A creation myth (or creation story) is a cultural, religious or traditional myth which describes the earliest beginnings of the present world. Creation myths are the most common form of myth, usually developing first in oral traditions, and are found throughout human culture. A creation myth is usually regarded by those who subscribe to it as conveying profound truths, though not necessarily in a historical or literal sense. They are commonly, though not always, considered cosmogonical myths, that is, they describe the ordering of the cosmos from a state of chaos or amorphousness.
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Main article: Chaos (cosmogony) |
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Main article: Earth-diver |
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Main article: Emergence |
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Main article: Ex nihilo |
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Main article: Raven Tales |
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Main article: World parent |
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Main article: Divine twins |
Caribbean
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See also: Category:Fictional creation stories |
In mythopoeia, an artificial mythology created by writers of prose or other fiction, traditional mythological themes and archetypes are integrated into fiction. Some works of mythopoeia also feature creation myths: