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The dramatic eruption of Mt Vesuvius.

Deadly Volcanoes: The Eruptions that Reshaped the World and Became Legends – Part I

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When man grows overconfident and full of hubris in his accomplishments and importance, mother nature, or the gods, remind mankind who is really in charge. Or so it may have seemed to the ancients, who witnessed the awesome and raw power of erupting volcanos, and sent out warnings through time in the form of religious lessons, myths, legends and chronicles.

These amazing, violent occurrences were so traumatic and unnatural (or supernatural) to early cultures that since prehistoric times myths and legends have sprung up throughout societies in attempts to explain the events, or protect against them. We explore a few of the more explosive cases here.

Vesuvius – The Destructive Power of Jupiter

Mount Vesuvius had what is probably the most infamous volcanic eruption on August 24, 79 AD. This multiday event was an unmitigated disaster for the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and others.  

Notably, the people of Pompeii suffered greatly as the 300 degrees centigrade (572 Fahrenheit) clouds of gas moved down the volcano and seared them alive— when the ash didn’t choke them, or the flying molten rock and debris didn’t crush, pummel or ignite them.

Some of the victims of Pompeii were sitting, some lying when the superhot gas cloud enveloped them.

Some of the victims of Pompeii were sitting, some lying when the superhot gas cloud enveloped them. (Bigstock photo)

Some of the victims of volcanic gas cloud were clearly in agony

Some of the victims of volcanic gas cloud were clearly in agony (Bigstock photo)

The eruption was a hundred thousand times more thermally energetic than the Hiroshima atomic bombing, and there remains only one surviving witness account to the cataclysm: Pliny the Younger, nephew to ancient historian Pliny the Elder, left behind letters describing the event, and told how his uncle perished in the eruption, as did countless others.

Prior to the eruption of 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius had a long historic and mythical tradition. The mountain was considered a divinity, and was related with serpent imagery, as seen in the preserved frescoes from Pompeii. Vesuvius had connections to the power of Jupiter—god of sky and lightning—and Hercules. During his labors, legend had Hercules passing through the “plain of fire”, “from a hill which anciently vomited out fire ... now called Vesuvius.” It was said to be inhabited by giants (which might explain loud noises, rumbling, or spewing debris). It is not known for certain if Herculaneum was named after the divine hero, but certainly the Romans regarded Mount Vesuvius as being devoted to the demigod.

Fresco of Bacchus and Agathodaemon with Mount Vesuvius, as seen in Pompeii's House of the Centenary. Note the serpent imagery.

Fresco of Bacchus and Agathodaemon with Mount Vesuvius, as seen in Pompeii's House of the Centenary. Note the serpent imagery. (Public Domain)

Thera – Origin of Atlantis?

The island of Santorini in the Greek Cyclades was once known as Thera. Thera was also the name given to the volcano which violently erupted in the middle Bronze Age and engulfed the sophisticated urban center of Akrotiri between 1650 and 1550 BCE. Scholars do not have a precise date for the eruption, and we only know of Akrotiri due to its amazing state of preservation beneath the blanket of ash. This important settlement was rediscovered as recently as 1967. How Atrotiri and Pompeii differ is that when archaeologists cleared the rubble of the Akrotiri, no human remains were found—only the exceptionally preserved remnants of an ancient trading center frozen in time. Clearly the people of Akrotiri had advanced warning enough to evacuate, leaving few possessions behind.

Remarkably preserved artifacts are revealed from the ruins of ancient Akrotiri, Greece.

Remarkably preserved artifacts are revealed from the ruins of ancient Akrotiri, Greece. Source: BigStockPhoto

The myths of both Theseus and the Minotaur, and Jason and the Argonauts have connections to Thera. The Minotaur’s defeat at the hands of Theseus is said to reflect the fall of the Minoan empire, and Jason on his voyages faced an indestructible island guarding, Talos. Talos could grow very hot, throw rocks at ships, and once slain he leaked vital fluids – does this allude to a hot, violent volcano?

But the most compelling myth connected to Thera is that of Atlantis. Some researchers propose that Santorini might have been the location of the legendary island that sank into the sea. The riches and sophistication of Bronze Age Akrotiri certainly disappeared suddenly and without a trace.

