Using Ancient Greek Myths to teach Geology in High School

Ancient Greeks had myths to explain all the physical phenomena, such as thunders, earthquakes, landslides etc. I use these myths in the lesson of Geology – Geography to students at the age of 13 or 14 very often. Through the interpretation of the myths we extract meanings about the environment of the ancient ages. A myth that is directly related to the protection of the environment and the sustainability is “The myth of ERISYCHTON”. My students call it “The myth of sustainability”.

THE MYTH

The giant king Erysichthon was known for his disrespect. One day he wanted to enlarge his palace to show his power. So he ordered his slaves to cut the large oaks from his Kingdom and went to the forest that was dedicated to the goddess of agriculture Demeter.

Among the other trees was a tall sacred oak that was the favorite tree of the goddess Demeter and dedicated to her. Around this oak the Dryades Nymphs sang their beautiful songs and danced their magic dances. The ungodly Erysichthon did not stop his destructive work even in front of this sacred tree. However, with the first ax the priestess of Dimitra Nikippis appeared before him and tried him, but Erysichthon threatened her with his pickaxe. He grabbed an ax and said: "I do not care if this tree is loved by the Goddess. Even if she were here, they would throw her down if she stood in my way." He killed someone who tried to stop him, shouting: "Here is your reward for your pity." In the next blows of the ax, the oak, a huge tree with a thick trunk, sighed and blood flowed from the wound, and the nymph that lived inside it, dying with it, foresaw the punishment of the sacrilegious Erysichthon.

The goddess Demeter asked the Hunger to visit and conquer Erysichthon and when Erysichthon fell asleep, she visited him. Erysichthon dreamed that he was hungry, and when he woke up his hunger had become indescribable. From that moment he began to eat what he found in front of him. After eating what was eatable in his house, he went out and snatch offerings from the altars. He even sent his daughter Mistra to buy food for him. In the end, Erysichthon, having nothing to eat anymore, began to eat his own flesh… until he died.

INTERPRETATION OF THE MYTH

• We usually say that "nature punishes". What seems to us to be punishment is the reaction that our actions provoke when they disturb the balance of its elements. Human interventions, when directed by greed and recklessness, are dangerous, whether it is the destruction of a forest or the pollution of the atmosphere, rivers, and seas. The myth symbolizes the greed, the reckless exploitation of natural resources, symbolizes the modern man who without measure consumes insatiably and above his normal needs, depriving the future of children and all her living nature and eventually eats its own flesh and is led to extinction.