Deucalion, the Greek Equivalent of Noah and the Great Flood

[sun rise]

One thing that I have found interesting is the number of flood myths that exist. This is the Greek one. Comments? Comparisons to the Bible and other scriptures and legends? This post gives the sketch of the Greek myth. The next is from the article and draws parallels to the Bible version.

Deucalion, the Greek Equivalent of Noah and the Great Flood​

Prometheus defied the great and mighty Zeus, the king of the gods, by stealing fire from Olympus and giving it to humanity.

Zeus, in his fury, decided to punish humanity for Prometheus’ actions. He planned to unleash a massive flood upon the Earth to eradicate all life. The flood was meant to be a cleansing and a lesson for humanity.

Prometheus, in his foresight, knew of Zeus’ plan and warned his son Deucalion about the impending disaster. He instructed Deucalion to build a large wooden chest or ark to survive the flood. Deucalion, obedient to his father’s instructions, constructed the ark and entered it along with his wife, Pyrrha.

As the floodwaters rose, covering the entire Earth, Deucalion and Pyrrha floated in their ark for days and nights. Eventually, the floodwaters began to recede, and the ark came to rest on the summit of Mount Parnassus in central Greece.

 

[sun rise]

Part 2

Parallels between stories of Deucalion and Noah in the Bible​

The myth of Deucalion and the Great Flood has many parallels with the story of Noah in the Bible. While the two stories originate from different cultural and religious traditions, they share similar themes and motifs.

Both stories revolve around a cataclysmic flood that covers the entire Earth, leading to the destruction of all living beings except for a select few who are saved.

In both narratives, the main characters receive a divine warning about the impending flood. In Deucalion’s case, his father Prometheus informs him, while in Noah’s case, God directly communicates with him.

Both Deucalion and Noah are instructed to build an ark or a large vessel to survive the flood. The arks serve as the means of salvation for the chosen individuals and a means to preserve life during the deluge.

Deucalion is accompanied by his wife, Pyrrha, in the ark, while Noah is accompanied by his wife, their three sons, and their sons’ wives. In both stories, it is through the family unit that humanity is ultimately preserved.
...

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

One thing that I have found interesting is the number of flood myths that exist.

Why? I would have thought it to be expected.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Both Deucalion and Noah are instructed to build an ark or a large vessel to survive the flood. The arks serve as the means of salvation for the chosen individuals and a means to preserve life during the deluge.

As opposed to a blimp for example. Truly an amazing parallel.

 

[dybmh]

The most important detail not to overlook is the date.

"The fullest accounts were provided in Ovid's Metamorphoses (late 1 BCE to early 1 CE)"

Deucalion - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

So that is what is being compared.

 

[danieldemol]

The most important detail not to overlook is the date.

"The fullest accounts were provided in Ovid's Metamorphoses (late 1 BCE to early 1 CE)"

Deucalion - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

So that is what is being compared.

But but oral tradition

 

[Audie]

Part 2

Parallels between stories of Deucalion and Noah in the Bible​

The myth of Deucalion and the Great Flood has many parallels with the story of Noah in the Bible. While the two stories originate from different cultural and religious traditions, they share similar themes and motifs.

Both stories revolve around a cataclysmic flood that covers the entire Earth, leading to the destruction of all living beings except for a select few who are saved.

In both narratives, the main characters receive a divine warning about the impending flood. In Deucalion’s case, his father Prometheus informs him, while in Noah’s case, God directly communicates with him.

Both Deucalion and Noah are instructed to build an ark or a large vessel to survive the flood. The arks serve as the means of salvation for the chosen individuals and a means to preserve life during the deluge.

Deucalion is accompanied by his wife, Pyrrha, in the ark, while Noah is accompanied by his wife, their three sons, and their sons’ wives. In both stories, it is through the family unit that humanity is ultimately preserved.
...

So?

 

[Twilight Hue]

One thing that I have found interesting is the number of flood myths that exist. This is the Greek one. Comments? Comparisons to the Bible and other scriptures and legends? This post gives the sketch of the Greek myth. The next is from the article and draws parallels to the Bible version.

Deucalion, the Greek Equivalent of Noah and the Great Flood​

Prometheus defied the great and mighty Zeus, the king of the gods, by stealing fire from Olympus and giving it to humanity.

Zeus, in his fury, decided to punish humanity for Prometheus’ actions. He planned to unleash a massive flood upon the Earth to eradicate all life. The flood was meant to be a cleansing and a lesson for humanity.

Prometheus, in his foresight, knew of Zeus’ plan and warned his son Deucalion about the impending disaster. He instructed Deucalion to build a large wooden chest or ark to survive the flood. Deucalion, obedient to his father’s instructions, constructed the ark and entered it along with his wife, Pyrrha.

As the floodwaters rose, covering the entire Earth, Deucalion and Pyrrha floated in their ark for days and nights. Eventually, the floodwaters began to recede, and the ark came to rest on the summit of Mount Parnassus in central Greece.

Which is why Christianity dosent corner the market, nor is unique or even special in the flood mythology biz.

 

[Audie]

Which is why Christianity dosent corner the market, nor is unique or even special in the flood mythology biz.

" derivative" as in poetry criticism

 

[Brickjectivity]

@sun rise notice what he concludes this version is about: "...Their story symbolizes the endurance of mankind and the cyclical nature of life, with destruction and renewal being integral parts of the natural order." See how philosophical the story is? It is made so by the priests and nobles of the time in that place. The Greek theologians wherever they get the Flood story from, they do the same with it as they do with their pantheon: seek to teach principles through philosophy.

