Since the dawn of mankind we have developed our architecture, gradually dissociating it from Mother Nature, even though she has been our refuge for centuries. Lately, this evolution has caused economic dependency on exhaustible forms of energy. In our essay, we examine crude earth, clay, mud, of various forms and processes, as a contemporary – although ancient in origin – proposal for building material, as opposed to the prevalent – although much younger – brick. In our days, crude earth marches forth as a result of the word energy crisis as well as the uprising of ecological concern, since it makes for ideal – both economically and energywise – material and appears as an excellent vessel to cross many contemporary Symplegades, or Clashing Rocks, in architecture. Many prominent pioneers of contemporary architecture have also contributed to this crude - earth “restoration” by acknowledging and embracing the sculptural and human-oriented character of clay construction both originally and in their own work. The countries depicted indicatively herein constitute important places where mud architecture still evolves in a perpetual course of centuries, a part of both secular and sacred function, making fertile “ground” for the cycle of human life.