A-Z: General definitions: Deucalion

Definition

Sometimes called 'the Greek Noah', survivor with his wife Pyrrha of a great flood sent to destroy humanity. Zeus decided people had become so evil that he would have to destroy them by a great flood, saving only two good people, Deucalion, son of Prometheus, and his wife Pyrrha, daughter of Pandora. He told them to make a large 'chest' or ark. Inside this, they floated for seven days and nights until it came to rest on Mount Parnassus. They made a thanks-offering to Zeus, who, according to one story, sent Hermes telling them how to repopulate the earth by throwing stones over their shoulders. Deucalion's stones turned into men and Pyrrha's into women.

Related Topics

Prometheus

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