6 Incredible Ancient Legends That Are Inspired by Real Historic Events

4. The Thunderbird and the Whale

This is the story of a supernatural being that swooped down to the sea to capture a whale that was depriving the Quileute tribe of resources. The encounter created powerful waves and killed many people. In the end, the Thunderbird emerged victorious after lifting the whale out of the sea and dropping it on dry land with a deafening thud.

In the 1980s, geologists discovered that a powerful earthquake happened in the Pacific Northwest around 1700. The earthquake caused a deadly tsunami that hit the American coast where the tribe would have lived. It was so powerful that it even reached Japan.

In addition, the Aiornis, a prehistoric giant bird, is believed to be the inspiration for the Thunderbird. It is known to have a wingspan of up to 5 meters and a habit of swooping down on whale carcasses to feed.