>>41306225
The myth of Izanagi and Izanami is the Japanese creation story, where the divine couple stirs the primordial ocean with a spear ;) to form the islands of Japan creating many gods and islands. The story ends tragically when Izanami dies giving birth to the fire god, leading Izanagi to a failed attempt to retrieve her from the underworld. Which results in him cutting off the below from the above. Creating the sun, moon, and storm deities, and establishing the cycle of life and death as consequence. - Nihon Shoki Chronicle of Japan
The gods, led by Zeus, feared humanity's strength and arrogance after the humans attempted to scale Mount Olympus. Zeus chose to split them, weakening them while also doubling the population to receive more tribute
ἐπειδὴ οὖν
ἡ φύσις δίχα
ἐτμήθη, ποθοῦν
ἕκαστον τὸ ἥμισυ
“Since nature was divided in two,
each one, longing, seeks its half.” - Aristophanes, in Plato's "Symposium"
