Buzz
As global travel and the Internet have expanded over recent decades, the world feels increasingly interconnected, with borders between nations and cultures becoming less defined. Raised in an era of unprecedented sociocultural blending, we are fortunate to experience these diverse differences daily. By embracing both our distinctions and commonalities, we can foster a deeper understanding of one another and work toward a more united and harmonious global community.
While shared cultural traditions have always existed, it’s rare to encounter beliefs and practices that span entire oceans and continents. Yet one question seems universal across cultures and eras: where did we come from, what is our purpose, and who or what created the world? This age-old mystery has captivated humanity throughout history, and though no one has all the answers yet, there are some truly remarkable legends to explore. This list will highlight some of the most intriguing creation myths, the wildest responses to that age-old query. Perhaps, in this shared search for answers, the richness (and strangeness) of our differences becomes most apparent.
10. Viracocha
Like many other mythologies, the Inca pantheon had its own hierarchy, with Viracocha at the very top (and rightly so). For the Incas, Viracocha was not only the first deity but also the creator of all the other gods. In addition to his divine duties, he found time to complete other remarkable tasks, including shaping the heavens, Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and all living creatures.
As the legends go, it is believed that humans were Viracocha’s second (far superior) attempt, after his first effort at life led to the creation of a race of grumpy rock giants who... well, didn’t quite follow instructions. In an act of divine justice, Viracocha wiped them out with a mighty flood, turning them back into stone.
On his second try, Viracocha chose a much more flexible material—clay—to create his masterpieces: us. Determined not to repeat his earlier mistakes, he gifted his new creations with the essentials: clothing, language, agriculture, art, and animals. A big thanks to Viracocha for that!
9. Cherokee Creation Myth
In Cherokee tradition, the Earth began as a chaotic mass of darkness and water floating beneath Galunlati, the spirit world. The animals, who were living it up in Galunlati, kept multiplying until things got a bit too cramped. Seeking a solution, they decided it was time to move to Earth.
Suspicious of unseen dangers and eager to explore what lay beneath the water, the animals sent the water beetle as a scout to survey the land. True to its reputation, the Christopher Columbus of the spirit world dove deep into the waters and returned with a scoop of mud. This magical mud expanded and grew until it formed the land we now call home.
In search of a new home, the birds of Galunlati descended to Earth, only to find the ground too soft to land on. Buzzard, a large and tired bird, was one of those seeking solid ground. Exhausted, he dragged his wings through the mud, raising mountains and valleys in his wake.
Over time, the land dried up, and the animals ventured down to the world below. Frustrated by the darkness, they decided to lift the Sun into the sky to light up the Earth. Unfortunately, many animals were burned during this courageous act, including poor crawfish. In the end, after the dust settled, humans appeared, and the rest, as they say, is history.
8. Vishnu And Brahma
One of the many Hindu creation myths, this tale begins in the emptiness of nothingness. A vast, dark ocean cradling Shesha, an infinitely enormous cobra, washed up against the shores of the void. Vishnu, resting peacefully within Shesha's coils, was suddenly awakened by a deep, resonating hum.
As the silence of the night was broken, a magnificent lotus flower emerged from Vishnu’s navel, and from it, Brahma, his servant, was born. With a single command, Vishnu directed the creation of the world before vanishing without a trace.
With a breathtaking blend of skill and might, Brahma calmed the winds and seas, divided the lotus into three parts, and fashioned the heavens, Earth, and the skies. As the Earth took shape, Brahma devoted himself to creating animals, plants, and humans, filling the world with his divine creation.
7. Nyx’s Egg
This Greek myth is likely one of the more well-known tales on this list, at least in part. Yet, few recall Nyx, the dark-winged bird who laid the golden egg. (She has also been depicted in a more human-like form.) From this golden egg, Eros, the god of love, was born. The two halves of the egg formed the sky and the Earth. Naming them Uranus and Gaia, he commanded them to fall in love, and the two second-generation deities went on to have numerous children.
Next comes the familiar tale of Kronos (also known as Cronus), who devoured his children in fear of their growing powers. That is, until Zeus (who was saved by his mother) led a rebellion to free himself and his siblings from their father’s tyranny. After their victory, the young gods decorated the Earth and sky with life and stars.
Following this, the stories of Prometheus and Pandora’s Box emerged, until the Earth as we know it came into being. For a culture so deeply invested in science and philosophy, the Greeks sure knew how to craft an epic tale.
6. Ymir And Audhumla
Far to the north of Greece, the axe-wielding, seafaring Norsemen had their own wild creation myth. Before the mighty Thor and Loki hit the big screen, there was Ymir, a massive frost giant who emerged from the dripping ice of Niflheim. Ymir, the first giant, slept until a man and a woman materialized from the sweat of his armpit, and from his legs, a six-headed child came into being. Thus, the frost giants were born.
Meanwhile, the melting ice also gave rise to Audhumla, a divine cow whose milk sustained Ymir. As Audhumla licked the ice, Buri, the first god, took shape. His grandchildren, who were a mix of giant and god, grew weary of the giants’ uselessness and decided to kill Ymir. When Ymir died, his blood flooded the land, killing all but two of the frost giants.
The grandchildren then took Ymir's body to Ginnungagap and chopped him into pieces to create the world.
