky. Olorun was an all-powerful supreme being who lived in the sky with other creatures called orishas. Obtala asked Olorun’s permission to create the solid earth in the waters below and Olorun agreed, but before he went down, Obtala had a gold chain made by the orishas to help him descend to the waters below. When he created the ground, he called it “Ife” and later, with the help of Olorun, sparked fire into Ife to create the first people.
Unkulunkulu
The pre-colonial, ancient Zulus believed that before animals or humans existed, only darkness and one large seed were on the earth. The seed sank into the earth and formed long reeds, called Uthlanga. One reed grew into Unkulunkulu, the first man and creator of all things. As more things, like men, women, and animals, began to grow on the reeds, Unkulunkulu broke them off and he created the streams, mountains, lakes and valleys. He taught men and women how to hunt, make fire, and create clothes.
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