MYTHS  OF  CREATION

17.   Second Thoughts

But caveat lector! 
— Our basic analysis of
the numerous similarities
discoverable among the wide-ranging variety 
of Bronze Age cosmovisions 
would be woefully inadequate & incomplete,
w/out also drawing equal attention
to the similarly noticeable
differences & distinctions 
between these cultures’
mythological traditions. 

For although cosmogonies of this type were once 
quite common all over the world,  
when we come to specific parallel 
traits, tropes & themes,
we also find many
distinct discrepancies distinguishing
one cultural tradition from another; 
— & occasionally these 
distinctions can appear quite discordant
or even outright contradictory,
despite the copious amounts of
comparable clear-cut similarities  
we’ve already found.  

Creation Stories most of all appeared 
in almost endless variations. 
Each culture seems to have had 
its own unique vision or version
— especially when it comes to small details; 
& later versions of individual myths often
show signs of considerable added 
embellishment & elaboration.  

References to Astronomical observations
in particular varied throughout time
& from place to place; in that,
cultures dwelling relatively near
one another geographically  
told a remarkably similar series of events — 
while distinctions between cultures 
more distant from each other geographically 
are often much more pronounced.  

— Sometimes planetary identities were different; 
sometimes their characteristic roles were reversed;
sometimes it seems as simple as
the sequence of events being mixed-up 
or left hanging indistinct; 
— & sometimes there seems to be simply
no adequate analogues or counterparts to be found 
in any other culture, near or far. 

While such multiplicity does not necessarily mean
that any one version is more original 
or more basically true than any of the others,  
— how exactly do we reconcile 
these distinctions & discrepancies
in the face of such general unanimity?

CONTINUE