SSI1 125 | Geomythology of Ancient Catastrophes

The Biblical story of the Great Flood and Plato's account of the Sinking of Atlantis are two examples of mythical tales that describe events bearing a striking resemblance to natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. In this course students explore the possibility that some of these mythological accounts may be based on actual events that occurred in the distant past. The course focuses mainly on Mesopotamian, Greek, and Biblical myths but also includes material from the Pacific Northwest and other cultures. The course includes a required weekend field trip to examine evidence of catastrophic flooding. Affiliate department: Geology.