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.
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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 originally a Chinese hero of royal descent. His ancestor 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
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Did you know?
Did you know that, in Egyptian mythology, the sky goddess Nut married the Earth god Geb, and that the Sun god Re was angry, and so forced them to separate?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?Ballast water
xBallast water : Water carried in a vessel to give it stability; may be a mode of transport for invasive species
Click on the word to find out!
Research Highlights
Caribbean Coral Reef Protection Efforts Miss the Mark
Conservation efforts to protect endangered corals in the Caribbean focus on the areas that have the largest variety of species. Ann Budd of the University of Iowa and John Pandolfi of the University of...Read more
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