Elaborate and colorful fresco revealed at Akrotiri.

Elaborate and colorful fresco revealed at Akrotiri. (Public Domain)

Hekla - the very gateway to Hell

Iceland sits on a high concentration of active volcanoes, but the most devastating in Iceland’s recorded history for the area was Skaftáreldar (fires of Skaftá) in 1783-84, as a quarter of the population died due to the event itself, in addition to the environmental changes, and illnesses, in following years.

In the Middle Ages, so notorious was another active and frequently erupting volcano, Hekla, that it was referred to as “The Gateway to Hell.”

Detail of Abraham Ortelius' 1585 map of Iceland showing Hekla in eruption. The Latin text translates as "The Hekla, perpetually condemned to storms and snow, vomits stones under terrible noise".

Detail of Abraham Ortelius' 1585 map of Iceland showing Hekla in eruption. The Latin text translates as "The Hekla, perpetually condemned to storms and snow, vomits stones under terrible noise". (Public Domain)

Also referred to as “Hell’s Chimney”, the lava, steam and ash must have been disconcerting at least to witnesses. Christians interpreted the erupting fissure as a doorway to the underworld, and the hissing, spitting lava bombs were believed to be spirits flying from hell and screaming out in agony. It was considered a meeting place of witches and demons up until the 1800s.

The eruption of Iceland’s Fimmvörðuháls in 2010.

The eruption of Iceland’s Fimmvörðuháls in 2010. (CC BY 3.0)

Many Icelandic legends have sprung up around Hekla. The rugged terrain was likened to an ancient battlefield where immortal gods fought each other in battle. Their blows with weapons and fists tore up and reshaped the jagged landscape.

The ‘faces’ that can be seen in the lumpy, eroded rock became legends of Ice Trolls and other such monsters who possessed strange and evil powers.

Even the modern radar satellite imagery of Icelandic volcano cauldrons might stir nightmares. Eyjafjallajökull during Eyjafjöll 2010 eruption.

Even the modern radar satellite imagery of Icelandic volcano cauldrons might stir nightmares. Eyjafjallajökull during Eyjafjöll 2010 eruption. (Public Domain)

Fuji - The Miraculous Mountain

Japan’s long relationship with its mountainous landscape and volcanic activity has resonated throughout time and their myths and legends feature volcanoes in abundance. The small country has over one hundred volcanoes in varying states of activity, with Mount Fuji featuring not only as the highest (at 3776 meters or 12,388 feet), but as the most venerated. As such, this behemoth appears widely in Japanese culture and myth. The name “Fuji” itself is believed to come from “Huchi" or "Fuchi", invoking the Goddess of Fire.

Mount Fuji on a serene day.

Mount Fuji on a serene day. (Midorisyu/CC BY 2.0)

Luckily for those living near the currently-dormant volcano, the last eruption was in 1707. Pilgrims make the trek up the mountain annually to observe a tradition that stems back to June of 1500 AD, as revealed in historical record.

The legend has it that Mount Fuji was born in a single day. In the tale, a woodsman named Visu is astonished to witness his flat land jump up and become a mountain overnight. He named it “Fuji-yama”, the “Never-Dying Mountain”.

Geology dates the mountain’s formation at approximately 8500 BC, but the legends insist it was created in 86 BC. Researchers think the discrepancy makes sense, as the geologic record shows an explosive eruption around the more recent timeframe. Thus, the myth was probably influenced by a very real disaster that rocked the population.

Traditional Japanese artwork with Mount Fuji in the distance. 1856, woodblock print.

Traditional Japanese artwork with Mount Fuji in the distance. 1856, woodblock print. (Public Domain)

Learn more about the warning stories and legends of volcanoes in Part II.

