Earthquakes are Caused by Giant Creatures

How Ancient Cultures Explained Seismic Shaking with Mythic Beasts

Details

Before the discovery of plate tectonics, many cultures explained earthquakes as the result of massive underground creatures stirring beneath the earth. These beings ranged from animals to gods, and their restlessness was believed to shake the ground, topple buildings, and unleash chaos. The unpredictability and violence of earthquakes made them especially fertile ground for mythmaking.

These myths often assigned responsibility to specific creatures native to each culture’s cosmology. Some stories included explanations for aftershocks or quake frequency, describing battles between creatures or the restraints placed upon them by higher powers. These myths offered comfort by giving a face—or name—to a terrifying, invisible force.

Historical Context

Earthquake mythology features diverse subterranean entities:
• Japanese folklore blamed earthquakes on Namazu, an enormous catfish held down by a stone
• Siberian myths described mammoth-like creatures whose movements shook the ground
• Aztec traditions attributed earthquakes to Tepeyollotl, the jaguar god of the deep and tremors
• Norse mythology claimed earthquakes occurred when Loki, bound beneath the earth, shuddered in pain

These explanations helped early civilizations make sense of unpredictable, frightening ground movements before plate tectonics was understood.

Modern Relevance

While scientific understanding has replaced mythological explanations in mainstream education, earthquake creature legends remain culturally significant. In Japan, Namazu is still a recognizable figure—used as both a cartoon mascot and a symbol of seismic awareness. Traditional earthquake myths are sometimes included in modern educational programs, particularly in Indigenous and culturally diverse communities, to bridge folklore with scientific earthquake preparedness strategies.

Sources

Nunn, P.D. (2014). The Edge of Memory: Ancient Stories, Oral Tradition and the Post-Glacial World. Bloomsbury.
Ludwin, R.S., & Smits, G.J. (2007). “Folklore and earthquakes: Native American oral traditions from Cascadia compared with written traditions from Japan.” Geological Society of London Special Publication, 273(1), 67–94.