cosmogonic myths - the category of myths that tell of the transformation of chaos into cosmos.The word "cosmogony" is derived from two Greek words: the world (or space) and appear.Chaos (emptiness, from the Greek root "hao", yawn) in myths mean initial potentialities, formless matter from which the world is created.The personification of the infinite and the empty space of the world, which has no size.In ancient Greek myths is the epitome of chaos ocean or initial water.
cosmogonic myths prevalent in the cultures of many nations, and the image of the ocean in the cosmogony of ancient Greece, likely formed under the influence of the ancient Sumerian culture.The act of creation is the creation of order out of disorder.As long as the order - the world exists.But it may be that at some point there is a threat of destruction, then he can go back to a state of chaos.Almost everywhere in the myths described the battle deity or cultural hero with a monster (sea serpent or dragon), which embodies the forces of chaos.
cosmogonic myths of ancient Greece are well known poem "Theogony" Hesiod.Chaos, according to the "Theogony" primordial deity, gave birth Erebus and Nyuktu (Darkness and night).Other space first principle generated from it: Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (underworld) and Eros (Love or power of attraction).In Hesiod's Chaos is located below the Earth, but above Tartarus, the first mention of which can be found in Homer.Modern science found that the formation of Greek myths have significantly influenced the Eastern religious systems of the ancient world (the Sumerian, Babylonian, Hittite).Of course, the cosmogonic myth as presented by Hesiod in ancient Greece were not the only ones.His theory developed many philosophers.Thus, among the lower strata of the population is more popular is the Orphic cosmogony, in which there is a world egg.In the beginning there Epimenides Air and Night, from which emerged tartar and a pair of gods, gave rise to world egg.The central role for the Orphic Dionysus and Demeter discharged.Their fate is linked with the beginning of human history.
In the Roman tradition, such as Ovid, cosmogonic myths describe originally existed rough and undeveloped mass, which were immersed in a heap all the elements of space.
The full review of the Greek myths and legends, known as the "Mythological Library", an unknown writer, who is known as Pseudo-Apollodorus, says that the first world ruled by Gaia (Earth) and the birth of her Uranus (Sky).The sky covered the earth (connection symbol men and women), and there were twelve gods of the first generation (six brothers and six sisters).
The philosophical concept of Prima Materia (first matter), developed about 5-6 centuries were combined biblical concepts and various cosmogonic myths.Examples of its application can be found in the Renaissance alchemists, who compared the "first matter" literally with all the chaos, men and women, androgynous creature, Heaven and Earth, Body and Spirit.They used such comparisons to describe the universal character of Prima Materia, which has the qualities and properties of things.
