Although different in each region, cosmogenic myths have many universal elements that seem essential to the genre. The archetypal creation or origin myth contains four ideas that lay the foundation for later cultural dogma: primitive chaos, dualism, creation through sacrifice, and conjecture. They can start very simple and become more complex as they evolve over time. They can be distorted because they are transmitted by oral tradition. And then later, when they are written, the meaning may change. But none of this will matter because, without the proper context, one cannot understand the true implications of cosmogenic myths. The Greek philosopher and student of Socrates, Plato lived in Athens around 1900. 429-347 BCE. His work explores political, ethical and metaphysical themes and has influenced the development of Western society. Plato's works endure not only because of the concepts they explore, but also because of their dialectical style. All but one of his works are in the form of dialogue, in which the characters hold philosophical debates. His dialogues have caused much controversy among scholars, as it is unclear which parts were Plato's beliefs and which belonged to the character. Since this is true, it is believed that Plato's intention was for the reader to consider the works as a whole. Any interpretation of Plato reflects one's personal philosophy, which may have been his intention; why should the author's thoughts seem better than our own interpretations of his philosophical principles? Plato's Timaeus deals with the creation of the universe (or kosmos) and is widely accepted as part of his later works. In Timaeus, Plato describes how the divine artisan, or Demiurge, created order from chaos by laying down a carpet...... middle of paper ......, 2011. Web. November 2, 2011. Reed, Annette Y. “The Five Books of Moses.” Thesis. McMaster University: Department of Religious Studies, Fall 2004. AnnetteReed.Com. Internet. November 3, 2011. .Shorey, Paul. “Interpretations of Timaeus”. The American Journal of Philology 9.8 (1888): 395-418. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Internet. October 18, 2011. Tanner, J. Paul. “Old Testament I: Analysis of Old Testament Sources.” Conference. Twelfth session. Biblical Theological Studies. June 1, 2000. the web. November 3, 2011. Zeyl, Donald, "Plato's Timaeus", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2009 edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed...), .