Myth, History & Cultural MemoryProse

Why Earthquakes Occur: Animal Myths Unveiled

By 7 June 2015July 5th, 2026No Comments1 min read
The image shows the Earth being held up by four elephants, who are standing on a giant tortoise. The tortoise is, in turn, supported by a large cobra, all under a starry night sky. The artwork has a whimsical and surreal style.

Earthquakes

Animals, the avatars of gods and goddesses, are responsible for holding up the world. Earth stands upon the shoulders of four elephants. The four elephants stand upon the shoulder of a giant tortoise. The giant tortoise stands upon the shoulder of a giant cobra.

Earthquakes happen when these animals become tired, and it’s usually the cumbersome tortoise when trying to move it’s weight from one leg to another. The elephant shakes which in turn shakes the Earth.


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