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Myths and legends
With advances in science, we understand natural phenomena like
earthquakes, volcanoes, and others much better today. We know
what causes them and where they are most likely
to occur, and we can even predict some of them.
However, earlier civilizations thought of them
as acts of God. Many mythological stories
were associated with natural phenomena. In
the absence of scientific understanding, they
were perhaps a way to explain the destructive
forces of nature.
Thunderstorms …
The Norse god of thunder, Thor, would ride
on his chariot during thunderstorms and
whenever he threw his hammer, called Mjöllnir, it caused lightning.
Earthquakes …
According to the Japanese, a very naughty giant catfish lived beneath the
earth and shook about, causing tremors and earthquakes. The protecting
god Kashima would keep a
huge magical stone on the
catfish so that it could not
move. Whenever he relaxed,
the catfish would shake,
causing earthquakes.
Storms
In Greek mythology,
Typhoeus, or Typhon, was
a monster of the primitive
world, who was trapped
by the god Zeus. He was
described as the source of
all hurricanes and storms.
He had hundred hands
and fifty heads to unleash
violent storm winds.
TICKER God Thor, the god of
thunder in German
paganism, caused
lightning whenever he
threw his hammer.
Indians believe that the earth is held up by four elephants that stand on the back of a turtle,
With advances in science, we understand natural phenomena like
earthquakes, volcanoes, and others much better today. We know
what causes them and where they are most likely
to occur, and we can even predict some of them.
However, earlier civilizations thought of them
as acts of God. Many mythological stories
were associated with natural phenomena. In
the absence of scientific understanding, they
were perhaps a way to explain the destructive
forces of nature.
Thunderstorms …
The Norse god of thunder, Thor, would ride
on his chariot during thunderstorms and
whenever he threw his hammer, called Mjöllnir, it caused lightning.
Earthquakes …
According to the Japanese, a very naughty giant catfish lived beneath the
earth and shook about, causing tremors and earthquakes. The protecting
god Kashima would keep a
huge magical stone on the
catfish so that it could not
move. Whenever he relaxed,
the catfish would shake,
causing earthquakes.
Storms
In Greek mythology,
Typhoeus, or Typhon, was
a monster of the primitive
world, who was trapped
by the god Zeus. He was
described as the source of
all hurricanes and storms.
He had hundred hands
and fifty heads to unleash
violent storm winds.
TICKER God Thor, the god of
thunder in German
paganism, caused
lightning whenever he
threw his hammer.
Indians believe that the earth is held up by four elephants that stand on the back of a turtle,
