(no subject)
I find Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics, a writing system used to write several Native American languages, especially Canadian ones, fascinating, in a specific way. It was, according to Wikipedia, invented by a missionary named James Evans. However! Cree myth states that it was a divine gift, predating European contact. Divine or supernatural origin for inventions is not new; Hermes invented boxing and the lyre, Theseus (semidivine) invented wrestling, Thoth invented writing, fallen angels taught antedeluvians to make weapons, instruments and brass.
But this seems different. Here we have something with known, specific, historic invention, but we also have a myth about its origin. Are there any other cases of this that people can think of?
(And I mean this actual. I'm sure I could come up with stories about the lambda calculus being handed down to Church by the Archangel Gabriel, or Perl being given to Larry Wall by Ialdabaoth, but that is somewhat tongue-in-cheek.)
But this seems different. Here we have something with known, specific, historic invention, but we also have a myth about its origin. Are there any other cases of this that people can think of?
(And I mean this actual. I'm sure I could come up with stories about the lambda calculus being handed down to Church by the Archangel Gabriel, or Perl being given to Larry Wall by Ialdabaoth, but that is somewhat tongue-in-cheek.)