FREE ESSAY ON EARTHQUAKE

EARTHQUAKE

Earthquake (A parrellel to Typhon) INTRODUCTION The myth of Earthquake has three different
purposes. First, its shows the power of Zeus, being able to maintain peace and order in
the universe which he rules. Earthquake is the first challenger of Zeus's great power.
Earthquake is a very formidable foe that has tremendous strength and size. Zeus got rid
of Earthquake by himself and was able to triumph, but the triumph would not have been
possible without the support and help of other gods. The Gods all thought and worked
together to defeat this horrible monster. Zeus sets an example for all modern leaders to
follow in this myth. The myth of Earthquake is also used to explain a natural phenomenon.
Earthquakes can cause great destruction. Throughout time earthquakes have destroyed
cities, and killed people. Earthquakes have caused millions of dollars in damage like the
earthquake in San Francisco in 1989. Earthquakes have always been feared greatly by
people who have experienced them or heard of them and will frighten people for as long as
life goes on. The myth of Earthquake also explains the Bermuda Triangle, another
phenomenon in nature. Many ships have disappeared while traveling through the Bermuda
Triangle. According to this myth Poseidon the Sea God a funnel of water, that cannot be
seen engulfs whatever passes over it. Because it is not detectable many things are sucked
into the funnel. The Bermuda Triangle is responsible for the disappearance of many ships
in the present day. ANTICIPATIONS 1. Give examples of natural occurrences that can cause
harm or destruction to man. 2. Have you ever experienced an earthquake? If so was it a
large earthquake or a small earthquake. How did you deal with it? 3. What is the name of
the system used to rate earthquakes? What is its purpose? 4. Look at articles that
involve disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle. Do any of the cases have similarities 5.
Do you believe that ships truly disappear in the Bermuda Triangle? THE MYTH Earthquake
was the first major challenge to Zeus's reign over the universe. After the war between
the Titans and the Gods, the Titans were imprisoned in Tuataras. The mother of the
Titans, Gaea, sought her imprisoned children. Gaea wanted revenge on Zeus and all of the
Olympian Gods, so she had a son with Tuataras. Gaea named her son earthquake. He was
supposed to revenge the imprisonment of Gaea children. Earthquake grew into enormous
monster, which was stronger than anyone that had ever lived. Earthquake's appearance was
down right revolting. Earthquake seemed to be a mix of many different animals. His head
was made up of fifty lion's heads, fifty tiger's heads, along with one large mouth that
spewed out hot lava. His gigantic arms were covered in snakes, like that of medusa's
head, but these snakes were much larger and bit with deadly venom. Earthquake made all
sorts of strange sounds, none that could be interrupted by any of the Gods. He often
roared like a lion, or hissed like a snake. Earthquake's legs were covered in a poisonous
tar that instantly killed whomever it touched. Earthquake was equipped with fins on the
bottom of his legs that were also cover in that poisonous tar. This allowed him to swim,
scale walls, or travel across land at tremendous speeds. His body reached high into the
sky and his arms reached from the far east to the far west. Earthquake gained full
strength and was determined to kill Zeus. He was on the island of Crete, and now at his
mothers command was going to challenge the rule of Zeus. Earthquake proceeded across the
sea, leaving a trail of dead life in his path. He finally hit the mainland, and scorched
his way toward Mount Olympus. Zeus, with news of this beast, warned the Gods of this
horrible monster. The Gods were scared, but remained at Zeus side. Earthquake was
approaching fast, and Zeus had to think of something. Earthquake began spewing hot lava,
along with blowing a fierce wind out of his gigantic mouth. Zeus countered throwing
raining lighting bolts down upon Earthquake. The earth trembled and everyone above and
below were terrified, even the Titans in Tuataras. Zephyrus, the west wind, led the Gods
to a place of secrecy. He directed the Gods to Mount Aetna in Sicily. Here, inside the
volcano, was a hidden lake. The Gods sought refuge here and thought hard on a way to
defeat this gigantic monster. Meanwhile Earthquake had torn up the countryside of Sicily
in route to Mount Olympus. When he found Mount Olympus empty he was enraged. He now
traveled faster than ever, toward the sea, killing whatever was in sight. Zeus could not
stand to let this go on. Once Earthquake had safely passed Mount Aetna, Zeus emerged and
followed the powerful Earthquake. Approaching from behind, Zeus showered thunderbolts
down upon Earthquake, though greatly stunned, Earthquake still possessed much power.
