The story of the creation of the world is told differently everywhere from Australia to Korea, from the Sumerians to the Bible.
Have you ever wondered what kind of creation stories there are in the world? Of course, most of us know at least a few creation stories. Since the earliest days of civilization, humanity has pondered the origins of the universe. Fortunately, we can learn about these creation myths through oral tradition and writing. Often these myths are very different, from a universe born out of chaos to a universe that was never created. On the other hand, despite being geographically different, these stories also have surprising similarities. Here are the creation stories from various parts of the world.
1. Australian Aborigines
Indigenous peoples of Australia believe that when everything in the world is asleep, the Father of All Spirits awakens and awakens the Mother Sun. The Father of All Souls ordered Mother Sun to come down and give her souls to Earth. Mother Sun awakened plants, insects, caves and everything in the world. The Father of All Souls was content with the work of Mother Sun. Later, Mother Sun gave birth to two children, Morning Star and Moon. These two gave birth to children who would later become the ancestors of humanity.
2. Väinämöinen (Finland)
Väinämöinen, which is among the creation stories, is about the creation of the universe by an ancient sage named Väinämöinen in Finnish mythology. Väinämöinen is their epic hero, their first consciousness and first strength. While swimming in the sea, he also creates Earth’s soil. It then scatters seeds so that the Earth does not remain barren.
3. Unkulunkulu (Zulu people) creation story
The ancient Zulu (a people living in and around South Africa) believed that before animals or humans existed, there was only darkness and a great seed in the world. The seed sank into the ground and formed long reeds called Uthlanga. A reed turned into Unkulunkulu, the first man and creator of all things. When more things began to grow in the reeds, such as men, women, and animals, Unkulunkulu cut them off and created streams, mountains, lakes, and valleys. He taught men and women to hunt, make fires, and make clothes.
4. Yoruba creation story (Nigeria)
A story from the tradition of the Yoruba (the largest ethnic community in Nigeria) says that before any human being was created, all life existed in the sky. Olorun was a very powerful supreme being who lived in the sky with other creatures called orisha. Obtala asked Olorun for permission to create the solid earth in the waters below, and Olorun gave permission. Before descending, however, Obtala used a gold chain made by the orishas to help him descend into the waters below. When he created the land, he named it “Ife” and later lit a fire in Ife to create the first humans with Olorun’s help.
5. Mongolian creation story
Let’s take a look at the Mongolian creation story included in our list of creation stories. Udan is the person who created the world according to the Mongols. At the age of 500 he lived in a world that had not yet been created, and at the age of 1000 he separated the heavens and the earth, creating a ninefold sky, a ninefold earth and nine rivers. Finally, Udan created humanity from clay.
6. Cheonjiwang Bonpuli (Korea)
The Korean myth, which is among the creation stories, begins with the creation of the world when the sky and the earth were one. In the beginning, there was only an empty space, as there was no sky and no earth. One day, however, a different void arose in the void. Anything lighter than space swept upwards and formed the sky. Anything heavier than void fell to the ground to form the earth. A light blue dewdrop fell from the sky, and a deep black dewdrop rose from the earth. When these two drops mixed together, everything that exists except the sun, moon and stars came into being. Thanks to these two drops, humans and even gods came into existence.
7. Genesis (Torah and Bible)
In the Book of Genesis, perhaps one of the most famous creation stories in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible, God is initially depicted as creating the heavens and the earth. The world was formless, and God’s spirit floated over the water. God said, “Let there be light,” and light appeared. Then God created everything, including man, in six days, and he rested on the seventh day.
8. Enuma Elish (Mesopotamia)
This legend comes from ancient Mesopotamian tablets dating back to 1100 BC, but it’s worth noting that they are all copies and the legend is probably much older. The beginning was filled with chaotic water, which was separated into fresh water, known as the god Apsu, and salt water, known as the goddess Tiamat. These two gods gave birth to other gods. These other gods began to get in trouble and upset Apsu so much that Apsu wanted to kill them. This caused a conflict between him and Tiamat. In this conflict, a great warrior named Marduk fired an arrow at Tiamat and killed her. Then the heavens and the earth were created from his body.
9. Sumerian creation myth
For the ancient Sumerians, there was originally only the goddess Nammu. Nammu gave birth to the universe Anki, who later gave birth to the air god Enil. Enil divided the universe into two, creating the sky god An and the earth goddess Ki. Eventually, many gods appeared and were put to hard labor until they rebelled. Enil devised a plan to serve the gods and create smaller beings. Ninmah, the goddess of childbirth, mixed her flesh and blood and spat upon all the gods. In the end, seven men and seven women whose bodies were made of clay were created.
10. Völuspa (Scandinavian myth)
This narrative is a Scandinavian legend that squeezes all of Earth’s history and future into 60 poetic continents. Odin asks the oracle Völva to share his prophecies with humanity. Völuspa tells the creation story of a time when the world was just a void before Odin and the other gods created Midgard and it was called Morning, Noon, Afternoon, and Eve.
11. The Raven creation story
In many cultures, the raven plays a major role in creation. In the beginning, there was no moon or stars at night, and the Raven was the strongest being. He created all living things on earth, including man, but they lived in darkness. Kuzgun learned that a great chief had a daughter who carried the sun, moon and stars in cedar boxes, so Raven went and stole them all and gave them to the world.
12. Cherokee (Native American culture)
Let’s take a look at the Cherokee creation story on our list of creation stories. For the Cherokee, the world was just an island floating in a great ocean. It hung from four strings and the sky formed the ground, but the darkness made it impossible for the animals to see, so the sun helped them find their way. There were seven days and seven nights, and God told the animals to stay awake. Some continued to sleep, but God gave those who remained awake the ability to see in the dark.
13. Proto-Indo-European creation story
In this myth, a primitive being is sacrificed, killed, and dismembered. Body parts are used to create the universe. The name of this being is different in all societies. For example, in Old Norse myth this being is called Ymir.
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