The giant-impact hypothesis, sometimes called the Big Splash, or the Theia Impact, suggests that the Moon formed from the ejecta of a collision between the proto-Earth and a Mars-sized planet, approximately 4.5 billion years ago, in the Hadean eon (about 20 to 100 million years after the Solar System coalesced).
Mesopotamian legend speaks of Tiamat - the original goddess of creation, later killed by her offspring Marduk, who then forms the heavens and the Earth from her divided body. So the ancient stories conform to this idea of creation as the shattered remains of Tiamat, albeit in allegory of serpents and monsters and gods. Interesting stuff.
The giant-impact hypothesis, sometimes called the Big Splash, or the Theia Impact, suggests that the Moon formed from the ejecta of a collision between the proto-Earth and a Mars-sized planet, approximately 4.5 billion years ago, in the Hadean eon (about 20 to 100 million years after the Solar System coalesced).
Mesopotamian legend speaks of Tiamat - the original goddess of creation, later killed by her offspring Marduk, who then forms the heavens and the Earth from her divided body. So the ancient stories conform to this idea of creation as the shattered remains of Tiamat, albeit in allegory of serpents and monsters and gods. Interesting stuff.