Stunned, Zeus hurled a spear, which permanently damaged Earthquake. Earthquake and Zeus
struggled, immortal on immortal, for power of the universe. Zeus fought with great
tenacity, but the large and powerful Earthquake overwhelmed him. Earthquake, in control,
pulled the spear out of his body and used it to cut off the feet of Zeus. He took Zeus's
feet and placed them in a deer's skin. He then took Zeus to the island of Crete where he
held him captive in a cave that was well concealed. With Zeus's feet cut off, it was
unlikely that he would be going anywhere. Earthquake left a creature that was half bull,
half maiden in charge of the cave. When Earthquake had fought Zeus he saw no other
Olympian Gods around, so he wasn't careful in taking Zeus to Crete. He left a trail of
charred countryside behind him and a trail of dead fish in the ocean. After Zeus had
given up all hope of being rescued Zephyrus and Hermes the Wayfinder arrived at the edge
of the cave. They had followed the path blazed by Earthquake. Hermes and Zephyrus were
very careful not to awake the sleeping creature, which guarded the cave. They stealthily
retrieved Zeus's feet from the deer's skin and put them back onto the Loud-Thunderer.
Carefully the three escaped from the cave and returned to Mount Aetna. Here all of the
Gods had been thinking hard of a way to destroy Earthquake. Zeus's brother Poseidon, the
Lord of the Sea, thought of an idea. Poseidon remembered that in between three different
islands there was a water funnel that is impossible to see, but its inhaled anything that
passed over it. The funnel led directly to the center of the earth, where whatever it
inhaled would be trapped for the rest of eternity. This idea appealed to Zeus. Zeus knew
that because Earthquake was immortal, that he must trap Earthquake somewhere where he
would never be able to escape. This was the perfect idea, and now all Zeus had to do was
lure Earthquake in between these three islands that created a triangle. Zeus came out
from hiding in his chariot and found a surprised Earthquake, for he thought Zeus was
still in the cave. Earthquake lost all of his sense and chased after Zeus. Zeus flew
across the ocean towards the funnel. He saw the three islands, so he knew where he had to
lead Earthquake. Zeus flew around the funnel, knowing he would be sucked in if he passed
over it. The Lord of Black Clouds positioned himself on the other side of the funnel,
which led Earthquake to swim right into the funnel. He was quickly engulfed into the
funnel, and not even his great strength could pry him away from its hold. As Earthquake
was sucked into the funnel he was roaring loud as he could. Zeus had finally defeated the
great monster, not with his strength but with his mind. The funnel between the three
islands still today engulfs whatever may pass over it. Still today Earthquake occasion
shifts his massive body, and every time he shifts, depending on how much he shifts the
earth shakes. Earth parts and huge crevices form. The land is moves until he finally gets
to a resting point. This small movement by the gigantic monster causes much damage. HUMAN
EXPERIENCE Working together Today many humans have trouble getting along and working
together. They believe that they have the best idea, and that no one else has anything
worth while to say. In this myth Zeus, the all-powerful ruler of the universe takes
advice from his brother. He doesn't believe that just because he is the ruler of the
entire universe that he has all the answers. He recognizes that in order to be a
successful ruler you must listen to other people's advice, and trust in others as he did.
If Zeus had thought he had all the answers, then the great monster Earthquake would have
destroyed Zeus. Many leaders of countries today could follow the example that Zeus set.
If they follow this example they will be successful. Many leaders wish to become
dictators and make all of the decisions. This, in most cases, causes their downfall.
Anyone who believes that they don't need any help from anyone is bound to fall.