Cosmogony through division in Romanian and world mythology

Abstract

In this paper, an interpretation is attempted of the Romanian myth, “Legenda despre zidirea lumii”. Parallels are drawn with tales such as Genesis, the Babylonian narrative of Marduk constructing the world from Tiamat, and the Norse sto­ry of Odin shaping the world from Ymir. In the Romanian myth, Satan’s prideful omis­sion to enunciate God’s blessing as he collects sand results in the formation of varied terrains. His attempt to harm God inadvertently spreads divine blessings all over the world. Similarly, in Norse and Yoruba myths, stifling barriers and attempts at desecra­tion lead to the paradoxical spreading of life and blessings, emphasizing the unforeseen outcomes of resistance to divine will.

Keywords

• cosmogony
• cosmogonic dismemberment
• cosmogonic sacrifice
• “legenda despre zidirea lumii”
• genesis
• romanian mythology
• norse mythology
• candomblé
• babylonian mythology
• santeria
• palo