Why is the Java main method static?

Question

The method signature of a Java main() method is:

public static void main(String[] args){
    ...
}

Is the

Answer 1

From java.sun.com (there's more information on the site) :

The main method is static to give the Java VM interpreter a way to start the class without creating an instance of the control class first. Instances of the control class are created in the main method after the program starts.

My understanding has always been simply that the main method, like any static method, can be called without creating an instance of the associated class, allowing it to run before anything else in the program. If it weren't static, you would have to instantiate an object before calling it-- which creates a 'chicken and egg' problem, since the main method is generally what you use to instantiate objects at the beginning of the program.