M I C H E L L E VA L L E J O

CREATION MYTHS AND WATER

TOPIC

• Why was water the beginning?

EGYPTIAN CREATION MYTH

• The Egyptian myth describes the beginning to be only water, chaotic and bubbling • This was called nu or nun• It was out of nu that everything began• Out of these chaotic waters Atum is said to have

risen, creating himself with just his thoughts and will

CHEROKEE CREATION MYTH

• “When the world grows old and worn out, the people will die and the cords will break and let the earth sink down into the ocean, and all will be water again.”

• This myths says that when the earth was young it was covered in water and the earth was an ‘island floating above it.

• This is where the animals lived and they sent a water beetle down to search for more land because they needed the space

• The water beetle went underneath the water and brought up mud and there was land

QUESTIONS/INFO INCLUDING

• I will give a brief background of the creation myths that I will use as examples• Give reasons as to why I think water was the

beginning• - What is the significance of water in those

cultures?• - symbolism of water? How does it relate to the

creation myths?

DEFINITE SOURCES

• Elements of Creation Myth by:RJ Stewart• -Discusses some different parts of Creation myths and the

symbolism behind them• Stewart, R. J. The Elements of Creation Myth. Shaftesbury

(Dorset): Element, 1989. Print.

• Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt by: RT Rundle Clark

• - analyzes the symbolism of different aspects of Egyptian culture

• Clark, R. T. Rundle. Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson, 1959. Print.

TENTATIVE SOURCES

• "Cherokee Creation Myth." Cherokee Creation Myth. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.

• Clark, R. T. Rundle. Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson, 1959. Print.

• "Creation Myths." Creation Myths. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.

• Donnely, Laura. "Egyptian Creation Myth by Laura Donnelly." Egyptian Creation Myth by Laura Donnelly. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.

• Hagin. "Egyptian Creation Stories." Egyptian Creation Stories. N.p., 8 Oct. 2003. Web. 16 Mar. 2013.

SYNTHESIS

• Background on the 2 example creation myths• Insight into the different cultures and better

understanding of them. (to understand their creation myth more)• Showing the significance/symbolism of water to

those cultures