Introduction

Across the globe, cultural mythologies are created to explain naturally occurring
phenomena. Oftentimes, these supernatural stories were developed before the technology that
allowed further understanding of the natural world was developed. In Greece, Hawai’i, Tanzania,
Indonesia, and New Zealand, cultural myths originated in order to explain the area’s volcanic
activity. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that different cultural mythologies about
volcanoes contain similar aspects to their stories when the tectonic environments are also similar
through the comparison of these cultural myths.

Background

Greece

Greece was culturally revered for its pantheon of gods. Within this pantheon was
Hephaestus, the Greek god of forge and fire. Considered to be a lame or ugly individual, the
Greeks associated his power as a representative of volcanoes with the occurrence of his wife
Aphrodite being unfaithful (Gaea Geek Squad, 2022). Similarly, Vulcan played a role in the
Roman empire that followed the Greeks as the god of fire. Within Roman society, Vulcan was
also thought to be an un-aesthetically pleasing individual whose temper was associated with
volcanic eruptions (Gaea Geek Squad, 2022). Although in both Roman and Greek society there
were festivals for Vulcan and Hephaestus, he remained less revered than other gods and was
thought to be a minor force when compared to the likes of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades (Gaea Geek
Squad, 2022). Presently, the gods of the ancient Greek and Roman societies are no longer as
widely recognized as they once were (Gaea Geek Squad, 2022).

While the physical area of the Greek and Roman empires overlapped, each experienced
different tectonic activities at the height of its power. During ancient Greek times, eruptions were
fairly frequent and could be found among several different volcanic types such as composite,
shield, and cone (Gaea Geek Squad, 2022). However, during Roman times, the tectonic activity
remained stable, resulting in less frequent eruptions (Gaea Geek Squad, 2022).

Hawai’i
 In Hawai’i, the Hawaiian goddess Pele resides as the goddess of the fires. According to
Hawaiin mythology, Pele can still be spotted in the times preceding an eruption
(XXGr8peVynesXx, 2022). She is believed to appear before the eruptions but is also believed to
be contained within the eruptions. Lava that overflows during eruptions is seen as the physical
embodiment of Pele. For that reason, it is considered extremely disrespectful for one to remove
volcanic rocks from the island. Hawai’i’s native individuals may also leave offerings out for the
lava, or Pele, to consume (XXGr8peVynesXx, 2022). Volcanic activity and its byproducts are
culturally revered by the people of Hawaii.

In Hawai’i, the Mount Kilauea volcano is a particularly active shield volcano. Often,
runny lava flows down the gentle slopes of the mountain (XXGr8peVynesXx, 2022). This is due
to the constant tectonic movement from the area. Mount Kilauea is located between convergent
and divergent boundaries in the Ring of Fire, making it a hotspot for frequent eruptions both
historically and presently (XXGr8peVynesXx, 2022).

Tanzania

In Tanzania, the peaks Mawenzi and Kibo are personified through cultural stories. After
Kibo assaulted Mawenzi, the mountain peak became jagged (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,
2022). It is also rumored that a cow resides at the peak of Mawenzi and Kibo, producing
delicious tufts of fat to be stolen by those brave enough to seek the cow out. However, if the cow
catches a traveler, a hurricane is sent out by the magic of the cow (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,
2022). As the cow punishes trespassers, volcanic activity is also seen as a punishment from God
by the Tanzanians. As shown through the story of Kibo and Mawenzi, the mountain peaks are
personified and sacred. Therefore, the snow on the mountaintops is seen as a punishment to kill
those who dare to travel up the mountainside (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 2022).

The peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi in Tanzania mark two of the three cones of the
stratovolcano of Mount Kilimanjaro. Historically and presently, the volcano remains relatively
inactive. Instead, the volcano and tectonic activity have created an opening of rifts that make
way for mountains, rivers, and lakes (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 2022).

Indonesia
 Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are traditional Hindu and Buddhist gods who are uniquely
combined and, in the past, worshiped within Indonesian culture. Brahma’s realm is creation,
Vishnu presides over the upkeep of the environment, and Shiva reigns over destruction (T-Jam,
2022). Although revered in the past, the three gods are not held in the same esteem in present-
day Indonesia. Instead, Roman Catholicism and Islam are the primary religions of Indonesia’s
citizens (T-Jam, 2022). Yet, the three gods can be still found in the popular culture of the region.
When educating its citizens about disaster management, Indonesia still relies on the cultural
myth of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to explain the occurrences of earthquakes and volcanic
activity as well as to prompt citizens to act in the interest of their safety (T-Jam, 2022).

