Creation Myth's Common Themes.

“The roots that clutch”, T.S. Elliot.

Although, creation myths were made different time and places, they have one meaning and that is how the world was the way it is. They also have common elements; like earth diving, world parents who must be separated, and the explanation of human nature (greed, jealousy, suffering, or curiosity). The fact that all these different creation myths have the same one meaning is surprising, as the time that these myths were created were so different and the cultures lived so far away from each other. In the beginning of many creation myths, the word started off with earth diving. For example, in the American Indian creation myth, this explains about a woman who fell from the sky and gave birth to twins, and how the twins fought against each other for the world. Also the Iroquois myth, which illustrates how, Skywoman who fell through a hole and landed on a giant turtle and gave birth to a daughter whose children, propagated the human race. Another common element in many creation myths is the existence of world parents who must be separated. The Maori creation myth, shows Rangi, the sky, and Papa, the earth, who became completely inseparable and gave birth to 100 children who had to separate them. Also the African creation myth which explains the 2 worlds other than the surface of the earth and the animals and humans who lived together peacefully. The humans were not allowed to make fire, but they did and it frightened the animals away, separating them. Another similar element in many creation myths is the explanation of human nature. For example, the Chinese myth illustrates that Phan Ku made the world the way it is, until he got tired of it all and wanted to rest forever and that’s why people feel sad, because of his loss. The Yoruba creation myth also tells about a creator god and the god of thunder, Shango, who dispensed justice – punishing people, for example; criminals, liars, thieves. Since the cultures are so far away from each other, the roots clutch them all and so they have that one same meaning.

“The early dreams of mankind”, Freud.