The Mystery of Death Myths

The mystery of death is a found in the myths of most cultures. Death is a universal feature of human life, so stories about its origin appear to be universal in human cultures. A type of myth that explains the origins of a culture and the problems that faces it each region has its own distinguishing features however there is a common theme.

 In the myths of African cultures, in the beginning there was no death. People die but are reborn in some stories rebirth is lost such as when there is greed or arrogance in earthly life or as a punishment for not observing acceptable behavior. Other themes are removing the link between heaven and Earth such as in the tower of Babel.

The origin of death is a common theme in Native American mythology. The myths often blame the clever Coyote. A common explanation of death was that it was the result of a debate between two people or animals in which one would choose death and the other immortality.

In an early Greek myth death is attributed to of an argument between Zeus and Prometheus the Titan. As a result of this quarrel, Zeus creates a woman, Pandora and presents her with a coffin in which death is one of the results of his opening of Pandora’s Box.

The Egyptian creation myth describes the death of an old Universe and its rebirth as a new Universe, by the ‘death and rebirth of the Creator. The creation myth of the death and rebirth beliefs that were important in ancient Egypt which is seen throughout the culture of the Egyptians; the death and rebirth of the Sun; the equinox and the eclipses Also the death and rebirth of the Moon with it’s eclipses; the death and rebirth of the stars; the river Nile with its flooding and periods of dryness and agriculture; all relate to the death and rebirth of the king who is empowered with the qualities of the Creator. These natural, recurring events were a remembrance of the death and rebirth of the Universe, incarnated by the death and rebirth of the Creator or God.

The true God of ancient Egypt was not the Sun god but the Creator, who had died and was reborn at the beginning of time.

Death and rebirth is observed in many cultures such as the birth of the universe out of chaos. Life has its cycles as the seasons, and although the myths vary in some ways the idea of rebirth after death. By going to a heaven, or place without the pains of life exist in most religions.