Legends & Myths
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Tsunamis were a part of Sri Lanka's history long before the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. Near an historic Buddist shrine is the site where Vihari Maha Devi is said to have landed in Sri Lanka over 2000 years ago. She was the daughter of King Kelinitissa and Local Legends say that she had been offered as a sacrifice to the sea-gods in an attempt to prevent the seas from swallowing villages. |
| A 200 year old Australian Aboriginal Legend describing a "white wave" may have referred to a tsunami which devastated the local culture, rather than the arrival of "white man" as previously believed. |  |
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The Native Americans of the northwestern Pacific coast of the United States also have several Traditional Legends depicting ancient tsunamis. There are some who believe that the Moken people of the Andamen Islands were spared from the recent tsumani by heeding ancient Myths and Signs interpreted by local shamen. Anthropologists have been investigating whether or not some of the island tribes used Ancient Lore to evade the recent tsunami. It appears that while the fairly isolated Andamen tribes may have survived many of the nearby, and more culturally assimilated, Nicobar perished. |
| There are some who believe that the Moken people of the Andamen Islands were spared from the recent tsumani by heeding ancient Myths and Signs interpreted by local shamen. Anthropologists have been investigating whether or not some of the island tribes used Ancient Lore to evade the recent tsunami. It appears that while the fairly isolated Andamen tribes may have survived many of the nearby, and more culturally assimilated, Nicobar perished. The use of Age Old Warning Systems may have provided some protection for these aboriginal tribes. |
The Louvre's 8th century B.C. bas-relief of Gilgamesh from Korsabad. |
| Canadian geologist-geographer Edward Bryant's book 'Tsunami: The Underrated Hazard' examines evidence of previous tsunamis, arising from legends and myths. His focus appears to be on prehistoric tsunamis of a cosmogenic nature, that is, those produced by comets and meteorites. Athough he notes that it is often difficult to distinguish 'fact from fiction' there are many Common Threads which may be seen in the Ancient Tales of Floods such as those of the Washo Indians of California, the Aborigines of South Australia, the Gilgamesh Myth of the Middle East, Peruvian Legends, and even in the Revelations of Saint John and the Noachian flood story in the Bible. There are many facinating parallels amongst the Flood Legends from around the globe resulting in much speculation regarding their origins. |
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