You could not conclude the same thing about the Gilgamesh story. Its not about the cyclical nature of life.

 

[sun rise]

So?

To me there's a common origin related to some event or perhaps events that's lost to history. List of flood myths - Wikipedia

There could have been a massive local flood with the story spreading all over the world, for example. Or maybe there's something psychological that is involved. This article discusses that question:

Why is there such astounding similarity between the oral traditions of geographically separated peoples? Anthropologists, psychologists, and archaeologists have spent years looking for an answer. To this day, however, there still isn’t a theory that everyone agrees with.

 

[metis]

One thing that I have found interesting is the number of flood myths that exist. This is the Greek one. Comments? Comparisons to the Bible and other scriptures and legends? This post gives the sketch of the Greek myth. The next is from the article and draws parallels to the Bible version.

Deucalion, the Greek Equivalent of Noah and the Great Flood​

Prometheus defied the great and mighty Zeus, the king of the gods, by stealing fire from Olympus and giving it to humanity.

Zeus, in his fury, decided to punish humanity for Prometheus’ actions. He planned to unleash a massive flood upon the Earth to eradicate all life. The flood was meant to be a cleansing and a lesson for humanity.

Prometheus, in his foresight, knew of Zeus’ plan and warned his son Deucalion about the impending disaster. He instructed Deucalion to build a large wooden chest or ark to survive the flood. Deucalion, obedient to his father’s instructions, constructed the ark and entered it along with his wife, Pyrrha.

As the floodwaters rose, covering the entire Earth, Deucalion and Pyrrha floated in their ark for days and nights. Eventually, the floodwaters began to recede, and the ark came to rest on the summit of Mount Parnassus in central Greece.

That's truly interesting as I was familiar with the Babylonian account but didn't realize the Greeks had a similar one.

Thanks.

 

[Audie]

To me there's a common origin related to some event or perhaps events that's lost to history. List of flood myths - Wikipedia

There could have been a massive local flood with the story spreading all over the world, for example. Or maybe there's something psychological that is involved. This article discusses that question:

Why is there such astounding similarity between the oral traditions of geographically separated peoples? Anthropologists, psychologists, and archaeologists have spent years looking for an answer. To this day, however, there still isn’t a theory that everyone agrees with.

As "Astounding" similar as mermaid stories?

 

[Subduction Zone]

To me there's a common origin related to some event or perhaps events that's lost to history. List of flood myths - Wikipedia

There could have been a massive local flood with the story spreading all over the world, for example. Or maybe there's something psychological that is involved. This article discusses that question:

Why is there such astounding similarity between the oral traditions of geographically separated peoples? Anthropologists, psychologists, and archaeologists have spent years looking for an answer. To this day, however, there still isn’t a theory that everyone agrees with.

That flood would have to have been extremely old since the New World was shut off from the Old World for roughly 10,000 years. Floods happen. All over the world. People exaggerate. All over the world. The different flood myths probably arose from different floods. None of them were anything like the floods in the myths.

 

[ppp]

Floods happen. All over the world. People exaggerate. All over the world. The different flood myths probably arose from different floods. None of them were anything like the floods in the myths.

My hometown was hit by Hurricane David in 1979 after it had dropped to a tropical depression. We got 8.5" of rainfall and 40mph winds. Downtown was under two feet of water. By the late 90's it was 120mph winds and the water was up to the second story.

Flood stories. :-D

 

[Subduction Zone]

My hometown was hit by Hurricane David in 1979 after it had dropped to a tropical depression. We got 8.5" of rainfall and 40mph winds. Downtown was under two feet of water. By the late 90's it was 120mph winds and the water was up to the second story.

Flood stories. :-D

Similar to what happened to my brother. He lives in the Houston area and five or ten years ago they had a good sized hurricane. Homeowners were told not to call 911 unless it was an emergency. And they set an emergency at two feet. If you had less than two feet of water in your house it was not an emergency. They had to gut their house afterwards. But I do not think that it got quite to two feet for them.

 

[ppp]

Similar to what happened to my brother. He lives in the Houston area and five or ten years ago they had a good sized hurricane. Homeowners were told not to call 911 unless it was an emergency. And they set an emergency at two feet. If you had less than two feet of water in your house it was not an emergency. They had to gut their house afterwards. But I do not think that it got quite to two feet for them.

Was that the one where Joel Olsteen closed his mega-church to storm refugees?

 

[crossfire]

That flood would have to have been extremely old since the New World was shut off from the Old World for roughly 10,000 years. Floods happen. All over the world. People exaggerate. All over the world. The different flood myths probably arose from different floods. None of them were anything like the floods in the myths.

Perhaps stemming from around this time period?

Missoula floods - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Or this one:

Altai flood - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[crossfire]

I have a suspicion that these worldwide flood myths go back to the huge glacial lake outbursts (waters above) and the subglacial lake outbursts (Jökulhlaup-waters below) that occurred at the end of the last Quaternary glaciations as a result of the melting of these glaciers. (Not to mention the 400 ft rise in sea level that went along with it.)

 

[Subduction Zone]

Perhaps stemming from around this time period?

Missoula floods - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Or this one:

Altai flood - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That "time period' is thousands of years long. The Missoula floods were over forty different floods if you read the article. I have not read it for a while but I am betting that tidbit is still there. But it could have inspired some of those myths. In the Middle East there were no glacial floods. But there was a huge flood of the Tigris Euphrates river system that could have been the ultimate inspiration of the Noah's Ark myth.

But ice age floods occurred in the northern US and further north, and northern Europe and Asia. Most of the world would not have been affecte by those floods.