Greek Mythology and the Creation of the Universe - Essay Example

Greek Mythology and the Creation of the Universe Introduction There are various versions of the story of creation. These versions vary depending onthe faith and cultural practices of different groups and belief systems. Greek mythology also tells its story of how our universe was created. This paper shall discuss the Greek version of creation and then compare this version with the stories from the Sumerians, from the Jews, and from the scientific or the modern physicists’ point of view. Discussion According to Greek Mythology, in the beginning, there was Chaos. Hesiod (as cited by Hard & Rose, p. 22) narrates that Chaos is considered by the Greeks as a female deity. It is “a primal feature of the universe, a murky reality which will be represented in the forthcoming genealogies as the source of much that is dark and negative in the world” (Hard & Rose, p. 22). The myth goes on to say that Chaos is followed by three other deities – Gaia (earth), Tartaros, and Eros. The three deities, as explained by Hesiod came about as independent entities from Chaos. From Gaia and Chaos, children were generated without the need for mating. From Chaos came daughter Erebos and son Black Night (Nyx). The children born of Erebos were dismal and were personifications of dark and negative forces (Hesiod as cited by Hard & Rose, p. 22). Black night represents the darkness of the Underworld, making him the perfect companion for his sister Erebos. From Night, two children were born – Day (daughter) and Aither (brighter upper air). And through this progeny, bright then continually followed day. Through Gaia, however, all that is good in the world was successfully brought forth. Gaia would later bear children with whom she would also mate and produce children to build her line of succession and power. The narrative may now be turned to materials compiled by the Computer Science Williams College (“Greek Creation Myth”) where they start off from Nyx. The Greeks believe that Nyx laid a golden egg, from which Eros was later born, and later, one half of the egg shell would rise up in the air and became the sky and the other half would stay and become the earth. Through Eros, Gaia and the Earth fell in love and produced many children and grandchildren. One of their children Kronus had the habit of swallowing his children. His wife, Rhea tricks him one time and manages to save one of their children. This child was Zeus. Zeus would later become the leader of his siblings and of the other gods and deities as he would later take over his father’s rule. The Greek creation story can be related to the Jewish account of creation in the sense that there is a person of infinite power controlling the creation process. For the Jews, they credit God with the creation of the universe and the creation of the beings and living things that now inhabit the earth (Computer Science Williams College “Hebrew/Christian Creation Myth”). The Greeks, on the other hand, credit Zeus with the power which led to the creation of man and of the animals, even if this creation process is not directly due to his personal acts. The world still starts off as dark or as night, and from the night comes brightness or light. The aspect of temptation is also present in both versions of creation. In the Greek version, Pandora was tempted and was then later enticed to open the box which brought forth all the evils of the earth. In the Jewish version of creation, woman, and then later man was tempted and enticed to take a bite out of the apple – which then brought forth God’s disfavor upon men and women. This story of the forbidden fruit or of doing a prohibited act may also be likened to the Sumerian story which speaks of Ninhursag (mother goddess) who causes eight special plants to grow in the garden, Ninhursag prohibited anyone from eating any of these plants. This order was later violated by her son Enki. Ninhursag then condemns Enki to his death (Mijares, p. 79). In the Greek version of creation, Zeus punished man for Promitheus’ gift of fire and for Pandora’s opening of the box; Adam and Eve are punished also for partaking of the forbidden fruit, and now Enki is punished by her mother for his forbidden act. Another interesting myth of creation is that of Athena, having been born from the mind of his father Zeus. This has an interesting similarity to the story of Eve being born and being fashioned from the rib of Adam. Some philosophers and authors point out that this image of woman being an extension of man is perhaps one of the reasons why women have always been thought of as inferior (Mijares, p. 77). In the Sumerian version of creation, the concept of heaven or the skies, the earth, and the underworld are very much similar to the concepts laid out by Greek mythology. In the Sumerian accounts of creation, ‘An’ is the male sky god, and ‘Ki’ is the female god (Grand Valley State University, “Sumerian Myth”). Ki is separated from her son Enlil, very much like Zeus being separated from his father Kronus. Similar to Greek mythology, where Persephone is carried off into the Underworld, so too is Ereshkigal who is carried off into the Underworld where she is later installed as its queen. The creation of man is very much based on a similar purpose to the Greek accounts of creation. Man was ordered by Zeus to be created to follow the bidding of the gods; based on Sumerian accounts, the gods created men as servants in order to relieve the burden of their work (Grand Valley State University, “Sumerian Myth”). This story of creation in the version of the Sumerians has similar symbolisms and similarities with the Greek version of creation. Gods and goddesses comprise familiar themes of power to create and fashion man and living things in order to serve the personal purposes of higher beings. Prothero & Buell (p. 25) point out that the Greek creation story is similar to other accounts of creation from other cultures especially as they make mention of the beginning of life and of birth. In the Japanese account of creation, they first make mention of a jumbled mass of objects, which then is later transformed into an egg. From the egg, the gods are born. This account is similar to the Sumerian account of creation and even to the Greek accounts where Nyx lays an egg and from such egg, Eros is born (Prothero & Buell, p. 25). Even Hindu accounts of creation have similarities with the Greek story of creation. Hinduism narrates that Brahma created the primal waters which nurtures a seed and from such egg, the earth and the sky are drawn. Prothero & Buell (pp. 25-26) go on to narrate how the symbolisms of Mother Earth are common in most stories of creation. Gaia is identified by Greek Mythology as Mother Earth from whom life and endless bounty is brought forth. Japanese myths make mention of Izanami, the mother goddess who bore three children and through them other people would be born (Prothero & Buell, p. 25). Australian aborigines also make mention of their sun-mother who created all living creatures (Prothero & Buell, p. 25). And still other similar accounts of creation make mention of Mother Earth, a goddess or a powerful deity from whom all life springs forth. Based on modern physicists led by George Gamow (as cited by Aviezer, pp. 8-10), the Big Bang Theory of creation basically postulates that about 15 billion years ago, there was nothing. And from that nothing, a source of energy suddenly came into being. This energy grew and became an enormous source of power and light. From the energy, an enormous fireball appeared and the universe then began its existence (Aviezer, p. 10). These theorists point out that from this enormous fireball and energy, matter was already present. They further explain theories and extrapolations on the importance of fashioning and later the creation of other forms of matter from the atoms and molecules that now made up the universe. The Big Bang Theory is naturally based on scientific theories backed by formulas and factual evidence. However, still, the primary beginnings of creation seen in the Big Bang and also Greek mythology are the presence of darkness, from where light is later seen. And from light, creation takes on more successive and definitive steps towards the fashioning of more advanced living creatures. All things considered, even if the Big Bang Theory has seemingly been supported by the scientific community at large, it is still very much a myth because it has yet to be definitively proven. In retrospect, the Greek version of creation carries with it similarities common in all the versions of creation – and that is, the presence of a single power who controlled the creation of the universe. Works Cited Aviezer, N. “In the beginning--: Biblical creation and science”. pp. 8-10. 2004. USA: KTAV Publishing House, Inc. “Creation Myths”. Greek Creation Myth. (n.d) Computer Science Williams College. 17 October 2009 Coolidge, O. “Greek Myths”. pp. 70-71. 2007. New York: READ Books Hard, R. & Rose, H. “The Routledge handbook of Greek mythology: based on H.J. Roses Handbook of Greek Mythology”. p. 22. 2004. London: Routledge “Creation Myths”. Hebrew/Christian Creation Myth. (n.d) Computer Science Williams College. 17 October 2009 Osborn, K. & Burgess, D. “The complete idiots guide to classical mythology”. pp. 129-130. 1998. USA: Alpha Books Prothero, P. & Buell, C. “Evolution: what the fossils say and why it matters”. pp. 25-26. 2007. New York: Columbia University Press. Mijares, S. “Modern psychology and ancient wisdom: psychological healing practices from the world’s religious traditions”. pp. 77-79. 2003. New York: Haworth Integrative Healing Press “World Mythology Course Index”. Sumerian Myth. (n.d). Grand Valley State University. 17 October 2009 Read More