5. Rangi And Papa
From the enchanting land of New Zealand comes a gruesome tale of betrayal and cannibalism. It all began with Rangi and Papa, the sky and Earth from which all life emerged. However, the two were inseparable, and as a result, the world was enveloped in darkness.
Frustrated by the endless darkness and seeking change, their children gathered for a council. Tu-matauenga, the fierce father of humans, wanted to end their parents' lives, but Tane-mahuta, the father of forests, proposed they be separated, with their father becoming the sky above and their mother becoming the Earth below. Eventually, all but Tawhiri-ma-tea, the father of winds and storms, agreed, and they set their plan into motion.
With immense effort, Tane-mahuta succeeded in separating his parents after a series of failed attempts by his brothers. As they did, Rangi and Papa cried out in agony. What followed can only be described as the most bizarre civil war ever, as the brothers fought either out of feelings of betrayal or simply because they saw weakness in one another. Tu-matauenga (father of humans), disappointed by his brothers' cowardice, killed them all, devouring their bodies and condemning them to eternal life as his divine snacks. Only Tawhiri-ma-tea, the father of winds and storms, survived, remaining in the skies where legend says he continues to unleash his vengeful winds upon the shores to this day. Well, that sure escalated quickly.
4. Pangu
Chinese creation myths often unfold in two parts: Pangu, the creator of the heavens and Earth, and Nuwa, the mother of mankind. Even today, the Zhuang people of China continue to sing songs and recite poems about Pangu.
According to legend, Pangu, still in his embryonic form, rested and grew within a massive black egg for 18,000 years, all while the chaotic universe gradually balanced the forces of yin and yang. When he awoke, Pangu found himself in a bit of a bind—he was stuck in the center of the yin-yang sandwich. With great effort, he pushed apart the egg, splitting the sky and Earth while also dividing the essence of yin and yang.
As he continued to hold the sky and Earth apart, Pangu grew larger, increasing the distance between them each day by exactly 3 meters (10 feet). While various versions of the myth exist, one of the most popular has Pangu passing away after another 18,000 years, with his body transforming into various parts of the Earth and all of nature that lives within it. Sadly, he never got to rest.
3. The Rainbow Serpent
In Australia, the ancient tradition of dreamtime stories remains alive and well. For the Aboriginal peoples, these tales are the foundation of all knowledge, recounting the creation of the world and the mighty ancestral spirits of the dreamtime.
Long ago, during the dreamtime, before the Earth had come to life, a rainbow serpent slumbered beneath the surface. All the spirits and creatures rested below the ground. One day, the serpent awoke and broke through the Earth, winding her way across the land. When she returned to her resting place, she called upon the frogs, who had stored water in their bellies while they slept. After the serpent teased the frogs’ bellies, their laughter caused water to burst forth, creating rivers, lakes, and oceans across the world.
From the newly formed water, life began to sprout, and the animals awoke one by one. The kind-hearted rainbow serpent then set forth laws, declaring that those who obeyed them would be granted the gift of humanity, while the more mischievous spirits would be transformed into rocks and mountains. And so, humans and their tribes were born, knowing that the land would always belong to them.
2. Izanagi And Izanami
From Japan comes the tale of Izanagi and Izanami, a sibling pair of deities in the seventh generation of kami. They were entrusted by the older gods with the task of shaping the formless world. Armed with a heavenly spear known as Ama no Nuboko, they stirred the chaos of the void, and when the spear was lifted, a drop fell from it and formed an island. Izanagi and Izanami settled there and began building a palace.
Eager to start a family, they followed the age-old practice of deities and circled a heavenly pillar in opposite directions. Upon meeting on the other side, Izanami joyfully exclaimed, “What a fine young man!” to which Izanagi responded, “What a fine young woman!” It was a moment of pure happiness, though Izanagi couldn’t help but feel his sister had taken the lead.
Uncertain about their next steps, the pair were guided by the advice of some songbirds, and eventually, a child was born. Unfortunately, the child was born without limbs or bones (it seems even gods can suffer from inbreeding), and the couple was heartbroken. They abandoned the child on a boat and tried again, but to no avail.
Disheartened, they returned to heaven and sought help. There, they discovered that Izanami’s premature greeting had hindered a healthy childbirth. Reattempting the circling ritual, they corrected their mistake, and Izanami went on to give birth to the islands of Japan and numerous elements of nature.
1. Nuwa
Nuwa, a primordial deity in Chinese mythology, is believed to have existed since the dawn of time. With the world left empty after Pangu’s death, Nuwa, feeling both lonely and uninspired, decided to embrace her creative freedom. For seven days straight, she created life, starting with chickens, then dogs, followed by sheep, pigs, cows, horses, and finally humans.
On the final day, Nuwa shaped clay into her own likeness. (This is intriguing, as many ancient depictions show her as a serpent with a woman’s head.) After crafting several hundred figures, Nuwa grew weary of the labor and sped up the process by swinging a rope covered in mud. This resulted in the beautiful clay figures becoming noble beings, while the mud splatters formed the common peasants. (So that's where class division came from.) In another version, rain melted some of the figures before they could fully dry, giving rise to sickness and disease—an unfortunate slip-up by an all-knowing, all-powerful being.
