How the World and Mankind was Created
In the Beginning..Chaos was everywhere.It was shapeless, dark, silent and empty.Chaos had two children named Night and Erebus.Love was born from Death and Darkness. Love was Day and Light.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Mother Earth and Father Heaven
Earth was personified as a woman.Heaven was personified as a man.Story tellers personified everything that moved or changed.
Winter, Summer, stars, seas etc.Vague descriptions
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Children of Mother Earth and Father Heaven
Story tellers started getting more precise in personifications.Natural forces were described clearly.Earth and Heavens children were Gaea and Ouranos.
They were monsters
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Gaea and OuranosFirst creatures who appeared life like.Overwhelming strength
Earthquake, volcanoes, hurricanes.
Unlike any vision of humans todayStories described them like human, yet unhuman.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Other CreaturesMonstrously huge and strong.
Three of them had 100 hands and 50 heads each.
CyclopsOne huge eye, center of forehead, like a big wheelGigantic and powerful.
The TitansVery strong, not destructive.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Father HeavenWas portrayed as a bad father.Hated the children with many heads and hands.
He imprisoned them inside Earth.
Cyclops and Titans left to roam Earth.Mother Earth was upset at this.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Mother EarthShe asked for her kids to help her.She didn’t want her children to keep getting imprisoned.Only a Titan named Cronus would help her.Cronus fought his Father Heaven to end the torture.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
CronusWent to rule the new found world.Had kids with his sister, Queen Rhea.One kid named Zeus (Jupiter)Cronus ate his children
Didn’t want to be overthrown.
Rhea helped Zeus escape to Crete.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Terrible WarCronus against Zeus.Titans were conquered.Earth gave birth to Typhon.
He was the most terrible creature of all.
Zeus gained control of thunder and lightening.Many attempts to unseat Zeus.Zeus conquered all attempts and then was ruler of all.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
World was now ready for mankind.
World was cleared of monsters.Was now safe
Earth was thought to be a disc.Different versions of how people were created
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Mythological Creation StoriesVersion One – Gods delegate creationThe job was given to Prometheus and Epimetheus by the godsEpimetheus (afterthought) was a scatterbrain
Always changed his mindGave all the good qualities to the animals firstHad no qualities left over for humans
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Mythological Creation StoriesVersion One continued:Prometheus (forethought) had to fix the situationTook over the job of creating manFound a way to make man better than beastsGave man fire to protect
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Mythological Creation StoriesVersion two - Gods create man.
1: Golden Race - Rich and loved by the gods.2: Silver Race – Little intelligence. Injured each other.3: Brass Race - Terrible and lovers of war. Destroyed themselves.4: Splendid Race – God-like Heroes5: Iron Race – Currently upon earth today. Live in evil times and grow evil.
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Mythological Creation StoriesOne common trait between these stories.
No Women.
Prometheus took care of men better than the gods.Prometheus cut Ox, separated bones from meat.Plate of fat or plate of entrails?
How the World and Mankind was
Created
The WomanZeus created women later because he was mad.Sacrifices were made with fat, not meatZeus wanted revengeCreated woman (called Pandora)
An evil to manA nature to do evil
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Pandora's BoxThe gods presented Pandora with a boxThe box contained harmful thingsPandora was sent to EpimetheusPandora told not to open boxCuriosity got the best of her
She opened the box and misfortune came out
Only good to come out was hope
How the World and Mankind was
Created
Zeus ties up PrometheusPrometheus knew which son of Zeus would dethrone ZeusZeus wanted to know who the mother would bePrometheus would never tellZeus binds Prometheus to a rockEventually Zeus lets him go
How the World and Mankind was
Created
One Last Creation StoryMankind grew wickedZeus was not happy with mankindHe called upon his brother, God of the Sea, to flood the world and kill all peopleOnly Prometheus’ son, and his niece, survived by floating in a wooden chest
Pyrrha and Deucalion
Zeus ok with this because these two were faithful worshippers
How the World and Mankind was
Created
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