Great A'Tuin

A Giant Star Turtle swimming through space carrying four elephants that support the Discworld.

Great A'Tuin is the Giant Star Turtle (of the fictional species Chelys galactica) who travels through the Discworld universe's space, carrying four giant elephants named Berilia, Tubul, Great T'Phon, and Jerakeen. These elephants in turn carry the Discworld. Great A'Tuin frequently rolls on its belly to avoid asteroid and comet collisions and even snatches projectiles out of the sky to protect the Disc. Its sex is unknown to the inhabitants of Discworld but is a subject of much speculation by the Disc's scientific minds.

Quick Facts

Creator: Terry Pratchett
First: The Colour of Magic (24 November 1983)

Lore & Background

Great A'Tuin carries four giant elephants named Berilia, Tubul, Great T'Phon, and Jerakeen. The creature frequently rolls on its belly to avoid asteroid and comet collisions, or snatches projectiles from the sky; these actions cause severe seasickness for anyone looking at the night sky but do not otherwise affect the Disc's population. Scientific minds speculate on A'Tuin's sex because it is pivotal to theories about its destination: one theory (the 'Big Bang' equivalent) suggests the turtles will meet, mate, and birth new worlds, while another ('steady gait') claims the turtle came from nowhere and swims perpetually. The element chelonium composes Great A'Tuin's body.

Reader's Guide

Great A'Tuin travels at a slow pace through space, carrying four elephants on its back which support the Discworld. The turtle's body is made largely of chelonium. Its sex remains unknown to Discworld inhabitants, driving scientific debate between the 'Big Bang' mating hypothesis and the 'steady gait' theory. A'Tuin actively defends the Disc by rolling away from asteroids or catching projectiles, though these maneuvers make observers seasick.