14. The Egyptian sun god Atum wept human beings into existence.
In the beginning, only a primordial ocean, Nun, existed. From Nun, emerged a benben, a great pyramid-shaped mound. Behind the benben came the first emergence of the sun and from its ledges stood the first god, Atum, creator of all life. Previously within Nun, Atum floated aimlessly about carrying both male and female aspects. He willed himself to arise from the waters so he could create other life forms. He formed life by using his female aspect. His first two creations were his children, Shu and Tefnut.
Atum, Shu, and Tefnut joined together to form one single being, and chaos left the world. After experiencing this union and feeling the joy of creation, Atum wept. From his tears, human beings were formed. Just as the human beings were wept into creation, Shu and Tefnut mated and created the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut. When Geb and Nut were born, they held each other in such a tight embrace they could barely be separated from one another.