There are always apocalypses, always prophecy, and always Joyoboyo. Probably the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that plague us incessantly-and occasionally also disturbing political and economic upheavals-have created patterns like this in our way of viewing history.

Soon after the tsunamis, floods, and Mount Merapi and Sinabung eruptions, people (especially in Central Java) started whispering again about 'the Joyoboyo prophecy.' Not for the fir