When a volcano erupts it is hard to comprehend the destruction and devastation that may occur with the event. In ancient times when there was no science to explain why a mountain would spew fire, rocks, and ash cultures look for an alternative justification. Many cultures came to the conclusion that the best way to explain such an event was through legends, myths, and stories. The gods and goddesses described in these tales would do things that would create an eruption, such as Pele the Hawaiian goddess of fire living in the island of Hawaii or Vulcan the Italian god of fire having his blacksmith’s workshop below the island of Vulcano. The Maori, Hawaiians, Greeks, Romans, and Native Americans used stories of their gods to explain what they did not understand. Many natural disasters can be considered some of the most shocking and awe-inspiring events in the entire world.
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When an extraordinary event occurs, like a natural disaster the human brain looks for a way to rationalize and justify the event (rationalization, n.d.). In the present day, data that comes from scientific research can usually answer many of those questions and provide a plausible reason for the situation. In terms of volcanic eruptions the data that explains why eruptions take place is very advanced and provides a level of comfort to present day cultures, yet people still struggle to comprehend the phenomena of a mountain exploding and releasing lava. Thousands of years ago when ancient cultures experienced volcanoes there was no science to explain why the eruptions took place, thus the people attempted to explain the events in a different way. People today find themselves looking to God for answers to so-called miracles, and so did the cultures of the past (Vendantam, 2010). At a time when there was no science to explain volcanic eruptions, ancient civilizations like the Maori, Hawaiians, Greeks, Romans, and Native Americans created stories that used their Gods to explain why volcanic eruptions occurred. The areas surrounding New Zealand have been volcanically active for the last 1.6 million years. What is referred to as the Taupo Volcanic Zone is home to three extremely active volcanoes: Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe/Tongariro, and the White Island; and two of the most productive calderas in the world, Okataina and Taupo (GNS Science). The large number of geothermal areas results in frequent volcanic activity. The ancient Polynesians of New Zealand, the Maori, experienced an abundance of volcanoes erupting, but they had no explanation for why these events were taking place, so they created legends to explain. A Maori story tells of a medicine man named Ngatoro that was climing up the mountain Tongariro with a woman named Auruhoe. Before he left to climb the mountain he told his followers not to eat until he returned so he could have strength on the cold mountain, but when he did not return for a long time they broke their fast. Once the fast was broken Ngatoro and Auruhoe began to feel very cold, so Ngatoro prayed to sisters from the land of Hawaiki. The sisters sent for fire demons, they began to swim underwater toward Ngatoro. The first place they came out of the water was White Island. When they emerged the land burst into flames so the demons continued on. After multiple stops they finally make it Ngatoro, they burst through the mountain creating the volcano Ngauruhoe. The fire demons warmth saved Ngatoro, but it was too late for Auruhoe so he threw her body into the volcano. The underwater path of the fire demons can still be seen, every thermal area that can be seen in the Taupo Volcanic Zone was a place where the demons surfaced (Robinson, 2006). The numbers of volcanoes in the New Zealand are a quite astounding. Thus, it is understandable that the Maori look to a story that would explain why there is so much thermal activity. Even though the Maori had no scientific understanding of the subduction zone they sat on, they we able to process that all these thermal areas were created by the same thing. This Maori had no explanation for why there were so many volcanoes where they lived, so they used a story of their gods to explain
When an extraordinary event occurs, like a natural disaster the human brain looks for a way to rationalize and justify the event (rationalization, n.d.). In the present day, data that comes from scientific research can usually answer many of those questions and provide a plausible reason for the situation. In terms of volcanic eruptions the data that explains why eruptions take place is very advanced and provides a level of comfort to present day cultures, yet people still struggle to comprehend the phenomena of a mountain exploding and releasing lava. Thousands of years ago when ancient cultures experienced volcanoes there was no science to explain why the eruptions took place, thus the people attempted to explain the events in a different way. People today find themselves looking to God for answers to so-called miracles, and so did the cultures of the past (Vendantam, 2010). At a time when there was no science to explain volcanic eruptions, ancient civilizations like the Maori, Hawaiians, Greeks, Romans, and Native Americans created stories that used their Gods to explain why volcanic eruptions occurred. The areas surrounding New Zealand have been volcanically active for the last 1.6 million years. What is referred to as the Taupo Volcanic Zone is home to three extremely active volcanoes: Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe/Tongariro, and the White Island; and two of the most productive calderas in the world, Okataina and Taupo (GNS Science). The large number of geothermal areas results in frequent volcanic activity. The ancient Polynesians of New Zealand, the Maori, experienced an abundance of volcanoes erupting, but they had no explanation for why these events were taking place, so they created legends to explain. A Maori story tells of a medicine man named Ngatoro that was climing up the mountain Tongariro with a woman named Auruhoe. Before he left to climb the mountain he told his followers not to eat until he returned so he could have strength on the cold mountain, but when he did not return for a long time they broke their fast. Once the fast was broken Ngatoro and Auruhoe began to feel very cold, so Ngatoro prayed to sisters from the land of Hawaiki. The sisters sent for fire demons, they began to swim underwater toward Ngatoro. The first place they came out of the water was White Island. When they emerged the land burst into flames so the demons continued on. After multiple stops they finally make it Ngatoro, they burst through the mountain creating the volcano Ngauruhoe. The fire demons warmth saved Ngatoro, but it was too late for Auruhoe so he threw her body into the volcano. The underwater path of the fire demons can still be seen, every thermal area that can be seen in the Taupo Volcanic Zone was a place where the demons surfaced (Robinson, 2006). The numbers of volcanoes in the New Zealand are a quite astounding. Thus, it is understandable that the Maori look to a story that would explain why there is so much thermal activity. Even though the Maori had no scientific understanding of the subduction zone they sat on, they we able to process that all these thermal areas were created by the same thing. This Maori had no explanation for why there were so many volcanoes where they lived, so they used a story of their gods to explain