Deucalion's Flood
conceptThe Greek deluge myth in which Zeus destroyed corrupt humanity with a great flood, sparing only the pious Deucalion and Pyrrha who repopulated the earth with stones.
The Myth
Zeus, disgusted by the wickedness of the Bronze Age humans — particularly after Lycaon served him human flesh — decided to destroy mankind with a great flood. Prometheus warned his son Deucalion, who built a chest (larnax) and stocked it with provisions. For nine days and nights, rain fell and the seas rose, covering every mountain except the peak of Parnassus (or Othrys). Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha, daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora, were the sole survivors. When the waters receded, they landed on Parnassus and sacrificed to Zeus. They consulted the oracle of Themis at Delphi, who told them to "throw the bones of your mother behind you." Interpreting "mother" as Gaia and "bones" as stones, they threw rocks over their shoulders. Deucalion's stones became men and Pyrrha's became women. From this new humanity, the Greek peoples descended.
Parents
Prometheus (father of Deucalion), Epimetheus and Pandora (parents of Pyrrha)
Children
Hellen (ancestor of all Greeks)
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Greek flood myth parallels Mesopotamian versions (Gilgamesh, Atrahasis) so closely that they almost certainly share a common source — possibly memories of catastrophic Black Sea flooding around 5600 BC, when the Mediterranean broke through the Bosphorus. Geologists Ryan and Pitman proposed this "Black Sea deluge hypothesis" in 1997, arguing that a real flood generated flood myths across multiple cultures simultaneously. Deucalion's flood may be a 7,600-year-old memory.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Deucalion
heroDeucalion survived Zeus's flood and repopulated the earth by throwing stones.
Pyrrha
heroWife of Deucalion and daughter of Epimetheus who survived the great flood and helped repopulate the...
Prometheus (Fire)
conceptThe fire stolen from the gods by Prometheus and given to humanity, enabling civilization. Fire...
Prometheus Bound (Myth)
conceptThe punishment of Prometheus, chained to a rock in the Caucasus where an eagle devoured his...
Deucalion (Flood)
heroSon of Prometheus who survived Zeus's great flood by building an ark on his father's advice, then...
Delphi
placeThe most important oracle in ancient Greece, where the Pythia delivered Apollo's prophecies. The...
Delphi Treasury of Athens
placeThe marble treasury built by Athens at Delphi from Marathon spoils, the best-preserved building on...
Epimetheus
titanEpimetheus was Prometheus's dim-witted brother whose name means "afterthought" — he accepted...
Gaia
primordialGaia was the primordial Earth goddess, the first being to emerge after Chaos — mother of the...
Helle
heroDaughter of Athamas who fell from the golden ram into the strait that bears her name — the...
Hellen
heroSon of Deucalion and Pyrrha, ancestor of all Greek peoples, whose name gave the Greeks their own...
Lycaon
heroLycaon was the king of Arcadia who tested Zeus by serving him human flesh at a banquet — and was...