Indonesia is extremely active in regard to volcanic activity. There are 63 volcanoes

presently in the region with 18 of them being active stratovolcanoes. Mount Merapi, widely
known as the world’s most active volcano, resides in Indonesia (T-Jam, 2022). The two most
frequent eruption types are Strombolian and Plinian, leaving the region prone to destruction
following the aftermath of an eruption. Indonesia sits atop the Java Trench of the Ring of Fire,
making it a hotspot for both frequent and large eruptions (T-Jam, 2022).

New Zealand

Rūaumoko, the Māori god of volcanic activity, is thought to reside in New Zealand.
Rūaumoko is the son of Ranginui & Papatuanuku, the father of the sky and mother of the earth,
respectively. He is believed to control volcanoes, earthquakes, and geothermal activities (The
Rolling Stones, 2022). Central to Māori culture is the belief that the present-day citizens come
from the lineage of Ranginui and Papatuanuku. The iwi, or citizens, can trace their lineage back
to the origins of the spirits created by the offspring of Ranginui and Papatuanuku (The Rolling
Stones, 2022). This perpetuates the idea that nature must be treated with respect and a sense of
sacredness. Therefore, Rūaumoko may issue volcanoes to balance negative acts, but he also
rewards positive acts through gifts such as fertile soils, the warmth from volcanoes, and hot
springs. For that reason, volcanic areas contain mauri, meaning a life force, that possesses mana,
or authority, and is tapu, or sacred (The Rolling Stones, 2022). For comparison, landmarks such
as the volcano Mount Taranaki are seen almost as relatives to the iwi. In 2018, the Māori people
granted Mount Taranaki human rights (The Rolling Stones, 2022).
 New Zealand is located between the Australian and Pacific plates on the Ring of Fire.
Within these plates lies both a subduction zone and transform fault, making the area a hotspot for
volcanic activity (The Rolling Stones, 2022). The area contains both caldera and cone volcanoes
with cone volcanoes being the most frequently appearing type. Currently, the area contains
twelve active volcanoes with volcanic fields of several smaller-sized volcanoes (The Rolling
Stones, 2022).

Discussion

When considering the similarities between culture and myth, a distinction arises between
the prevalence of the myth in modern culture and the absence of the myth today. Notably, Greece
and Tanzania no longer widely revere the spiritual sources of volcanic activity. Instead, their
myths are largely absent from the current culture of the region. This may in part be due to the
lack of volcanic activity in the areas today. Although the volcanic activity of Greece was rather
frequent during the time of the Greek empire, it no longer remains as frequent to this day (Gaea
Geek Squad, 2022). Similarly, Mount Kilimanjaro, the home of the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo,
remains inactive today (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson,” 2022).

Contrastingly, Hawaiians, Indonesians, and Māori individuals still incorporate their

cultural myths into today’s present culture. Hawaiians revere Pele and still consider volcanic
activity and residue to be sacred (XXGr8peVynesXx, 2022). While Indonesians may have
experienced a religious shift from Hinduism and Buddhism to Islamic and Catholic beliefs, they
still recognize the cultural myth of Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu and incorporate them into the
present culture (T-Jam, 2022). Likewise, the Māori still honor the tradition of treating their
environment as though it was a relative and consider themselves to be affiliated with the gods
through lineage (The Rolling Stones, 2022). Tectonically, these regions have one commonality:
they are located on the Ring of Fire and are considered to contain frequent volcanic activity to
this day (XXGr8peVynesXx, 2022; T-Jam, 2022; The Rolling Stones, 2022). Therefore, it
appears that the commonality of mythologies that persist to this day is the culture’s physical
relativity to the Ring of Fire.

Conclusion
 Through the analysis of five different cultures found in Greece, Indonesia, Tanzania,
Hawai’i, and New Zealand, it is apparent that cultures with mythology regarding volcanic
activity which persist today are linked to the Ring of Fire and subsequently moderately frequent
volcanic activity. Those not located along the Ring of Fire- Tanzania and Greece- were found to
have an acute separation between volcanic mythology and modern culture. However, Indonesia,
Hawai’i, and New Zealand cultures still incorporate some aspects of the mythology into their
modern cultures and are physically home to frequent volcanic eruptions. Given the relatively
small sample size of cultures examined, future research should be conducted regarding the
relationship with modern culture incorporating ancient mythology and the frequency of volcanic
activity in relation to the area’s location along the Ring of Fire to support the suggested
conclusion that the persistence of mythology is related to the region’s present volcanic activity.
 References

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 2022, Kibo and Mawenzi in Tanzania, HNR 302 Canvas.

Gaea Geek Squad, 2022, Greek and Roman Civilization: Hephaestus/Vulcan, HNR 302
Canvas.

The Rolling Stones, 2022, Rūaumoko, HNR 302 Canvas.

T-Jam, 2022, Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu, HNR 302 Canvas.

XXGr8peVynesXx, 2022, Pele: The Volcano Goddess of Hawai’i, HNR 302 Canvas.