Answer to Q 2

Women are depicted the way they are in the myths because the myths were primarily written by men. In the time these myths were written, men acted in ways that would be considered very sexist today. They considered women inferior to themselves, and so they represented them negatively in mythology. The most obvious conclusion that can be drawn about the society that wrote such myths is that they were patriarchal, and viewed women as inferior (maybe even scheming and "bad").

Also, sorry this is late. My internet access over the weekend was limited.

2. Why are women depicted the way they are in these myths? Again, what does this say about the society that created these myths?

Women in the Greek and Egyptian myth are depicted very differently. In the Greek myth the women were created as a way to punish men and are portrayed as evil and scheming. Strangely there were women gods at the beginning of the Greek creation myth. Women are even in the time of the titans there Chronos had a wife. So women show up throughout the mythology but are usually considered by the men to be evil and scheming. The Egyptian mythology doesn't mention women as much or in as evil a way as Greek mythology does. From out side reading the women were thought a close to equal to men and that they weren't put on earth to punish men as in thew Greek myth. Either way each culture has its own view of women depending on how patriarchal or matriarchal a culture is.

PS I know its not the best post and i know this post is way late

Maddy's Post

Water was prevalent in the creation myths because all three were surrounded by bodies of water, making water a huge part of their lives. Water was probably close to worshiped in the myths because the humans wouldn't have been able to survive without it. Water also could have been a source of danger.

Lea's Post

Woman didn't have many rights in the time myth were created. If something bad happend it always was o womens fault. Hera is Zeus jealous and bad wife but it's him who goes out with other woman. In the myth women are always kind of evil.I think men, who wrote or told the myth, wanted to show that even in the God's world males are dominant.
lea

Why are women depicted the way they are in these myths? Again, what does this say about the society that created these myths?

Women aren't as important as men are in the myths. The man and woman don't have equal rights and some of the reason for that might be that the man was created first, therefor is better, per say. If a man and a women did something equally wrong the women would get a greater punishment because of her gender. This says that the society that created these myths probably had a similar society to the myths they created.

Agua :)

The three creation myths of the Greeks, Sumerian and Egyptians share an emphasis on water. I believe that the importance of water asserted within the myths as a reflection of each societies view of water. To these cultures it is apparent that their relationship with water was not consistently good and they represent this within their creation stories. For example, the Sumerian creation myth begins the earth as a huge mass of water. This shows that their society sees water as a source of life. However, water is also detrimental to mankind. This is clear to the reader because it is involved in tragedy like Enil's wish for mankind's perish by way of flood as well as Gilgamesh's loss of his youth rejuvenating plant while he was bathing in water. This same contradiction is seen in Egyptian creation mythology. The world started off as a mass of water, again representing life, but Ra wanted to destroy mankind and his world with a great flood which shows the continuation of water's birth and death theme. In addition to this, the Duat river was the path of death for wicked man and the path to Nu's abode, the primeval ocean, showing how water reaps both rewards and tragedy. In Greek creation mythology, water is not as important of an aspect than the previous two but, it is certainly present. While this myth was being created, it was a time in which people believed that the world was flat and dick-like. The Greek myth says it was divided by a sea and was additionally surrounded by a river. Olimpia is also nestled upon water in its gaseous form and this shows its closeness to the gods and its immense importance. However, there is also an issue of the scarcity of water that is brought fourth to Zues from his first race. The Paradoxical nature of water has congruence throughout all three stories and shows the three cultures relationship to it.

Question 1

I believe that water was a prevalent force in these myths mainly out of its importance in ancient times. Most, if not all civilizations were centered around a body of water, and the scarcity and importance of water was a major factor in their lives. Water, being necessary for the survival of a species, had almost a mythical significance to the people of ancient times. Water was always important, and despite its life-giving properties, was also often a source of major destruction and havoc. Water was almost a god in itself to many cultures, as it could easily smite them, or just as simply bless them with bounty. Water appears in these myths because it is a major theological force to the cultures who write them. water, to ancient cultures is a god within itself, and it is from this idea of water as a god where many of the gods and monsters of the sea appear.

Why is water so prevalent in these creation myths? What does it say about the societies that created them? What natural elements may have influenced this?

The Greek, Egyptian, and Sumerian Civilizations all based their creation myths around water because it was such an important aspect of their lives. They built their civilization geographically around water. To them it is one of the most important things for life. It makes sense that it should play as major a role in their creation myths as it does in their day to day lives. If water is such an important aspect for life then it is an important aspect for the creation of life too.

