The present book is a compilation of studies on narratives of mythical
origins in different cultures written by outstanding specialists. It
aims to provide a broad view on creation-myths from different times and
areas of the world with a particular focus on how these texts
contributed to the conception of the past as "universal history", as a
common origin of mankind or as the great opening, the theatrum mundi.
On the other hand, the purpose of this book is to study the phenomenon
from a typological point of view, analyzing the specific characteristics
of this particular type of texts, rather than finding influences between
the different cultures in the genesis of these narratives.