Odd Monster Namazu ‘Earth Shaker’ Was First Feared By People And Later Worshiped As Luminous Deity Repairing The World

A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – In ancient times, people did not know the causes of earthquakes and other hazards. Therefore, the gods were most often responsible according to the people’s beliefs.

Namazu-e (catfish picture). The deity Ebisu falls asleep while guarding the foundation stone (kaname ishi) for Kashima, allowing the Namazu to cause the quake that destroys Edo. Kashima (aka Takemikazuchi, enshrined at Kashima shrine) is seen returning on horseback, too late. The thunder deity is seen engaging in ‘thunder farting’. Coins are seen falling from the destruction, indicating redistribution of wealth. Image credit: Unknown author – (International Research Center for Japanese Studies) – Public Domain

The ancient Egyptians lived in pre-scientific times, as did other ancient civilizations and cultures worldwide. The ancient Egyptian farmers did not know that seasonal rains caused the Nile waters to rise yearly. They thought the Nile flooded on orders from the gods, especially, Hapi.

If the gods were angry, they could punish people with a drought, and their crops would die, but too much flooding was dangerous and devastating for agriculture.

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