Irish Creation Stories

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Irish Creation Stories

• By Nikki Pierce

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Creation Myth 1

• Giants were regarded as the ancient, original
  gods
• Tale begins with the very first winter
• Enormous giant created from hoarfrost
• Fire came
• The remnants of the giants body formed the
  universe.
• BodyWorld
• BloodSeas and Oceans
• BonesMountains
• HairForests and Trees
• SkullSky

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Cont. of Creation Myth 1

• Gods lived on the mountainous hills in the heart
  or core of the Earth.
• Below the valleys was the underworld, home of the
  dead
• Gods were very superstitious and mysterious

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Creation Myth Version 2

• Heaven and Earth were great giants
• Their children lived in the darkness between
• One son led brothers to cut Heaven into pieces
• Heavens skull made the firmament

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Cont. of Version 2

• His blood spilt and great flood killed everyone
  except single pair.
• Saved by some sort of ship
• Waters settled in hollows to become the oceans

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Creation Myth and Culture

• Pattern of Creation
• Most tell very vague story
• Most stories have places
• existing already
• Attributes and Deities
• Around 33 gods and
• goddesses
• Both mortal and immortal
• Revitalized after dying
• Had shape-changing powers
• Very human but heroic and
• influenced

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Cont. of Myth and Culture

• Evil and the Afterlife
• No specific mention of evil
• Afterlife was thought to be automatic
• No fear of death
• Values and Beliefs
• Kinship ties
• Rank
• Competition for wealth

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