The 92 islands of the Nan Madol city, their size and shape are almost the same. According to Pohnpeian legend, Nan Madol was founded by twin sorcerers from the mythical Western Katau, or Kanamwayso. This coral island was completely uncultivable. The twin brothers, Olisihpa and Olosohpa, first came to the island to cultivate it. They started worshiping Nahnisohn Sahpw, the goddess of agriculture here.
These two brothers represent the kingdom of Saudeleur. They came to this lonely island in order to expand their empire. That is when the city was founded. Or they brought this basalt rock on the back of a giant flying dragon.
Visiwa 92 vya jiji la Nan Madol, ukubwa na umbo lao ni karibu sawa. Kulingana na hadithi ya Pohnpeian, Nan Madol ilianzishwa na wachawi mapacha kutoka Katau ya kizushi ya Magharibi, au Kanamwayso. Kisiwa hiki cha matumbawe hakikulimika kabisa. Ndugu hao mapacha, Olisihpa na Olosohpa, walikuja kisiwani kwanza kulima. Walianza kuabudu Nahnisohn Sahpw, mungu wa kike wa kilimo hapa. Ndugu hawa wawili wanawakilisha ufalme wa Saudeleur. Walikuja kwenye kisiwa hiki cha upweke ili kupanua ufalme wao. Hapo ndipo mji ulipoanzishwa. Au walileta jiwe hili la basalt nyuma ya joka kubwa linaloruka.
Wakati Olisihpa alikufa kutokana na uzee, Olosohpa akawa Saudeleur wa kwanza. Olosohpa alioa mwanamke wa eneo hilo na akazaa vizazi kumi na viwili, akazalisha watawala wengine kumi na sita wa Saudeleur wa ukoo wa Dipwilap ("Mkuu").
Waanzilishi wa nasaba hiyo walitawala kwa fadhili, ingawa warithi wao waliweka mahitaji yanayoongezeka kila mara kwa raia wao. Hadi mwaka wa 1628, kisiwa hicho kilikuwa katika misukosuko ya milki hiyo. Utawala wao uliisha kwa uvamizi wa Isokelekel, ambaye pia aliishi Nan Madol. Lakini kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa chakula na umbali kutoka bara, jiji la kisiwa liliachwa hatua kwa hatua na warithi wa Isokelekel.
Ishara za Ufalme wa Saudeleur bado zipo kwenye jiji hili la kisiwa. Wataalam wamepata maeneo kama vile jikoni, nyumba zilizozungukwa na mwamba wa basalt na hata makaburi ya ufalme wa Soudelio. Walakini, siri nyingi bado hazijaeleweka leo.