Volcanic legends

Volcanoes have always fascinated man by terrifying him with their uncontrollable eruptions.

The 'fire' that came out of the bowels of the Earth has given birth to countless legends throughout the world.

(Mount Fuji-Yama @Kecia)

Japan

Fuji-Yama is a sacred mountain and is the object of real veneration.

Each year, the temple located on the top, 3776 m high, is a popular pilgrimage destination. Mount Fuji is said to be the home of various deities.

Numerous legends circulate about it. One of them tells that the volcano was born from the unfinished dream of a giant who wanted to fill the Pacific.

For a whole night, the poor wretch filled sacks of earth to unload them into the ocean; but, seeing that his work made no progress, he ended up giving up and threw the last sacks on Japan: thus Fuji-Yama would be born.

Thomas Hirsch (Mount Bromo)

Indonesia

Most Indonesian volcanoes harbor deities, spirits or demons. This is the case of the Mount Bromo , east of Java.

According to a legend, a couple of princes who could not have children turned to the god of the volcano vowing to offer him one of their children. The spouses had numerous offspring and sacrificed their 25th child to the volcano.

From now on, ritual offerings regularly pay homage to this volcano. Once a year, numerous pilgrims climb the slopes of the volcano to gather there for an entire night, before throwing flowers, fruits, coins, sometimes even hens and goats into the crater.

USGS (Kilauea)

Hawaii

In Hawaii, the Kilauea crater is home to Pelea , the goddess of volcanoes. In ancient times, Pelea was pursued by her sister Namaka Okahai, the goddess of the sea. Whenever Pelea settled on an island, she lit the fire of a volcano; and, each time his sister turned off the brazier. Eventually, Pelea settled on the big island, on top of the Kilauea volcano . When he is angry, he stamps his foot on the ground, causing an earthquake and triggering volcanic eruptions.

(Mount Taranaki)

New Zeland

A Maori legend explains the behavior and location of three of the main volcanoes of the North Island.

In ancient times, Taranaki (today's Mount Egmont, 3 centuries asleep) and Ruapehu both fell in love with the beautiful Tongariro.

A tremendous fight ensued, during which Ruapehu threw on the opponent the boiling water contained in the lake of his crater.

Taranaki replied by throwing a shower of stones at Ruapehu which devoured them, melted them and spat them back on him. Gravely wounded, Taranaki fled to the sea, digging the Wanganui valley as he passed.

Cessna (Ol Doinyo Lengai)

Africa

In Tanzania, the Ol Doinyo Lengai is a sacred volcano, like all the mountains in the region.

The Masai people , who live at his feet, nicknamed him " the mountain of God ", as they think that Engai, their divinity, regularly comes to manifest itself.

They feel a respectful fear in front of this mountain that rises in the middle of the savannah and avoid spending the night on its slopes.

Among the Masai, only a few prophets are entitled to go down inside the craters of the volcano; they go there to discuss with Engai, hear his messages and pass them on to the people.

Joe Bruce (Devil's Tower)

North America

The Amerindians of Wyoming explain the presence of a stunning peak of volcanic rock , the Devil's Tower , with a curious legend.

The relief would have come out of the earth to save seven girls being chased by a giant bear. Lifted off the ground, they would thus escape the monstrous beast. The long vertical stripes carved into the peak would simply be the claw marks .

John_F_Kennedy (Masaya)

Central America

In the Nicaragua , the Niquirans, who once lived at the foot of the Masaya volcano , were not content to explain the eruptions of the volcano with the anger of the gods who resided there. They thought they were appeasing these terrifying deities by sacrificing beautiful girls to them, thrown alive in the lava lake of the crater.

(Huaynaputina)

South America

In 1600, the Peruvian volcano Huaynaputina had a powerful eruption and showers of ash hit the nearest city.

The Indios who lived there interpreted this impressive event as the revolt of the volcano against the invasion of the Spanish conquistadors. Numerous Inca and Aztec tales also associate volcanic eruptions with the arrival of these European invaders and with the end of the Indian civilizations settled in those regions.

Roman and Greek mythology allowed numerous legends around the subject of volcanoes to proliferate in the Mediterranean basin.

In ancient times, Hephaestus was the god of fire, forges and metal. The legends that evoke his life are numerous and, at times, contradictory.

However, it is known that this god was a blacksmith and that he worked with the help of three Cyclops in the gigantic forges located under the volcanoes, in oppressive heat. According to some myths, it is the activity of Hephaestus that causes the eruptions .

According to other versions, it was her anger that triggered them. In Roman mythology, Hephaestus is called Vulcan, but the stories concerning him are the same.

Andrea Mirabella (Etna)

Etna

In Greek mythology, before becoming the father of the Olympians, Zeus had to face the Titans .

The war was so terrible that the universe ran the risk of disappearing. In the end, Zeus prevailed.

He punished the defeated enemies very severely, chaining them and burying them alive. One of them, Enceladus, was buried under Etna. The Greeks thought that, when he turned, his breath of fire and his contortions caused earthquakes and eruptions of the volcano.