Compare and Contrast Essay about Myth

Different people walk the face of the earth and each one of them has different cultures and beliefs. Each culture has its idea of creation called Myths. Myths are “traditional stories, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.”(Oxford dictionary). This paper will center around the Hebrew myth of creation, the Greek Theogony, and the African Efik myth. It will discuss the similarities they share, and the differences that make each one of them unique. 

The Hebrew myth described the creation of life in the book of genesis. In this book, it is described that God creates the universe and everything in it; including man which was created in his image; “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” (KJV Bible Genesis 1.1). This belief is contrary to the Greek Theogony which believes the universe created the gods which then went on to create other gods. Additionally, both myths mention the existence of women, however, the roles of women and how women are depicted in both myths differs.

 In the Hebrew creation myth, the woman is portrayed as the helper and less than the man; "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.'" (Gen 2. 18) This verse describes her as being created for the sole purpose of serving the man. How she was created also solidifies this logic as she was not created from the beginning in the same manner that man was; 

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” (Gen 2. 21-22)

 While Adam was created from clay, she was created from Adam’s ribs signifying that she is not a person of her own but rather a part of Adam. Contrary to this myth, the Greek myth portrays women as gods just as powerful as their male counterparts and capable of bearing powerful gods. Gaia, the personification of the Earth, was the mother of all gods, titans, and monsters, and wife to her son, Uranos. She was a very powerful goddess who had power over the earth and the ability to control and manipulate the rocks and plants of the world. Athena was another Greek goddess who possessed a tremendous amount of power. Daughter of Zeus, she was known as the goddess of war and wisdom. She was also one of the twelve Olympians, becoming a notable goddess in Greek mythology. 

Furthermore, the Hebrew myth of creation was monotheistic; they believed in the existence of one supreme God who created everything. The  Hebrew myth believes that there is only one God, and this God is the creator of the world as well as being all-present, all-powerful, and all-loving. The Greeks, however, were polytheist and believed in the existence of many gods with different powers; Moros (Doom), Ker (Destiny), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), Oneiroi (Dreams), Momus (Blame), Oizys (Pain), Hesperides (Daughters of Night), Moirai (Fates), Keres (Destinies), Nemesis (Retribution), Apate (Deceit), Philotes (Love), Geras (Old Age), and Eris (Discord).

Just as there are differences there are similarities. The African Efik myth shares some similarities with the Hebrew myth of creation. The African Efik myth, as well as the Hebrew creation myth both, believe in the existence of one god. In the African Efik myth of creation, this god was referred to as Abasi. Abasi created everything from the waters to plants to animals;

 “Abasi rose, sat there; made everything above and everything below, the water, the forest, the river, the springs, the beasts of the forest; he made every kind of thing in the whole world.” ( Dr. Paul Mukundi). Similarly, the God in the Hebrew myth of creation  created everything; 

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1. 1-4)

Additionally,  in both myths, after the creation of the universe, man is given authority over everything created. In the African Efik  myth, humans are given occupancy of the earth to keep the earth warm 

“Things are not right as they are now. You have the earth down there, you own heaven here in which they live, you have made a whole large place to dwell in and unless you make a place for the men too it is not right. Find some way of establishing them on the earth so they can live there and light a fire that will warm heaven a bit, for it gets very cold up here when there is no fire on earth.”

Similarly, in the Hebrew myth of creation, God gives man total dominion over everything created;

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you, it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” (Genesis 1. 27-30)

Different people walk the face of the earth and each one of them have different cultures and beliefs. These different cultures have  different myths about life and how it came to be. Each one of these myths differ and yet are similar in some aspects. This diversity in mythology makes learning about them interesting and appreciated by others of similar or completely different beliefs. These myths, although varying in origin, are accessible by people from different parts of the world. They are  undying and constantly spreading to others who are open to learning more about them.