Greek Myth # 2-The Great Flood
The Bible is not the only history that contains a Great Flood. Many civilizations have had flood myths, including the Ancient Greeks.
The Greek flood myth that is most famous is based on Metamorphoses by the great ancient Roman poet Ovid. Metamorphoses was Ovid's attempt to compile all ancient Greek myths in a logical order. It turned out to be one of the greatest epic poems of all time.
Not unlike other civilization's flood myths, it involves the divine retribution of a creator against a degenerate human race.
In this myth the human race progresses through 4 ages:
The Golden Age-Truth and right prevailed and there was no need for law. No one had weapons or had to till the soil. Earth produced everything the race needed.
The Silver Age-Since it was not as harmonious, Zeus (or Jupiter for Romans) shortened the spring time, which had been year round, and divided the year into four seasons. The race had to endure extremes of heat and cold for the first time and house itself in caves.
The Brazen Age-Mankind became more savage and began to fight armed battles.
The Iron Age-Crime spread, truth fled. Greed became the dominant force in life and it produced wickeness, cunning and violence.
Zeus was greatly angered and met with the other gods. He told them of his intention to destroy the race and to make a new and better one that would respect the gods. He did it by destroying all of humanity by a great flood. Among all men, he spared only Deucalion, sometimes called the "Greek Noah", the son of Prometheus.
He also spared Deucalion's wife, Pyrrha, as well. They took a boat to the top of Mount Parnassus the only mountain which was not overtopped by the flood. After the flood waters receded they visited a temple to receive guidance on what to do to restore the race. An oracle told them to leave and drop pebbles behind them as they went.
The pebbles dropped by Deucalion turned into men. Those dropped by Pyrrha turned into women. The race was regenerated and we are the hypothetical descendants of this ancient myth.
Source: Bullfinch's Mythology, edited by Richard Martin & The Metamorphoses by Ovid, translated by Horace Gregory.
P.S. If you have a flood myth from an ancient culture you would like to share please send us your comment.
The Greek flood myth that is most famous is based on Metamorphoses by the great ancient Roman poet Ovid. Metamorphoses was Ovid's attempt to compile all ancient Greek myths in a logical order. It turned out to be one of the greatest epic poems of all time.
Not unlike other civilization's flood myths, it involves the divine retribution of a creator against a degenerate human race.
In this myth the human race progresses through 4 ages:
The Golden Age-Truth and right prevailed and there was no need for law. No one had weapons or had to till the soil. Earth produced everything the race needed.
The Silver Age-Since it was not as harmonious, Zeus (or Jupiter for Romans) shortened the spring time, which had been year round, and divided the year into four seasons. The race had to endure extremes of heat and cold for the first time and house itself in caves.
The Brazen Age-Mankind became more savage and began to fight armed battles.
The Iron Age-Crime spread, truth fled. Greed became the dominant force in life and it produced wickeness, cunning and violence.
Zeus was greatly angered and met with the other gods. He told them of his intention to destroy the race and to make a new and better one that would respect the gods. He did it by destroying all of humanity by a great flood. Among all men, he spared only Deucalion, sometimes called the "Greek Noah", the son of Prometheus.
He also spared Deucalion's wife, Pyrrha, as well. They took a boat to the top of Mount Parnassus the only mountain which was not overtopped by the flood. After the flood waters receded they visited a temple to receive guidance on what to do to restore the race. An oracle told them to leave and drop pebbles behind them as they went.
The pebbles dropped by Deucalion turned into men. Those dropped by Pyrrha turned into women. The race was regenerated and we are the hypothetical descendants of this ancient myth.
Source: Bullfinch's Mythology, edited by Richard Martin & The Metamorphoses by Ovid, translated by Horace Gregory.
P.S. If you have a flood myth from an ancient culture you would like to share please send us your comment.
posted by Jim | 11:15 AM
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