Answer to Question Three

3. How do these societies depict their gods? How do their depictions differ from modern western societies? What has changed in between then and now to influence this change?

None of these societies had the modern-day technology and resources we have today. They didn’t want to just accept what they saw in the world, so they created reasons behind why certain things in nature are the way they are in the form of myths. Their Gods also had many imperfections, just like humans. This was a way of being able to say that faults are natural, and no one is flawless; if the Gods make mistakes, then it must be okay for humans too also. The most obvious difference between ancient Egyptian Gods and modern day society’s (mainly in terms of Christianity) are in their appearance; Egyptian Gods were portrayed as being half animal and half human. The connection between animals and humans has disappeared in a lot of religions because of the way our culture has changed. We are not as connected to the outdoors as we used to be because of our jobs and houses, and most people consider themselves to be superior to all other living things. Also, the afterworld in these ancient myths was located underground, possibly in the center of the planet. That has changed to the very distinct heaven (in the clouds) and hell (under the ground). The reason for that is because of our increased scientific knowledge of the world. Everything was much more mysterious because the ancient peoples were able to create whatever explanation they desired, no matter how strange or crazy.

How do these societies depict their gods? How do their depictions differ from modern western society's? What has changed in between then and now to influence this change.

The gods were always imperfect in their society. The gods always cheated and committed crimes but were sly at the same time. Our gods today are perfect in a different way then the Greek or other gods. If we make a mistakes we will be punished by the other gods. I think our gods changed over time because we had an idea about being so perfect. If god is perfect we all have to be perfect otherwise we will be punished because we didn't fallow the rules.

Why is water so prevalent in these creation myths? What does it say about the societies that created them? What natural elements may have influenced this?

Water plays a big role in these creation myths because the ancient people wanted to try to base thier religion on the water and people and what was going to happend around thier community. The Greek, Egyptian, and Sumerian civilizations all worshiped around as many bodies of water as they could possibled get around which meant they could live and thrive. Theses Creation myths showed how the ancient people viewed water in a certian way as a sacrid source of thier life. So pretty much the water resumbles a mystical soure of life and power. Some of the Goegraphical examples or explanations would be a form of religon to a part or extent in a certian area of space on earth but with so little water it is not quite a suprise for all the civilations that have similar or differentces.

A. to Q. 2

In these myths, women are sort of depicted as inferior to men. When the women gods do something bad, it is very serious to the males. When male gods do something bad, it is taken normally, except by the women. so it seems as if the male gods have more rights than the female one's. Also an example of this is the fact that man was created before women, plus humankind is told as mankind. In chapter three, the title is 'How the World and Mankind Were Created. I believe that what has changed between then and now to influence this change is only that humankind has taken on the 'society' of the gods and used them from then until now. How the gods have acted and the way they treated each other has kind of developed in today's form of society.

The gods in the society were always imperfect. They messed up in life, they cheated and committed crimes and were sly. The difference between the Greek and other gods and our gods today is that our gods are perfect. They never make mistakes and if we do make a mistake they will punish us. I think that how we think of our gods changed over time because over time we came up with an idea that we have to be perfect. If god is perfect and if we are punished for being imperfect then it gives people a reason to say that they need to be perfect because otherwise god will punish them.

Why is water so prevalent in these creation myths? What does it say about the societies that created them? What natural elements may have influenced this?

Water plays such a major role in these creation myths because ancient people largely based religion around their everyday lives and what was around them. Greek, Egyptian, and Sumerian civilizations all rose up around bodies of water as many civilizations did and it allowed them to live and thrive. The creation myths show how they viewed water as a mystical source of life and power so naturally their religious figures would be of the water. Geographical elements have always shaped and formed religions to a certain extent and in an area of the world with such little water it is no surprise these three civilizations did the same.

Creation Myth Questions (post NEW POST by Sunday 10/10 9 pm)

Choose ONE of the below questions and answer in a complete paragraph (point, evidence, explain)

1. Why is water so prevalent in these creation myths? What does it say about the societies that created them? What natural elements may have influenced this?

2. Why are women depicted the way they are in these myths? Again, what does this say about the society that created these myths?

3. How do these societies depict their gods? How do their depictions differ from modern western society's? What has changed in between then and now to influence this change?