The Creation of Wolves

For centuries people have feared wolves and told stories about the, depicting them as evil creatures that prey on the innocent. The story of the wolf's creation, like many of those that follow, is a traditional tale. It links the wolf with the Bible story of God's creation of Adam and Eve, and portrays wolf and woman alike as dangerous.

After God banished Adam and Eve from Paradise, he felt sorry for them. 'Maybe I was too harsh,' he told himself. 'I had to punish their disobedience, but after living in Paradise, how will they cope with hunger and cold?' He wanted to make their lives happier. He had an idea and called Adam and Eve.

They expected more punishment. Adam looked anxiously at a willow-rod which God held out to him. But God said gently: 'When you are hungry, and can find nothing to eat, strike this rod upon the sea!'

Then God whispered to Adam, warning him not to let Eve use the rod.

Just as God expected, Adam and Eve found life outside Paradise hard. Soon they had nothing to eat. So they went to the sea-shore and Adam struck the sea three times with the mysterious rod. A pure white animal walked out of the sea and rubbed its soft fleece on Adam's leg. 'Eve,' said Adam, 'here is a sheep, which will give us milk and cheese.'

Greedy Eve wanted another sheep. When Adam slept, she took the rob and stuck the sea. A dark creature rose up, its face cruel and its mouth full of sharp fangs; a fierce and monstrous wolf! With a roar, it grabbed the poor sheep and dragged it into a wood. Eve's screams woke Adam. He seized the rod and struck the sea with all his might.

'Alas! Another wolf!' he cried, as a new animal emerged from the waters, big as the wild beast before. It ran to the wood where the sheep had gone - and brought it back!

The sheep was still shaking from its terrible ordeal but it was safe and sound. The new animal lay down at their feet, with love in its eyes. The was no wolf. 'It's a dog!' said Adam. 'He will be our faithful companion.'

Adam and Eve used the rod again many times. They discovered that the animals Adam called up were easy to tame, while those that Eve summoned from the sea soon ran off to the forest, where they lived a wild life.

Adam's animals were tame, but Eve's were wild.