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These divine myths provided explanations, reassured life, encouraged people to live on and inspired great achievements. The creation of the universe and also humans are the same in the myths of the Greeks and the Romans. The gods and goddesses were the same for both these cultures but the Romans gave those gods Roman names. Ultimately, creation myths are popular because they allow questions about the origin of the universe and mankind to be answered. Moreover, these myths explain the very existence of man and life’s purpose. In Greek myths, origins were attributed to the divine myth about the Rise of the Olympians. The Olympians’ supreme reign over the universe came at the expense of their father, the Titan Cronus. Cronus had come “to power at the expense of his father, Uranus” (Internet 1), and thus knew an inevitable revenge by his children. Thus he is told to have swallowed his children immediately after birth trying to prevent this fate. This myth carries significance in terms of both origins and also human condition. It shows that “avoiding fate... doesn't have a happy ending.” (Internet 1) Zeus, one of his children, was spiriting away to grow safely to manhood and later returned to force Cronus into regurgitating his other children. Zeus and his sisters and brothers were re-united and fought in battles called the Titanomachy. Eventually the Olympians won, the Titans were
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However, their story is slightly different to the ones of the Greeks and Romans. Nonetheless, they have the same underlying idea about the universe. According to Norse mythology, there was originally a chasm, Ginnungagap, bounded by fire and ice. Fire and ice combined to form a giant, Ymir, and a cow, named Audhumbla. By Ymir licking the cow, she revealed a man, Bur, who had three grandsons. These three brothers, one of which was Odin, killed the frost giant Ymir and created the world. It is said that “Ymir's blood was the sea; his flesh, the earth; his skull, the sky; his bones, the mountains; his hair, the trees” (Internet 1) According to a poem called The Lay of Vafthrudnir, the first man and first woman grew out of Ymir's armpits before he was killed. The Völuspá states that “Odin and his brothers made the first man and first woman out of an ash tree and an elm tree.” (Internet 6) Odin gave man life, intelligence, and beauty. From Norse mythology, a poem called Völuspá, confirms this about the creation of the
However, their story is slightly different to the ones of the Greeks and Romans. Nonetheless, they have the same underlying idea about the universe. According to Norse mythology, there was originally a chasm, Ginnungagap, bounded by fire and ice. Fire and ice combined to form a giant, Ymir, and a cow, named Audhumbla. By Ymir licking the cow, she revealed a man, Bur, who had three grandsons. These three brothers, one of which was Odin, killed the frost giant Ymir and created the world. It is said that “Ymir's blood was the sea; his flesh, the earth; his skull, the sky; his bones, the mountains; his hair, the trees” (Internet 1) According to a poem called The Lay of Vafthrudnir, the first man and first woman grew out of Ymir's armpits before he was killed. The Völuspá states that “Odin and his brothers made the first man and first woman out of an ash tree and an elm tree.” (Internet 6) Odin gave man life, intelligence, and beauty. From Norse mythology, a poem called Völuspá, confirms this about the creation of the