Mythology

Mythology

Introduction

Myths are basically the stories that were told from ancient period till modern time, in every culture and country. Every culture has their myths and the most important and captivating are those which are related to their religion or to the great achievements of their nature and people (Thury & Devinney, 2012, p.4).

Discussion

Question 1

Compare and contrast the roles of sex and gender in at least 2 different creation myths from different cultures.

Answer

The Genesis is a creation myth of both Christianity and Judaism. It represents the story of basic creation of man and women and establishes the framework for gender roles and statuses. According to this myth women are created from men and for men. It says that first woman was made by a man's rib and implies that women are dependent on men (Thury & Devinney, 2012, p.58). Moreover, it shows that the role of a woman is decided by God as a helper suitable for man (Thury & Devinney, 2012, p.58). Men are made to take care of this earth whereas women are made just to help men, which indicate that the intended capabilities and role of woman are limited and she just has a task to assist man. This myth also implies that women are inferior in terms of control and they easily surrender to evil manipulations than men. Furthermore, it indicates that women can lead men astray (Thury & Devinney, 2012, p.59). Thus, this myth affects the gender roles and statuses by indicating that women have implicit weakness which cannot be easily found in men. In Greek mythology “Pandora”, woman is presented as the creator of troubles in the lives of men. According to the myth women are associated with curiosity, foolishness, and trickery, whereas men are known for their strength. It indicates that life was happy when there were no women but just men, and that Pandora is created to punish man (Thury & Devinney, 2012, p.38). Thus this myth uses a male dominant society to lower the status of women (Thury & Devinney, 2012, p.20).

So, in both the myths of two different cultures 'woman' is presented as the creator of trouble, she is weak and has minor status than man. However, Pandora box's myth indicates towards woman's tricky behavior, whereas Genesis do not represent woman as a treachery, but a foolish and minor than man and created just to assist man.

Question 2

Compare the ways that at least two different creation myths from different cultures show the relationship between humans and nature.

Answer

“Popol Vuh” is a Mesoamerican myth which describes the world is created by the wind of sky and sea. It indicates a cycle of four attempts in creation by God: animals, wet clay, wood, and first ancestor from maize dough. When God made errors in making human, different animals were made up by him and the nature originated as a result (Thury & Devinney, 2012, p.131). This myth indicates, in its different sacred myths, that sun, moon, earth, animals all are ...