FREE ESSAY ON INUIT AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY

INUIT AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Parallelism in Greek and Inuit Mythology
The very early creation legends are difficult to trace to their original sources, since
they were passed along by word of mouth from one generation to the next. There are many
different legends about the origin of the earth, some similar to those told in other
cultures. It is interesting that most of these legends can be tied together in one or
more ways. The Greek and Inuit tribe versions of early existence are related in many
ways.
In both interpretations there is one creator. The Greek version explains that Eurynome,
the goddess of all things, rises naked from chaos and finds nothing for her feet to stand
on. She then separates the sea from the sky and dances upon the waves to the south, where
later her hands would turn into a serpent (Switzer 10). Similarly, in the Inuit
interpretation, a raven is born out of darkness and chaos. He searches around the dark
trying to find his position; he finds water, grass and trees. After contemplating about
who he is and what makes the grass grow, he eventually realizes that he is the Raven
Father, the creator of all life (Ingpen 67).
Secondly, both interpretations use the bird as the principal creator of all things. It is
thought that Eurynome is the author of the universe. She becomes pregnant when her
serpent hands coil around her. Next, she assumes the form of a dove and lays a huge egg
which the serpent keeps warm until it hatches. The egg brings forth all the things that
now exist: the sun, moon, planets, stars, and the earth with its mountains, valleys,
stream, lakes, all living creatures, including the first humans (Switzer 11). In like
manner, Raven flies through the darkness and finds a new land, for which he calls Earth.
One day, he notices a giant pea pod and watches it as it splits open and produces a man.
He creates the ox and caribou for the man to eat but tells him not to harm them (Ingpen
68). He continues to create animals, but then creates a woman to be the man's companion.
Soon the man and woman reproduce and there are many children.
Although similar in some ways, the two creation myths also contrast in several ways. The
Greek version illustrates that Eurynome asexually becomes pregnant and lays an egg. This
giant egg holds all things that now exist. In complete contrast, Raven witnesses man
being brought to life through a giant pea pod. It is then when he creates a woman so that
they can reproduce and have many children.
In conclusion, the Inuit and Greek creation myths compare and contrast in different ways.
Although told in two different eras by two completely different cultures, the two legends
are still comparable in several ways. There is a variety of legends about the origin of
the earth, but similarities can be traced through practically all of them.