Of Giant Fish and Shaken Islands: Geological Interpretations of Euhemeristic Myths Concerning Underwater Eruptions and Abrupt Land Movements in the Pacific Islands

• Main Authors: Nunn, Patrick, School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Australian Folklore Association, Inc 2012
• Subjects: Studies of Pacific Peoples Societies; Volcanology; Pacific; Tonga; Low Island
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/12655

Many Pacific Island myths are euhemeristic, based on historical events. Two types of relevance to reconstructions of geological events are described here. Myths from the Pacific describing how islands were fished up are widespread. Most contain details that refer to the fish-island thrashing and agi...