Significance of Water in Creation Stories
Samantha Wilson
Molinaro, R
HUM-2211-01Z
10 February 2014
Water: What’s the big Deal?
The most important nutrient for the human body is water. Many people fail to understand that water makes up “more than 85%” of the body and the need to to replenish it frequently is undeniably critical (Altman 7). A mere drop of 1% below the normal water balance in your body will leave you thirsty, and a drop of 12% will have you close to death (Altman 12). While commonly misused and wasted in modern society, ancient civilizations understood that water was sacred, an exhaustible substance that gave all living things their ability to live. Water is present within most creation stories as the genesis of life because of its indispensable life sustaining properties. The oldest religious literature of India is the Rig-Veda; a hymn from the Rig Veda claims that human life began “in the watery darkness” (Fiero 14). Another creation story passed down orally by African tribal people says that life originated in “the slender grasses that grow in wet, marshy soil” (Fiero 14). This is very similar to Egyptian myths of creation that stated “At the beginning of time, the Niles primordial waters brought forth a mound of silt, out of which emerged the self-generating sun god; and from that god the rest of Egypt’s gods were born” (Fiero 45). Although unable to pinpoint the exact water source where the first living cells came into existent, scientists have suggested that they came from deep-sea hydrothermal vents, thus proving water truly is the source of all living things (The First Life on Earth). All of these creation stories show that ancient civilizations not only greatly appreciated water but also acknowledged its significant role in evolution and survival. The abundance of water may well be another significant factor in why it was considered so important amongst ancient civilizations. There is myriads of life thriving in marine water, both animals and plants. Outside of the
Molinaro, R
HUM-2211-01Z
10 February 2014
Water: What’s the big Deal?
The most important nutrient for the human body is water. Many people fail to understand that water makes up “more than 85%” of the body and the need to to replenish it frequently is undeniably critical (Altman 7). A mere drop of 1% below the normal water balance in your body will leave you thirsty, and a drop of 12% will have you close to death (Altman 12). While commonly misused and wasted in modern society, ancient civilizations understood that water was sacred, an exhaustible substance that gave all living things their ability to live. Water is present within most creation stories as the genesis of life because of its indispensable life sustaining properties. The oldest religious literature of India is the Rig-Veda; a hymn from the Rig Veda claims that human life began “in the watery darkness” (Fiero 14). Another creation story passed down orally by African tribal people says that life originated in “the slender grasses that grow in wet, marshy soil” (Fiero 14). This is very similar to Egyptian myths of creation that stated “At the beginning of time, the Niles primordial waters brought forth a mound of silt, out of which emerged the self-generating sun god; and from that god the rest of Egypt’s gods were born” (Fiero 45). Although unable to pinpoint the exact water source where the first living cells came into existent, scientists have suggested that they came from deep-sea hydrothermal vents, thus proving water truly is the source of all living things (The First Life on Earth). All of these creation stories show that ancient civilizations not only greatly appreciated water but also acknowledged its significant role in evolution and survival. The abundance of water may well be another significant factor in why it was considered so important amongst ancient civilizations. There is myriads of life thriving in marine water, both animals and plants. Outside of the
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