The Greeks, on the other hand, credit Zeus with the power which led to the creation of man and of the animals, even if this creation process is not directly due to his personal acts. The world still starts off as dark or as night, and from the night comes brightness or light. The aspect of temptation is also present in both versions of creation. In the Greek version, Pandora was tempted and was then later enticed to open the box which brought forth all the evils of the earth. In the Jewish version of creation, woman, and then later man was tempted and enticed to take a bite out of the apple – which then brought forth God’s disfavor upon men and women.

This story of the forbidden fruit or of doing a prohibited act may also be likened to the Sumerian story which speaks of Ninhursag (mother goddess) who causes eight special plants to grow in the garden, Ninhursag prohibited anyone from eating any of these plants. This order was later violated by her son Enki. Ninhursag then condemns Enki to his death (Mijares, p. 79). In the Greek version of creation, Zeus punished man for Promitheus’ gift of fire and for Pandora’s opening of the box; Adam and Eve are punished also for partaking of the forbidden fruit, and now Enki is punished by her mother for his forbidden act.

Another interesting myth of creation is that of Athena, having been born from the mind of his father Zeus. This has an interesting similarity to the story of Eve being born and being fashioned from the rib of Adam. Some philosophers and authors point out that this image of woman being an extension of man is perhaps one of the reasons why women have always been thought of as inferior (Mijares, p. 77). In the Sumerian version of creation, the concept of heaven or the skies, the earth, and the underworld are very much similar to the concepts laid out by Greek mythology.

In the Sumerian accounts of creation, ‘An’ is the male sky god, and ‘Ki’ is the female god (Grand Valley State University, “Sumerian Myth”). Ki is separated from her son Enlil, very much like Zeus being separated from his father Kronus. Similar to Greek mythology, where Persephone is carried off into the Underworld, so too is Ereshkigal who is carried off into the Underworld where she is later installed as its queen. The creation of man is very much based on a similar purpose to the Greek accounts of creation.

Man was ordered by Zeus to be created to follow the bidding of the gods; based on Sumerian accounts, the gods created men as servants in order to relieve the burden of their work (Grand Valley State University, “Sumerian Myth”). This story of creation in the version of the Sumerians has similar symbolisms and similarities with the Greek version of creation. Gods and goddesses comprise familiar themes of power to create and fashion man and living things in order to serve the personal purposes of higher beings.

Prothero & Buell (p. 25) point out that the Greek creation story is similar to other accounts of creation from other cultures especially as they make mention of the beginning of life and of birth. In the Japanese account of creation, they first make mention of a jumbled mass of objects, which then is later transformed into an egg. From the egg, the gods are born. This account is similar to the Sumerian account of creation and even to the Greek accounts where Nyx lays an egg and from such egg, Eros is born (Prothero & Buell, p. 25). Even Hindu accounts of creation have similarities with the Greek story of creation.

Hinduism narrates that Brahma created the primal waters which nurtures a seed and from such egg, the earth and the sky are drawn. Prothero & Buell (pp. 25-26) go on to narrate how the symbolisms of Mother Earth are common in most stories of creation. Gaia is identified by Greek Mythology as Mother Earth from whom life and endless bounty is brought forth. Japanese myths make mention of Izanami, the mother goddess who bore three children and through them other people would be born (Prothero & Buell, p. 25).

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