popol Vuh

[davidh]

When I read the story Popol Vuh... I kind of thought that why is water so important in most of the creation myth. It could be the Sky, earth, or like the sun as a common factor of creation myth.... i mean some of them are but water is like main thing.. why? what do you guys think of water as a beginning of creation ? what kind of reason could you guys support?

[jessicashim2013]

Sky and Earth are not what people can use for their survival. Sunlight is also important as water but its not what we can get anytime we want. Sun appears on creation myth but water is what it brings life. People settled near the river for fishing and farming to get water easily. To trade with foreign countires, staying next to the river was an advantage they could take.
Like we discussed in class, water was in Earth before God created it or it was just there since when. So it symbolizes mystery. This is why creation myth and water has some relationship.

[julielu]

I heard that water represents mystery in literature and I agree with that. People live on the lands. There are now still so many things that people don't know about the ocean such as Loch Ness monster. Water is a good stuff to use for writing myths. It's easy to deceive the readers and it's hard to uncover.

[jessicak016]

I agree with Jessica. In the past until now, humans have known that water is essential for their lives, and have made use of water in their daily life in various ways. We, people, use water for cooking our food, wash ourselves, and do irrigitation in farming. So, it is reasonable why in many creation myths, people value water above everything else.
Also we know that sun is important for the lives on earth, too (like for human growth, photosynthesis, etc.). And creation myths mention the sun as a part of day and night. However, people during that period of time might have not known that sun was also as important as water because they could not control sun as much as they could do with water.

[cesar]

Pretty much what the rest have said. I think culures have golryfied water because its the source of life in general. Just like the sun and maybe its just a coincidence that the cultures we have been studying have water as a natural spawn and not the product of a god.

[RegXD]

i agree with both jessica from the egyptian poems, we learn that Ra is their sun god. which means that sun could be in the creation myths. as for water that actually depends because for different people or tribes from different region of the world will have relatively different creation myths and stories. people in the past use water as their source to prove everything that they think is mysterious. and they also use water as food supplies for their people or tribe. water provides food and growth to all creatures. so i think thats why people use water as a great source to prove or indicate that water is also a mystery thing to include in the creation myths.

[hannahs]

Like other people said, water is essential for life so it makes sense that water was there from the beginning so that life could actually happen. Also, as we learned in class, water can symbolize a lot of different things than just life such as the unknown. So I guess since it's mysterious we don't know for sure why water is apparent in the beginning of every creation myths.

[minchoi0923]

I think most of the creation myths mention that water was there since the beginning not only because it was the source of life. It is true that water is essential to grow plants but if that's the case, why not earth? and why not sunlight? I think people considered water as more important matter because water was necessary in almost all kinds of matters. It was necessary for transportation, agriculture, religious ceremonies, and etc. Maybe this is why they started considering water as a holy thing and thought it was impossible for someone "creating" water.

[joannekim]

I agree with what other people said-we cannot live without water, and sky, earth, or sun is less important than water. To early humans, life and food come out from water. All the crops and fruits can grow from water. Humans and animals also should drink water much. Sky, earth, or sun perhaps was common in early times, but some places did not have enough water, which makes it more valuable. I guess this is why every early culture has water in its creation myth.

[sujeonggg]

I also agree with jessica. Water is what we actually need to survive rather than sky, earth and sun. I believe water was really significant in those creation myths since the God created the earth on the water and destroyed the earth(world) by the water.

[elijahlee]

I think that they didn't wanna say that the universe started with nothing. I think. Like the above people said, I think water symbolizes the unknown. But i think also what is important is the simple fact that the water is present. It's first. It's always been there, and was there from the beginning. Heck, maybe water in their belief is God in a sense, the first being, as the sprout presentation so clearly showed us haha.

[Alam10kkfs]

Water is the source of life. In the literature that i have studied, if there was a water then there's a life. Water is so important in today's society, who doesnt need water? we absolutely do need water.

[elijahlee]

I think that they didn't wanna say that the universe started with nothing. I think. Like the above people said, I think water symbolizes the unknown. But i think also what is important is the simple fact that the water is present. It's first. It's always been there, and was there from the beginning. Heck, maybe water in their belief is God in a sense, the first being, as the sprout presentation so clearly showed us haha.

[sang]

So, in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death," the seven rooms represent the different stages of life and essentially, the first room, which is colored blue, represents the beginning of life. Now, you can call it a coincidence, but water is blue. I know this sound cheesy and corny, but really, if the color blue symbolizes birth and the beginning of life, then I think it's fair to state that water in a way relates to this idea.

[junaen0416]

Water is really the most essential part of life. No matter what you eat or what you consume, you just can't live without water. That was where the first sign of life began since the dawn of time. Come to think of it, scientists are searching for water in other planets just to ensure that water supports life. Water is still being researched for why it is extraordinary and why does it support life. And as Sang mentioned about water being blue, it may also represent a sign of peace and comfort. You would want to take shower with hot water when you feel cold, or might want to have a cold drink during hot weather etc. There are many, infinite reasons you could relate water of being the most significant part of life.