Mapping the Origin of Life, the Universe, and Everything
According to Haudenosaunee tradition, the Earth was once entirely covered by water. One day a muskrat swam to the bottom of the great sea and surfaced with a tiny clump of mud. This mud was placed on the back of a giant turtle, where it grew until it became the earth. This is just one of dozens of creation stories that you can explore on the Origin Myth Map , an interactive atlas of the myths that civilizations have used to explain the origins of the universe, the earth and humanity. The map brings together the origin traditions of 51 civilizations spanning five historical eras, from prehistoric societies to the early modern period. What makes the Origin Myth Map particularly compelling is that it isn't simply a collection of stories plotted on a map. It provides a range of tools for comparing myths across both geography and time. The Haudenosaunee story, for example, can be explored alongside more than two dozen other myths involving primordial waters or great floods. With a clic...
