The Diving Duck Creation Myth
The Yakut creation myth about a diving duck that brought the first earth from the bottom of the primordial sea. In the beginning, there was only water. The supreme deity sent a diving duck (or loon) down into the depths to retrieve mud from the ocean floor. The bird succeeded in bringing up a small piece of earth, which the deity then caused to expand and grow into the world as it exists today. This classic 'Earth Diver' myth is widespread among Siberian peoples and represents the Yakut variations on this ancient cosmogonic theme. The legend reflects the importance of waterfowl in Yakut cultur