The Myths Behind the Storms: How Ancients Explained Natural Disasters

In the modern world, when the ground shakes or the sky turns black with a violent storm, we turn to seismologists and meteorologists for explanations. We understand tectonic plates, atmospheric pressure, and weather fronts.

But for the vast majority of human history, these terrifying, destructive events were utterly inexplicable. To make sense of the chaos, ancient cultures turned to Mythology. They created narratives that assigned purpose, agency, and usually a face to the destruction.

These are known as Etiological myths (from the Etiology of a phenomenon). They explain why something happens. Let’s look at how different cultures personified the most devastating natural disasters.

Earthquakes: The Monsters Beneath

When the solid ground beneath your feet violently betrays you, it is natural to assume that something massive is moving underground.

Jörmungandr (Norse Mythology)

The Vikings lived in a geologically active region (Iceland) and sailed treacherous seas. They believed the Earth was encircled by Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent. This monstrous child of Loki was so large he could wrap around the world and grasp his own tail (a symbol of the Ouroboros). It was believed that when Jörmungandr writhed in anger or thrashed in the deep ocean, he caused earthquakes and massive tidal waves.

The Namazu (Japanese Folklore)

Japan is one of the most seismically active countries on Earth. In Japanese Folklore, earthquakes were blamed on the Namazu, a colossal, mythological catfish that lived in the mud beneath the islands. The god Kashima was tasked with holding the Namazu down with a giant stone. Whenever Kashima let his guard down, the giant catfish would thrash its tail, causing the devastating earthquakes above.

Storms and Hurricanes: The Battle in the Sky

Violent storms, with their deafening thunder and blinding lightning, were almost universally seen as battles between the gods or the terrifying wrath of a supreme deity.

Typhon (Greek Mythology)

To the ancient Greeks, the most terrifying force of nature was Typhon. He was the “Father of All Monsters,” a massive, serpentine giant with a hundred dragon heads that breathed fire and made the sounds of a hundred different animals. He was so powerful that he nearly overthrew the Pantheon of Mount Olympus. Zeus eventually defeated him by trapping him beneath Mount Etna (explaining the volcano’s eruptions). Typhon’s name is the root of the word typhoon, as he was believed to be the source of devastating storm winds.

The Thunderbird (Native American Folklore)

Across many indigenous cultures of North America, severe storms were attributed to the Thunderbird. This massive, majestic spirit bird was not necessarily evil, but it was incredibly powerful. The beating of its massive wings caused the thunder, and the flashing of its eyes created the lightning. It was often seen as a force of nature that brought necessary rain but commanded absolute respect.

The Purpose of Etiology

Why did these cultures create these specific monsters? It was an attempt to impose order on a chaotic universe.

If an earthquake is just a random shifting of tectonic plates, there is nothing humans can do about it. But if an earthquake is caused by a restless giant catfish, then perhaps the priests can offer prayers or sacrifices to the god Kashima to hold the stone tighter.

By personifying natural disasters into creatures and gods, Etiological myths provided ancient people with a framework to understand their world, a way to process their fear, and a semblance of control over the uncontrollable forces of nature.