Changes

In early [[myths]], life created by spitting is [[equivalent]] to the [[breath]] of the [[creator]] or the [[divine]] [[word]]. In one version of an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_Religion Egyptian creation myth], the primeval god [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atum Atum] spits out his children [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shu_(Egyptian_deity) Shu] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefnut Tefnut]. Shu was the god of air (e.g., [[breath]]), Tefnut was the goddess of [[moisture]] (e.g., spittle), and the mouth was their place of [[birth]].

In early [[myths]], life created by spitting is [[equivalent]] to the [[breath]] of the [[creator]] or the [[divine]] [[word]]. In one version of an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_Religion Egyptian creation myth], the primeval god [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atum Atum] spits out his children [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shu_(Egyptian_deity) Shu] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefnut Tefnut]. Shu was the god of air (e.g., [[breath]]), Tefnut was the goddess of [[moisture]] (e.g., spittle), and the mouth was their place of [[birth]].

In [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_Mythology Norse mythology] a being called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvasir Kvasir] was formed from the spittle of the gods. To commemorate a [[peace]] [[treaty]] among them, all the gods spat into a jar, and from this mixture Kvasir was created. He was so [[wise]] that there was no [[question]] he could not answer. Later he was slain by two dwarfs who mixed his [[blood]] with honey and concocted the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead mead] of [[inspiration]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead_of_Poetry]. By cunning, the high god [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin Odin] swallowed every drop of the mead, changed himself into an eagle, and returned to the waiting gods, who were holding out vessels for Odin once again to spit out the mead. A drink of this mead bestowed the gift of [[poetry]] on men. On his flight back, however, Odin had lost some of the mead when pursued by a giant who had also assumed the form of an eagle. This part of the mead became known as the fool-poet's portion.

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_Mythology Norse mythology] a being called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvasir Kvasir] was formed from the spittle of the gods. To commemorate a [[peace]] [[treaty]] among them, all the gods spat into a jar, and from this mixture Kvasir was created. He was so [[wise]] that there was no [[question]] he could not answer. Later he was slain by two dwarfs who mixed his [[blood]] with honey and concocted the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead mead] of [[inspiration]][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead_of_Poetry]. By cunning, the high god [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin Odin] swallowed every drop of the mead, changed himself into an eagle, and returned to the waiting gods, who were holding out vessels for Odin once again to spit out the mead. A drink of this mead bestowed the gift of [[poetry]] on men. On his flight back, however, Odin had lost some of the mead when pursued by a giant who had also assumed the form of an eagle. This part of the mead became known as the fool-poet's portion.

In this [[myth]], the [[holy]] spittle and [[blood]] have become identical, one being [[transformed]] into the other. Mead, [[blood]], and spittle are three familiar [[sources]] of [[inspiration]], here combined in one [[myth]]. The Norse gods' making a [[covenant]] by spitting is related to the [[custom]] of becoming [[blood]] brothers. Similarly, to spit into each other's mouth is a way to [[pledge]] [[friendship]] in East Africa.

In this [[myth]], the [[holy]] spittle and [[blood]] have become identical, one being [[transformed]] into the other. Mead, [[blood]], and spittle are three familiar [[sources]] of [[inspiration]], here combined in one [[myth]]. The Norse gods' making a [[covenant]] by spitting is related to the [[custom]] of becoming [[blood]] brothers. Similarly, to spit into each other's mouth is a way to [[pledge]] [[friendship]] in East Africa.