Originally, five elephants held up the world in the Discworld book series is often known for its elaborate satirization of the fantasy genre and its equally as elaborate worldbuilding that establishes the unique features of every part of the Disc. Terry Pratchett's desire to insert humor and detail into his storytelling seems to go all the way down, as even the largest layer of Discworld has a fascinating history attached to it.
Discworld books often focus more on the machinations of cities like Ankh-Morpork and the storylines being created there by the ever-shifting cast of characters. More often than not, the cosmic implications of the world are left within the realm of speculation or solved in the most comical way possible, making the best Discworld books truly unique from each other and other series. However, one of Pratchett's books did reveal a major detail about the literal base of Discworld, specifically pertaining to the foundation of four elephants that hold the very world upon their shoulders.
The Four Elephants Holding Up Terry Pratchett's Discworld Explained
The Elephants Ride On The Back Of Great A'Tuin
The four elephants are the main pillars of Discworld, meant to hold the world upon their backs as Great A'Tuin swims through the cosmos. The Great A'Tuin of Discworld is a large sea turtle who swims through space with an unknown destination, Pratchett's series including few details on the turtle beyond the more spiritual ideals Discworld's residents have. The four elephants upon Great A'Tuin's back are the ones actually holding the Disc up as the turtle swims through the stars, easily compensating for the flight and adding another level of eccentricity to the series.
Discworld Never Solves One Great A'Tuin Mystery, But I'm Convinced The Light Fantastic Holds The Answer
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels go deep into explaining all sorts of magical mysteries – except for this one from the very first books.
Though the Discworld books do often zoom out to Great A'Tuin to comment on the turtle's flight, the elephants upon their back are rarely ever referenced separately by Pratchett. As a result, even less is known about them than the turtle they ride on, despite their vital role in holding the Disc through the cosmos. That being said, a key detail about the elephants was revealed in one Discworld book that was meant to parody 1997's The Fifth Element, adding the first piece of lore behind the pachyderms to the series.
There Was Originally A 5th Elephant In Discworld - What Happened To It
The Fifth Elephant Fell Onto The Disc For An Unknown Reason
Pratchett's novel The Fifth Elephant reveals that there was once a fifth elephant in the world of Discworld, but that it fell, its body's fat becoming a central conflict point centuries later. The Fifth Elephant is largely the story of The Night's Watch as they attempt to stop an assassination attempt during a coronation in Überwald, creating a fun new adventure for, in my mind, the Discworld. Yet the opening of the novel adds a bit more detail to the elephants, especially the one that crash-landed onto the Disc centuries ago.
While the novel does not add anything more to it, it does give Discworld another great piece of lore that lets it hilariously remain within the audience's memories.
Pratchett explains that the fifth elephant crashed onto the Disc and created the natural phenomena occurring in the Disc's modern age, the reason for its descent unknown and its very existence hotly debated. After it crashed, its body melted into fat, becoming a commodity within Überwald, which everyone, including Captain Vimes, is after, and parodying the ether from the 1997 film. While the novel does not add anything more to it, it does give Discworld another great piece of lore that lets it hilariously remain within the audience's memories.
Discworld
Discworld is a celebrated fantasy franchise created by Sir Terry Pratchett. The series takes place on a flat, disc-shaped world that is carried through space on the backs of four elephants, who stand on the shell of the giant turtle Great A'Tuin. Known for its satirical humor and incisive social commentary, the franchise began with novels but later expanded to adaptations in film, television, radio, stage plays, and video games. It has had a lasting impact on fantasy literature and pop culture.
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