Yoruba

In the earth's infant stages, Olorun, greatest and most powerful of gods, controlled the endless skies and a goddess named Olokun dominated the vast marshes and seas. Bored and frustrated, Obatala, a young god who lived in the skies of Olorun, recognized the need for life in Olokun's kingdom and asked Olorun for permission to create land.

With Olorun’s consent and the help of Orunmila, a prophetic god, Obatala went on to form earth's geological formations including mountains, flatlands, and valleys, as well as earth's vegetation. After some number of months, Olorun created the sun to end the perpetual twilight that shone over earth, and thereafter, Obatala began to create little clay figures in his own image for company.

However, in the midst of his work, he grew fatigued and drank large quantities of fermented coconut juice which affected the quality of his work and caused him to make some deformed figures. After Olorun breathed the breath of life into the various creations, Obatala observed the various deformities of some of the humans, took the blame, and vowed to protect them forever.

Although the new humans and land amazed many gods, they angered Olokun because they encroached on her kingdom, inspiring her to send her most powerful waves crashing over the surfaces of land. The creatures who survived sent a messenger god to the sky, pleading for help from Obatala, however, the confident and powerful Orunmila took Obatala’s place and foiled Olokun’s evil plot.

In an attempt to redeem herself, Olokun challenged the greatest of gods, Olorun, to a weaving match which would decide whether or not she could rid her waters of the land and life that stretched over her kingdom. Knowing the great skills Olokun had, Olorun devised a plan by which he could fool Olokun into backing out of the competition. After his plan succeeded, the goddess conceded to letting land and life dominate her kingdom of waters, and peace returned to the universe.


 * Similarities between Genesis Creation, Yoruba, and "The Enuma Elish"**

Genesis:

-both stories directly tell the reader that men were created in God's or gods' image

-the gods walk and communicate with the humans on earth

-the most powerful god breathes life into the humans

"The Enuma Elish":

-each story involves a situation where a goddess feels particularly wronged, resulting in that goddess taking revenge in some way, shape, or form

-both stories start off with one god and one goddess

-one god fights another by flooding the earth


 * Differences**

Genesis:

-creates humans for company and not for own glory

-gods stay on the earth at the end of creation story

-closure in that peace is restored to the earth

Enuma Elish:

-gods very mild, don't battle to the death, but have weaving contests

-treat humans dearly instead of as savages

-the most powerful god mentioned first and not down the line

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