according to the wyandot creation myth recounted in class, what existed before the earth, as we now know it, was created?

according to the wyandot creation myth recounted in class, what existed before the earth, as we now know it, was created?

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Nature

According to the Wyandot (also known as Wendat or Huron) creation myth, before the earth as we know it was created, there existed only a vast expanse of water. This primordial water world was inhabited by water animals and birds, but there was no land. The earth was formed when a being-often described as a Sky Woman or similar figure-descended from the sky world above and, with the help of animals such as a muskrat or turtle, brought up mud from beneath the water. This mud was then spread on the back of a turtle or upon the water’s surface, growing to become the land that forms the earth

. This "earth-diver" motif, where animals dive into the waters to retrieve earth, is a common theme in many Native American creation stories, including those of the Wyandot and their Iroquoian relatives. The essential elements are:

  • A vast, primordial water : Before the creation of the earth, there was only water, with no land in existence.
  • Sky World or Sky People : Above the water, there was a sky realm where beings lived.
  • Animals and Birds : Certain animals already existed, swimming in the water or flying above it.
  • Descent and Creation : A being from the sky descends, and with the help of animals, earth is brought up from beneath the water to create land

In summary, before the earth was created in the Wyandot myth, there was only a great expanse of water, with sky above and animals inhabiting the waters-no land as we know it existed yet

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