Naia Earthquake Myth Essay

Naia, a water nymph employed by Poseidon, was collecting water from the river to send to the mortals. Poseidon and Zeus had been fighting for weeks, and for a rather meaningless reason. The gods of Olympus were sick of drinking just nectar, and wanted something that could wash the taste away from their mouths. That, of course, had to be water. When Poseidon refused to send all of his water to Olympus, Zeus erupted in anger and forced his army onto Poseidon’s seas. Naia was supposed to collect water from the sea, but she fled to the river due to the war going on. She wished she could do something to help, but it was no use, she had tried. Later that night, Naia devised a plan. “Step one: I will sail across the Aegean Sea to get to Mount Olympus.
Naia nearly broke the remaining half of her boat out of rage, fury, and frustration. Naia sat and thought for what felt like a few hours. An idea came to her almost as suddenly as the last idea she had had. She used the water and the sun to conjure a rainbow, which she used to summon Iris.
“What message do you wish to deliver?” Iris asked.
Naia replied, “Tell Zeus and Poseidon the following message.” Naia then explained her plan, and how she was stuck in the middle of the ocean. Iris nodded, and disappeared. Naia then waited for a reply from Zeus or Poseidon. She noticed the waves were dying down. An enormous wave approached her boat, and Naia started to feel scared. Then, like magic, the wave seemed to pick her up. The next thing she knew, Naia was standing in the courtroom of Olympus. She explained her idea again, but more thoroughly. Zeus and Poseidon nodded, and told Naia to step outside the room.

“We have come to a decision. We will perform the agreement you have suggested for us, under one condition. You will continue to suggest agreements for the problems mortals face in their everyday lives.” Naia nodded her head in agreement. “It is settled, then,” thundered Zeus. “You may go. Poseidon will send you home by wave