One important aspect of Indonesian society is about myths that are considered as useful lessons for the next generation. One of the things that is often told as a myth is the relationship between humans and the Earth. Believe it or not, this has led to the emergence of a branch of science within the scope of earth science that utilizes myths or legends to study the earth and past events. This science is known as “Geomythology” which was first coined by Geologist Dorothy Vitaliano from Indiana University in 1968. Vitaliano realized that oral traditions that developed in society might store information about natural events that occurred in the past based on physical evidence. So, does Indonesia also have stories or myths that can be handled through a geomythological approach? Before getting there, the term geomythology was actually less well-known in Indonesian society. This term became popular along with the development of earth science. Indonesia, a country with a culture, seems to have many myths whose lessons can be understood through geomythology. One of the most popular legends is “Nyi Roro Kidul” about the “Queen of Poseidon of the South Java Sea”, which is associated with the possibility of a Tsunami that will occur on the South Coast of Java. Dr. Eko Yulianto, a paleotsunami researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said that there is evidence of a tsunami that occurred approximately four centuries ago. The results of the study turned out to coincide with the early period of the Islamic Mataram Kingdom. In the Babad Tanah Jawi, Panembahan Senopati meditated on the South Coast before establishing Islamic Mataram to ask for help from the Queen of the South. Currently, the meeting location of Panembahan Senopati and Queen of the South is Cepuri Parangkusumo (Figure 1). After the meditative, a large wave hit the coast where Swargi Panembahan meditated. Therefore, Panembahan Senopati believes that the large wave was a blessing from the Queen of the South so that Islamic Mataram could stand. In earth science, the term for this high wave is tsunami. If there had been no previous research by Dr. Eko Yulianto, this would have been “confirmation bias”.
Figure 1. Rows of Stones in Cepuri Parangkusumo, the location of the Meeting of Panembahan Senopati and the Queen of the South (Source: https://travel.detik.com/domestic-destination/d-3172860/kisah-mitos-batu-cinta-ratu-kidul-di-pantai-parangkusumo-bantul).
There are many other myths and legends that may be related to past events as well. Some of them are the legends of Timus Mas and Buto Ijo, which according to Awang H. Satyana are related to the phenomenon of Gunung Lumpur (Joint Convention Bali, 2007), the legend of Balung Buto found in the Sangiran and Patiayam areas and associated with ancient animal fossils (Figure 2), the legends of Bledug Kuwu and Joko Linglung, the legend of Si Tao Toba “The Origin of Lake Toba”, and many more.
Figure 2. Replica of Stegodon Bone and Ivory Fossils at the Patiayam Museum (Source: Personal Documentation)
The existence of myths that can be understood through “Geomythology” shows that our ancestors in the past paid close attention to earth processes. They tried to translate it with the knowledge they had so that it was “logical” enough to understand because they did not understand earth science well at that time. In addition, myths related to earth events usually contain advice or suggestions about the possibility of a disaster occurring in a place, how it happened in the past, and how to avoid it. This mitigation part is the basis of the stories. With these stories, the ancestors hoped that their descendants would be safe from disasters. Myths also inspired humans to preserve the Earth so that they could live peacefully on it.
Article by: Bagaskara Wahyu Purnomo Putra, S.T., M.Eng.
