CREATION MYTHOLOGY

Archetype

A detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response

Gaia

(Greek mythology) goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology

Uranus

(Greek mythology) god of the sky; father to the Titan generation

Cronus

Greek Titan ruler of the universe; father of Zeus- overthrown by his son Zeus

Rhea

Greek Titan; wife to Cronus, mother to Zeus and the Olympians

Zeus

Greek King of the Olympian gods; fulfilled the prophecy to overthrow the rule of his father

Yin and Yang

two forces in the universe, according to Chinese Theory: Yin is the female, passive, heavy and dark force (moon), and Yang the male, active, aggressive force (sun)

Nu Kua

Has the body of a dragon and the head of a human. She created people out of mud. She also repaired the earth after it was destroyed by the fire and water gods.

Heaven, Earth and Man (Chinese)

P'an Ku

In Chinese creation mythology, the creator of the world; responsible for separating Earth and sky

Bumba

Boshongo (C. Africa) Creator god; Vomits up the various elements of the universe, earth and man

Vishnu the Preserver

A kind Hindu god who protects those who worship him; banishes bad luck, restores good health; comes to earth as an avatar to help humankind in times of crisis

Shiva-Rudra

The Hindu destroyer of life on earth; One of Vishnu's avatars

Brahma

A Hindu god considered the creator of the world. Avatar of Vishnu

Avatar

A representation of a Hindu god or goddess in human or animal form.

Dharma (Hinduism)

Hindu belief, a person's religious and moral duties based on caste

Karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation

Reincarnation (Hinduism)

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding

The Mayan Creators

Two Mayan gods who are responsible for creating all aspects of the universe, earth and man. Takes several drafts in order to perfect mankind.

Quetzalcoatl

Aztec primary god, feathered serpent, his disappearance and promised return coincided with the arrival of Cortes

Osiris

Egyptian god of the underworld and judge of the dead

Isis

Egyptian goddess of fertility; Wife of Osiris

Horus

Egyptian falcon-headed god; Guides souls to the gates of the underworld

Set (Egyptian)

Egyptian trickster god who represents the existence of evil

Thoth

Egyptian god of writing and knowledge

Re/Ra

Chief Egyptian god, god of the sun

Geb

Egyptian earth god produced by Shu and Tefnut. Contrary to the usual depiction of a female earth goddess, he's male and usually portrayed with Nut as a long male human-like figure lying down on the floor

Nut

Egyptian mother of the gods; Unlike most other civilizations, she represents a Sky Goddess.

Sedna

The beautiful woman in Inuit legend who drowned at sea, and from whose severed fingers the sea mammals were created.

Odin

King of the Norse gods; He is a god of war, death, wisdom, poetry, and knowledge, and rides the eight-legged horse Sleipnir.

Thor

Favored Norse god of thunder (rain); the Norse people related most to him. Thursday is based on his name.

Freyr (Frey)

Norse god of agriculture and fertility of earth.

Frigg

The wife of Odin, and mother by him of Balder, Hoder, Hermod, and Tyr. She is the goddess of the sky, marriage, and motherhood, and often works at her loom spinning clouds.

Hel

Norse goddess of the Underworld and the dead

Valhalla

Norse Hall of the Slain

Ymir

A primordial giant who formed in the void of Ginnungagap from fire and ice. He gave birth to the frost giants and created the primordial cow Audhumla. He was killed by Odin and his brothers, who used his body to construct most of the universe.

Audhumla

Norse cosmic cow that emerged from a melting ice block - provided sustenance to Ymir in his beginnings in the universe

Sky Woman

part of Iroquois creation myth, creator of earth (one of sky people, she is shoved down the gaping hole that appears, lands on backs of sea creatures who get mud from bottom of sea and build North America on turtles back.

Earth Woman

Iroquois creation figure; daughter to Sky Woman; mother to Good Twin and Evil twin