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 Ouranos First creatures who appeared life like. Overwhelming strength Earthquake, volcanoes, hurricanes. Unlike any vision of humans today Stories described them like human, yet unhuman. How the World and Mankind was Created

Other Creatures Monstrously huge and strong. Three of them had 100 hands and 50 heads each. Cyclops One huge eye, center of forehead, like a big wheel Gigantic and powerful. The Titans Very strong, not destructive. How the World and Mankind was Created

Father Heaven Was 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 Earth She 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

Cronus Went 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 War Cronus 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 Stories Version One – Gods delegate creation The job was given to Prometheus and Epimetheus by the gods Epimetheus (afterthought) was a scatterbrain Always changed his mind Gave all the good qualities to the animals first Had no qualities left over for humans How the World and Mankind was Created

Mythological Creation Stories Version One continued: Prometheus (forethought) had to fix the situation Took over the job of creating man Found a way to make man better than beasts Gave man fire to protect How the World and Mankind was Created

Mythological Creation Stories Version 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 Heroes 5: Iron Race – Currently upon earth today. Live in evil times and grow evil. How the World and Mankind was Created

Mythological Creation Stories One 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 Woman Zeus created women later because he was mad. Sacrifices were made with fat, not meat Zeus wanted revenge Created woman (called Pandora) An evil to man A nature to do evil How the World and Mankind was Created

Pandora's Box The gods presented Pandora with a box The box contained harmful things Pandora was sent to Epimetheus Pandora told not to open box Curiosity 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 Prometheus Prometheus knew which son of Zeus would dethrone Zeus Zeus wanted to know who the mother would be Prometheus would never tell Zeus binds Prometheus to a rock Eventually Zeus lets him go How the World and Mankind was Created

One Last Creation Story Mankind grew wicked Zeus was not happy with mankind He called upon his brother, God of the Sea, to flood the world and kill all people Only 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