Women's Role In Creation Myths

Creation myths are types of narratives that cultures or groups throughout time use to explain how the world as we know it began or how it became what they knew of it back in their time. With various groups in society throughout time we are now able to look back at several different aspects and outlooks through these creation myths that still live in some way, shape, or form. However, the creation myths we observe in the class have evidence that dates back to the time of their telling whether it be through text or hieroglyphs. With several ways to observe these creation myths an interesting way would be by comparing and contrasting the views and beliefs held by groups through time and how they shift. A genuinely intriguing topic of discussion is the role of women in the creation myths and

As Inanna was a goddess who was told to grow and mature through the creation myth did so by being "turned into a corpse, a piece of rotting meat" and "ascended from the underworld" which allowed her to ultimately get a much better understanding on the cycle of life which led to her overall maturity (33-37). Without Inanna making her journey through life and death the belief of the seasonal cycles would not have been possible since her husband was to take her place in the underworld and come for six months or better known as the spring and summer seasons. Similarly, in the Hymn to Osiris, the wife and sister of Osiris who plays a major role is also a queen/goddess. Hence, when "[Isis] protected [Osiris], she that held the foes aloof and,,,revived the faintness of [Osiris]" (113). As the text illustrates when Osiris was deceived and killed by his brother, Isis searched, found, and revived Osiris therefore, without Isis the role Osiris ends up playing in the underworld would not have been possible along with the sort of idea or belief of a reincarnation they held. However, in The Genesis women are interestingly portraying a different role. More