Etna is one of the most known Italian volcanoes. But did you know that there’s a legend about the Italian volcano Etna? If not, you’re about to learn it.
The legend about the origin of Etna
The legend about the origin of the Italian volcano Etna sees two main characters: Zeus, the father of the Gods, and Enceladus, a giant.
Apparently, Zeus killed the father of the giants during a battle some time before, and the giants wanted to take revenge over him, especially Enceladus.
However, Zeus lived on Mount Olympus, a mount that was not easy to reach. So, Enceladus thought that the only way to get to Olympus was to create a very tall and peculiar ladder.
Even if Enceladus was extremely strong, he couldn’t make the ladder on its own so, he asked his brothers for help. His brothers were scared of him since he was able to emit fire from his mouth and was extremely big, even for a giant, and so they accepted to help him with his project.
Enceladus ordered his brothers to take all the European and Asian mountains and to arrange them one on top of the other, to create a ladder.
Once done, the giants started to climb the peculiar ladder to reach Mount Olympus. However, before they managed to get there, Zeus realized what was happening and began to fight back. He hurled a lightning bolt so strong that illuminated the entire sky and blinded the giants, who fell to the ground in pain. But Zeus wasn’t done yet. He hurled many other lightning bolts, which destroyed the ladder and made the mountains fell on the ground, over the bodies of the giants.
Enceladus was buried under Etna. Furious, he started to emit smoke and flames from his mouth, which reached the top of the volcano and caused a terrible eruption but weren’t strong enough to destroy the volcano and free him.
With time, Enceladus resigned himself to live under a volcano but every now and then, when he thinks about Zeus, he gets furious and causes a new eruption.
Three curiosities about Etna
- The Italian volcano Etna is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. Despite this, from May to November, it’s possible to book guided trips to its caters. And between December and March it’s possible to ski on Etna.
- From June 2013, Etna is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- The most devastating eruption of the Italian volcano Etna dates back to 1669. It lasted four months, destroyed many inhabited centers like Misterbianco, Belpasso, Nicolosi, Mascalucia, San Pietro Clarenza, and got even to Catania before getting at the sea.
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Credits
Orignal image by 6657176
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