Myths about the Sky

Many early civilizations developed myths of sky gods or goddesses, to help them explain the sky and the stars. These deities were usually particularly important or powerful, associated with or the most powerful gods or goddesses in their pantheons. The stories below provide an overview of a few myths associated with sky gods and goddesses identified by early civilizations around the world.
For millennia, people have sought to understand the origin of the heavens, and the stars in the sky.  This image, entitled "The Universe and Man", is based on an earlier 16th century graphic and was later published by French astronomer Camille Flammarion in L'Atmosphre: Mtorologie Populaire (Paris, 1888).<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Photodisc, Inc.  </em></small></p>

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