Creation Myths (last question ill ask - sorry to be a bother)?

Question

hey again,
I just wanted to thank everyone for the answers to my previous question.. theres just one thing I'm specifically unsure of in relation to my essay question which is:

'In your opinion, based on the evidence in three selected creation myths, which aspects of mythological explanation are common to all people, and which reflect human adaptations to particular environments?'

how exactly would you say the 'and which reflect human adaptations to particular environments' fits in with the rest of the question and what exactly is it referring to/asking?

thanks again and this is the last time ill ask for anything.

Answer 1

Since I don't know which myths you've selected, some general advise: look the myths for common themes i.e. a major god doing the creation, mentions of other races, creation of animals etc. then look at the differences, the bible deals a lot with original sin, Egyptian creation focuses on the sun... try to relate these differences to the culture's physical or social environment.
Example Egyptian creation deals with the sun (as a god), in Egypt the sun is very predominate as it rises over the desert hills, contrast this with the Mayans in a rain forest - they see the sun but it is often obscured by the trees.

Answer 2

I wasn't in on the first question. But this is asking for you to describe the parts of the creation myths that are similar and the parts that are different. The question assumes that differences in the myths are caused by different environments.

The Greeks, for example, placed a heavy emphasis on solar deities, because they lived in a mild climate where the sun seemed to bring warmth and light. But the Edomites, on the other hand, placed a high emphasis on the Moon, because they lived in a desert. To them, the sun was hot and punishing.

Answer 3

Compare the question witht he Norse creation myths about the Frost Giants and Fire Giants and the first man being licked out of the ice by a cosmic cow.

Considering the frozen winters of Scandinavia - easy to see how this climate affected the tales that these people told.