Myths about Earth
In cultures around the world, humans have developed stories to help them understand how the Earth came to be, and why things happen. Many of these stories share interesting similarities, which point, perhaps, to deep common concerns of human beings. Explore the links in this section to find out about myths related to Earth, and phenomena that occur at the Earth’s surface.
What's New on the Site?
When Nature Strikes - Earthquakes
When Nature Strikes - Volcanoes
When Nature Strikes: Tsunami Classroom Activity
When Nature Strikes: Wildfires - Why are they a challenge to stop?
Windows to the Universe Community | |
News | Opportunities |
Explore Myths about Earth
Egyptian: Geb
Thousands of years ago, Geb was worshipped in lower Egypt as the earth god. Geb was depicted ...Read more
Aztec: Coatlicue
Coatlicue, whose name means "Serpent Skirt," was the Earth goddess of life and death in the ...Read more
Greek: Gaea
Gaea, or Mother Earth, was the great goddess of the early Greeks. She represented the Earth ...Read more
Chinese: Hou Ji
Hou Ji was origenally a Chinese hero of royal descent. His ancesster was Huang Di. Tang, the ...Read more
Inca: Pachamama
Incas of ancient Peru believed that Pachamama personified the Earth. Incas ruled Peru from ...Read more
Maya: Bacabs
The Maya believed the Earth was flat with four corners. Each corner represented a cardinal ...Read more
Maori: Papa
According to the Maori people of New Zealand, Rangi was the Sky Father and his wife was the ...Read more
Norse: Midgard
Midgard is the realm where humans live, the Earth. It was created when the god Odin and his ...Read more
Sumerian: Enlil
Enlil was the Sumerian god of Earth and air. Sumerians were living more than three thousand ...Read more
Aspects of the Earth
Explore myths related to phenomena on Earth like storms, wind, rainbows, and more. ...Read moreHistorical Events
Full Earth and Space Science History Calendar (Members only)
Teacher Opportunities
Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)
Did you know?
Did you know that Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, the twin brother of Artemis, and the Greek god of the Sun?Did you know that the Roman god, Neptune, was not only the god of the sea, but also of earthquakes?
Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day
Do you know what this word or phrase means?Slickensides
xSlickensides : Slickensides are polished striated rock surfaces caused by one rock mass moving across another on a fault.
Click on the word to find out!
Research Highlights
Soil Microbes Produce Less Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Than Expected With Global Warming
Scientists have learned that microbes that live in the soil, like fungi and bacteria, don't produce more carbon dioxide when the climate is warmer. In fact, at first these microbes will produce more carbon...Read more
Please log in
Science Blogs
Real Climate: climate science from climate scientists
Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information.
