Yes, many creation myths begin with a state of nothingness, but that “nothing” is rarely absolute emptiness—it is usually a dark, watery, or formless chaos that contains the potential for all things. Across cultures, the “out of nothing” motif is a way of expressing the mystery of origins, not a literal description of a void.
What Does “Nothing” Mean in Creation Myths?
When a myth says the world was created “out of nothing,” it often means “out of no thing”—no ordered objects, no land, no life—rather than no substance at all. In many traditions, the pre-creation state is described as a boundless ocean, an infinite darkness, or a chaotic mix of elements. For example, in the Babylonian Enuma Elish, the universe begins with two primordial waters: Apsu (fresh water) and Tiamat (salt water). In Hesiod’s Theogony (c. 700 BCE), the first entity is Chaos, a gap or chasm, not a personified god. The Norse Völuspá (from the Poetic Edda) describes a time when “nothing was, neither sand nor sea nor cool waves,” only a great “gaping void” called Ginnungagap. These are not scientific statements; they are mythological attempts to conceive of a time before time.
Key Creation-from-Nothing Myths
- Hesiod’s Theogony (Greek): Chaos appears first, then Earth (Gaia), Tartarus, and Eros. Chaos here is a void or gap, not a deity.
- Norse Völuspá (Icelandic): The poem opens with a void called Ginnungagap, flanked by the fiery realm Muspelheim and the icy Niflheim. From the meeting of heat and ice, the first being, Ymir, emerges.
- Hawaiian Kumulipo: The chant begins in darkness and emptiness, out of which the first life forms—coral, seaweed, and shellfish—gradually appear.
- Ancient Egyptian Hermopolitan cosmology: The universe begins as a dark, watery abyss called Nun. From Nun arises a mound or a lotus, from which the sun god emerges.
- Japanese Kojiki (712 CE): The cosmos begins as a formless, oily chaos. Out of it, the first deities appear spontaneously, including the primordial couple Izanagi and Izanami.
Creation by Thought or Word
Some myths describe creation as a mental or verbal act, which can feel closer to “out of nothing.” In the Egyptian Memphite Theology, the god Ptah creates the world by thinking in his heart and speaking with his tongue. In the Hindu Rigveda (10.129), the “Hymn of Creation” says that before existence there was “neither being nor non-being,” and that the One breathed without breath—creation arises from a kind of cosmic heat (tapas) and desire. This hymn is famous for its skepticism: “Who truly knows? Who can here declare it?” It does not present a single definitive answer, but rather a poetic meditation on the unknowable origin.
Why Do Myths Use “Nothing”?
Myths use “nothing” to emphasize the radical newness of the world. If the world is good, meaningful, and ordered, then its origin must be extraordinary. Starting from a void makes creation a dramatic act—whether by a god, a thought, or an evolutionary process. It also answers a psychological need: humans want to know where they came from, and a story of emergence from darkness or emptiness is a powerful narrative that can be adapted to many cultures. In some traditions, the “nothing” is not passive; it is a living, breathing potential. For example, in the Popol Vuh of the Maya, the creators are described as being in the primordial sea and sky, and they speak the word “Earth,” and it appears. The nothing here is a quiet, expectant stillness.
Common Misconceptions
A frequent misconception is that “out of nothing” is a unique feature of the biblical creation story. In fact, many world mythologies have similar motifs, though they differ in details. Another misconception is that ancient peoples took these myths literally as scientific explanations. While some did, many saw them as symbolic or ritual truths. For example, the Greek philosopher Xenophanes (c. 570–475 BCE) already criticized Homer’s gods as human inventions. The myths themselves often contain internal questions, like the Rigveda hymn, that show doubt and wonder. Also, “nothing” in myth is rarely “nothing” in the modern philosophical sense—it is more like a pre-ordered state, a “not yet” rather than a “not at all.”
Comparisons with Modern Cosmology
It is tempting to compare creation myths with the Big Bang theory, but they are different kinds of explanations. Myths are narrative, symbolic, and moral; science is empirical and mathematical. However, the comparison is useful for understanding that “something from nothing” is a profound human question. Physicists like Lawrence Krauss have written about “a universe from nothing,” but they mean quantum fluctuations in a vacuum, not a mythological void. The two are not interchangeable. Myths can enrich our sense of wonder, but they do not provide testable predictions. A genuinely curious reader might ask: “Did ancient people believe the world was made from literal nothing?” The answer is: usually no—they believed in a primordial chaos or a pre-existing substance, but they framed it as “nothing” to express its incomparability to the ordered world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “creation out of nothing” the same as the Christian doctrine of creatio ex nihilo?
No. Creatio ex nihilo is a specific theological doctrine that developed in early Christianity, asserting that God created the universe from absolutely nothing, with no pre-existing matter. Most world myths describe creation from a pre-existing chaos or substance. The term “out of nothing” is often used loosely to describe any myth that doesn’t start with a fully formed world, but the precise meaning varies.
Do any myths describe creation from a truly empty void?
Some come close, such as the Norse Ginnungagap, which is described as a “yawning void,” but even that void has heat and ice at its edges. The Rigveda hymn comes closest to a philosophical nothing, but it still mentions “the One” that breathes without breath. In practice, myths rarely depict absolute nothingness; they depict a state that is not the world as we know it.
Why do so many creation myths start with water?
Water is a universal symbol of potential and life. It is formless, yet it can take any shape; it is essential for life. In many ancient societies, water was the most obvious source of fertility and chaos. The Egyptian Nun, the Babylonian Apsu and Tiamat, and the Hawaiian ocean all reflect this. Water also makes a practical narrative starting point: it is something that exists, yet it is not a “thing” in the sense of a solid object.
What is the oldest known creation myth?
The oldest written creation myths come from ancient Sumer and Egypt, dating to around 2500–2000 BCE. The Sumerian poem “The Huluppu Tree” and the Egyptian Pyramid Texts contain creation themes. However, the myths themselves are likely much older, passed down orally. The Enuma Elish was written around 1100 BCE, but it draws on earlier Sumerian traditions.
Do creation myths have any common elements across cultures?
Yes, several motifs recur: a primordial chaos or void, a separation of sky and earth, a creator god or gods, and the creation of humans from clay or other materials. These commonalities suggest shared human psychology and environmental experiences, not necessarily cultural diffusion. For example, the separation of sky and earth appears in Greek, Egyptian, Chinese, and Polynesian myths.
How should I read creation myths today?
Read them as literature, philosophy, and cultural heritage. They are not scientific explanations, but they are profound reflections on existence, purpose, and the human place in the cosmos. They can be appreciated for their poetry, their insights into ancient societies, and their enduring influence on art and thought. When reading, ask what the myth says about the culture’s values—such as the importance of order, the role of women, or the relationship between humans and nature.
Related
- Roman Gods & Goddesses: The Complete List
- Who Stole Her Father’s Household Gods?
- Household Gods Book: Best Ancient Deity Guides
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