Geomythology

GEOMYTHOLOGYLEGENDS OF THE EARTH

GEOMYTHOLOGY IS…

The study of myths created by pre-scientific cultures to explain geological events such as earthquakes, floods, fossils, and other natural features.

TWO TYPES OF GEOMYTHOLOGY

1. Folk explanations of notable geologic features

2. Garbled descriptions of catastrophic geologic events

THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND EARTHQUAKESTremors were the result of struggling giants imprisoned in the Earth by Zeus

Large magnitude tectonic quakes with tsunamis were attributed to

Poseidon, the Earth-shaking god of the sea

THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND VOLCANOES

Hawaiian volcanoes inspired stories about the fire goddess Pele

digging a series of great fire pits as she traveled across the islands

Mt. Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, is said to erupt because of Typhon’s attempts to escape the mountain. He was imprisoned there by Zeus

Virgil and Pliny the Elder suggested that the giant, one-eyed Cyclopes personified other active volcanoes in the Mediterranean

OTHER GEOMYTHS

• Legends of “birdless places” originated in regions where toxic natural gases are released from vents in the Earth, affecting plant and wildlife.

• The image of the cave-dwelling, fire-breathing Chimera, which dwelled in what is now Turkey, was influenced by spontaneously burning natural gas wells in Asia Minor.

• Cosmic wars, in which the gods destroyed giant monsters and buried them underground, account for fossils of pre-historic elephants and other large mammals.

THE FUTURE OF GEOMYTHOLOGY

• The permanent and safe disposal of thousands of tons of radioactive material from nuclear reactors and weapons may influence geologists to think geomythologically.

• This waste is expected to remain radioactive for 100,000 years.

• The plan is to bury the waste deep underground and prevent it from being disturbed for 10,000 years.

• To do this warnings must remain effective until the year 12,000 A.D.

• Written and visual markers of menacing design• To warn civilizations ahead of the danger

buried underground

CREATE YOUR OWN GEOMYTH/GEOCHARACTER

• IN THE FORM OF A WRITTEN MYTH• IN THE FORM OF A COLORED

DRAWING WRITTEN EXAMPLES

• HAWAIIAN LEGEND: PELE• ZEUS VS. TYPHON

DRAWINGS/GEOCHARACTERS

global warming

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

POLLUTION

NUCLEAR WAR