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Earthquake myths
When viewed with our modern understanding of why the earth moves, earthquake myths seem humorous and

inconsequential. But they were once standards of their various cultures, a way of trying to understand the powerful
natural events that could so greatly affect the lives of ancient people.
Earthquake myths evolved in many cultures and reflected unique and interesting perspectives of the shifting crust.
And in spite of the advances scientists have made in understanding the reasons for earthquakes, modern myths
exist that capture the imaginations of numerous people, remaining rooted not only in the United States, but all
over the world.

ancient myths
ancient greece
Thales of Miletos (6th century BCE) believed an agitation of the great sea on
which the earth floats, produced earthquakes. But the notion that the
movement of air in subterrestrial chambers created earthquakes formed the
basis for the most elaborate theories of ancient times.

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Mexican - vaqueros, california

El Diablo, an Indian god, made a giant rip in the gound so that he and his
cohorts did not have to take the long way around whenever they wanted to
stir up mischief on the earth.

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Gabrielino indians - southern california

Long ago, when most of the world was water, Great Spirit decided to make a
beautiful land, which was carried on the backs of turtles. One day, the turtles
began to argue and three turtles began to swim east, while the other four swam
west. The earth shook! It cracked with a loud noise! The turtles could not
swim far because the land on their backs was heavy. When they saw that they
could not swim far away they stopped arguing and made up. But every once in
awhile the turtles that hold up California anger again, and each time they do,
the earth skakes.
hindus of india
It was believed that eight mighty elephants held up the land. When one of
them grew weary, it lowered and shook its head, causing an earthquake.

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kamchatka, siberia russia

A god named Tuli drove an earth-laden sled pulled by flea-infested dogs.
When the dogs stopped to scratch, the earth shook.

mongolia, china
A gigantic frog, which carried the earth on its back, twitched periodically,
producing slight quakes.
peru
Whenever a major god visited the earth to count how many people were there,
his footsteps caused earthquakes. To shorten his task, the people ran out of
their homes to shout I am here! I am here! (their myth incorporated the
wisdom of leaving their flimsy houses during an earthquake.)

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kukis of assam, india

A race of people who lived inside the earth shook the earth to find out if
anyone still lived on the surface.When the Kukis felt a quake, they shouted
Alive! Alive! to assure the people within the earth that someone was still
there.
japan
A giant catfish lived in mud beneath the earth. The catfish liked to play pranks
and could only be restrained by Kushima, a god who protected the Japanese
people from earthquakes. So long as Kushima kept a mighty rock with
magical powers over the catfish, the earth was still. If he relaxed his guard,
however, the catfish thrashed about, causing earthquakes.
modern folklore

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the swallowing earth

People all over the world believe that when an earthquake occurs, a chasm
may open up along the fault. Anybody standing over the fault will fall in and
be swallowed by the violent earth. This is a myth. Sudden movement along
a fault may create a shallow crevice, however, there is no reliable account of
anyone falling to his or her death in such a crack.
earthquake immunity
Some people believe that they are protected from a large earthquake because
their home is often shaken by small earthquakes that let off steam.This is
not true. A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases only one
thousandth the energy of a large magnitude 7.0 earthquake. The moderate
quakes may actually be precursors of larger earthquakes.

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astrological considerations
The idea that somehow Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn govern the destructive action
of the earth, and the notion of earth tides as possible triggers for earthquakes,
has been popular for sometime. Earth tides are caused as the rotating earth is
influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. The most careful
scientific studies show no meaningful relationship of earthquakes and earth
tides. (See USGS circular 1083.)