Featured image: The dramatic eruption of Mt Vesuvius. (Wikimedia Commons)

By Liz Leafloor

References

Palmer, Jane. 2015. “Why Ancient Myths about Volcanos are Often True”. BBC Earth [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150318-why-volcano-myths-are-true

Silver, Alexandra. 2010. "Top 10 Famous Volcanoes”. TIME [Online] Available at: http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2014572_2014574_2014631,00.html

Volcano World , 2015 . “Volcano Folklore”. Oregon State University [Online] Available at: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/volcano-folklore

Pfeiffer, Tom. 2004. “Santorini and the Legend of Atlantis”. Decade Volcano [Online] Available at: http://www.decadevolcano.net/santorini/atlantis.htm

Wood, Cynthia. 2006. “Son of Krakatoa”. Damn Interesting [Online] Available at: http://www.damninteresting.com/son-of-krakatoa/

Volcano Discovery. 2015. “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”. [Online] Available at: http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/kamchatka.html

LoveBigIsland. 2011. “Volcanic History of the Big Island of Hawaii”. [Online] Available at: http://www.lovebigisland.com/hawaii-blog/hawaii-volcano-history/

 

Comments

Hello Liz,

In The Bible Gospel of Matthew chapter 24; Jesus teaches Fear not The War's or Rumors of War's, for Kingdom shall rise against Kingdom & Nation will rise against Nation; there will be Earthquakes, pestilence, and Famines, in diverse places.

This is important too Christians because we're taught all of these overwhelming problems pointed as Signs of the Second Coming of Christ. It's why were identified as Christian's.

However, when I was reading up on the Ancient World with its legendary stories such as Hercules which I saw as a Myth.

Currently, I'm Studying "The Bible Book's of Enoch", and Jubilees as an in-result; I no longer see those stories like Zeus & Hercules classified as Myth's I think they really did walk the Earth.

Enoch is the origin of those stories from the Ancient World. It teaches where the beings classified as gods or demi-gods originated. God punished these beings because of the Sins of their Father's who were Fallen Angel's and because of the Crimes these Angelic Children committed against Humanity.

Enoch States that the Children of the Fallen Angels dubbed The Watchers numbering 200, their seed grew too 3000 feet in Height, and that they were Cannibals for they ate Us and nearly drove Us too Extinction so this prompted God who is in Heaven too send Righteous Angels to bind up these Fallen Angel's beings our ancestors believed were gods in chains, to lock them up in utter darkness; a places they can't get out of till judgment day when they'll be executed for their Crimes ordained by God. The place of darkness that is their Prison Heaven 2 and Heaven 5 both Heaven's according to Enoch is Hell.

This tells me Hell isn't on Earth like we Believers originally thought but in the Vastness of Space. I guess that's why The Universe is so mysterious.

As for the Angels Children God rendered them into Evil-Spirits.

So far I have one name of the wife of one of the Angels that's Ashera or Asheroth and of course her Greek name Hera.

Then there's one of the names of the Fallen Angel's I'm fairly certain he is not Asheras husband. The name is Satal but his Greek name Atlas.

Then there's the god of war whose temple was discovered back in March and or April of this year 2020 in Turkey Ningirsu based on the figure etched in the temples Stone I noticed he had wing's in the angelic order in Heaven only two out of the rest of the Angelic Body that Serves God have wing's.

Ningrisu is an Cherubim and his Hebrew Name is Azazel he's still bound in his prison with his Fallen Brethren in Hell.

Baraqel or Baraqiel his name means Giver of Lightening or Lightening Giver in Hebrew. I feel that Baraqel might be the Husband of Ashera, Asheroth, Hera the women or either one and the same or she has sister's just know the women the 200 Watcher Angels married were from the bloodline of Cain that's probably another reason their children were called Cannibals.

This means too me that an Watcher Angel might have did something with Volcanoes after all, Neptune, Poseidon, and Sea Deities in India seem to have some kind of ability involving Water but not enough too stop The Great Flood from happening.

Thinking of Azazel and what Enoch described what he did; not only did he teach warfare too people but, he also taught people how too craft weapons for those weapons since Hepheastus crafted weapons for Ares ( Ares could be anyone of those 55 Fallen Angels names Enoch provides in Enoch 1 The Book of the Watchers).

That's what I think about the legends and mythical stories surrounding the Natural Wonders of The World.

Liz

Liz Leafloor is former Art Director for Ancient Origins Magazine. She has a background as an Editor, Writer, and Graphic Designer. Having worked in news and online media for years, Liz covers exciting and interesting topics like ancient myth, history,... Read More

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