Greek mythology
10. The Great Flood of Zeus
In the golden halls of Mount Olympus, Zeus, the king of gods, sat upon his majestic throne. His piercing blue eyes gazed down upon the mortal world, observing the actions of humans with growing concern.
As Zeus watched, he witnessed countless acts of greed, violence, and deceit among humans. Cities once filled with virtue now overflowed with corruption, and the air rang with the cries of the oppressed. His heart grew heavy with sorrow and anger.
In his growing fury, Zeus summoned storm clouds and lightning, ready to unleash his wrath upon the world. The other gods watched in trepidation, fearing the destruction that might follow.
Just as Zeus was about to unleash his divine punishment, he paused. A glimmer of hope caught his eye - a small act of kindness between two mortals amidst the chaos. This tiny spark of goodness made him reconsider his harsh judgment.
Meanwhile, in Arcadia, there ruled a proud and skeptical king named Lycaon. He had heard tales of the gods' power but doubted their omniscience. Lycaon's hubris led him to believe he could outsmart even Zeus himself.
One day, Zeus decided to visit the mortal realm disguised as a traveler. He arrived at Lycaon's palace, seeking hospitality. Lycaon, suspecting the traveler might be a god, saw an opportunity to test his divinity.
Lycaon, in his wickedness, devised a horrific plan. He ordered a young slave to be killed and prepared as a meal for the guest. The king believed that if the traveler was indeed Zeus, he would know the true nature of the food and reveal himself.
As the disguised Zeus sat at the banquet table, Lycaon served him the horrific meal with a malicious grin. The moment Zeus saw the dish, he instantly knew of the atrocity committed. His eyes began to glow with divine fury.
Zeus, disgusted by Lycaon's depravity, decided to punish not just the king, but all of humanity. He declared that a great flood would cleanse the earth of the wickedness that had taken root among mortals.
There was a land called Thessaly, inhabited by Deucalion, son of Prometheus, and Pyrrha, daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora. They were ruling Thessaly with wisdom and justice.
Deucalion was known for his virtuous character and unwavering devotion to the gods. He governed Thessaly with integrity and ensured that order and respect for the divine were maintained.
Moreover, every day, Deucalion would visit his father Prometheus, who was suffering a great punishment, and bring him a meal. His filial piety ran deep.
One day, during his visit, Prometheus revealed a grave prophecy to Deucalion. He foresaw that Zeus would unleash a great flood to cleanse the world of its wickedness. Understanding the severity of his father's warning, Deucalion listened intently. Prometheus instructed his son to build an ark that could withstand the deluge and save both him and Pyrrha from the impending disaster.
With a sense of urgency, Deucalion and Pyrrha began to construct the ark as instructed. They gathered wood and bitumen and supplies, and worked day and night without rest. They were aware of the limited time they had. The ark, a sturdy and large vessel, gradually took shape under their diligent efforts. As the final touches were made, the skies began to darken, signaling the approach of the foretold disaster.
On Mount Olympus, Zeus sat upon his golden throne, his face etched with disappointment and anger at the wickedness of humanity. He summoned his brother Poseidon, god of the seas, to carry out his divine judgment. Poseidon arrived, his trident in hand, sea-green robes flowing around him. In a thunderous voice, Zeus announced that mankind had become so wicked that he must cleanse the earth with a great flood. Poseidon nodded solemnly, and vowed to cause the waves to rise, the rivers to overflow, and no place on earth would escape the flood. Zeus said that humanity would have to learn the cost of their arrogance. Poseidon's eyes glowed with power as he prepared to unleash the waters.
As Poseidon's power surged, the skies darkened and the seas began to churn. Rivers swelled beyond their banks, and rain fell in torrents never before seen by mortal eyes. The flood had begun. From Olympus, Zeus and Poseidon watched as the waters rose, covering fields, then hills, and finally mountains. The world they knew disappeared beneath the waves, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of both gods and mortals.
As the first raindrops fell, Deucalion and Pyrrha hurriedly loaded their ark with provisions and animals. The waters began to rise, and they pushed off from the shore, leaving behind the only world they had ever known. For nine days and nights, they sailed through the tempest. The world they knew vanished beneath the waves, replaced by an endless expanse of churning water. Deucalion and Pyrrha clung to hope, guided by Prometheus's wisdom.
On the ninth day, the rain began to subside. The clouds parted, revealing glimpses of blue sky. As the waters receded, Deucalion and Pyrrha saw the peak of Mount Parnassus emerging from the flood. With great effort, they guided their ark towards the mountain. As they approached, the vessel scraped against rock, coming to rest on the slopes of Parnassus. Deucalion and Pyrrha had found their new home.
Standing on the peak of Parnassus, Deucalion and Pyrrha surveyed the new world around them. Though the task ahead was daunting, they knew they carried the hope of humanity. With gratitude for Prometheus's wisdom and their own survival, they prepared to begin anew.
Upon reaching the peak of Mount Parnassus, Deucalion and Pyrrha's first act was to offer thanks to Zeus for their survival. They gathered what little they had and prepared a humble altar from the stones around them. With the altar prepared, Deucalion and Pyrrha knelt before it, offering their prayers to Zeus. Their voices, filled with gratitude and humility, echoed across the empty world around them. Zeus, moved by their piety, decided to answer their prayers. He summoned Hermes, the messenger god, and sent him down to Mount Parnassus to speak with Deucalion and Pyrrha.
Hermes appeared before the startled couple in a flash of divine light. Hermes said Zeus was pleased with their loyalty and praised their unwavering devotion and virtue. And he told them to speak their wishes and they would be granted. Deucalion and Pyrrha looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. Deucalion spoke, his voice firm but humble. He said he wanted the earth to be populated with people again, and asked for new humans to be created.
Hermes nodded, a hint of a smile on his divine face. Hermes disappeared with the words that the earth would be refilled, but the task of filling it would be left to them. Deucalion and Pyrrha journeyed to a sacred temple and offered sacrifices, praying for divine intervention. As the smoke from their offerings rose to the heavens, Zeus himself appeared before them. The king of gods, moved by their devotion and the plight of humanity, decided to help. However, true to his nature, Zeus chose to convey his wisdom through riddles and metaphors.
Zeus said in a thunderous voice, throw the bones of your great mother behind you. Deucalion and Pyrrha couldn't fathom the idea of desecrating their ancestors' remains. But after much contemplation, Deucalion, known for his wisdom, realized the true meaning behind Zeus's words. He turned to Pyrrha and explained, "Our great mother is not our ancestral mother, but Mother Earth herself. And her bones are the stones beneath our feet."
With this realization, Deucalion and Pyrrha began their task. They walked backward, picking up stones and throwing them over their shoulders. As each stone touched the ground, it transformed miraculously. The stones thrown by Deucalion turned into men, while those thrown by Pyrrha became women. As they continued this process, the barren land around them slowly filled with new life. Men and women of all ages sprang forth from the earth, each with their own unique characteristics and personalities.
The air that was once filled with silence now echoed with the sounds of voices, laughter, and the beginnings of a new civilization. Deucalion and Pyrrha watched in awe as their actions brought about the rebirth of humanity. They realized that this method of creation symbolized the resilience and strength of the human spirit, born from the very earth itself. It also served as a reminder of the unbreakable bond between humanity and nature.
Ps. Because Greco-Roman mythology contains many versions of the same story of the same character, the story you see in Roy's Box may not be the story you know. In Roy's Box, we list the full episodes in chronological order, and where possible, we've adapted non-contradictory versions.