Pyrrha (mythology)

Pyrrha was the daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora in Greek mythology. She is best known as the wife of Deucalion, son of Prometheus, and the survivor of the Great Deluge that Zeus sent to punish the wickedness of humanity.

Zeus, angered by the impiety and lawlessness of humankind, decided to flood the earth, wiping out all life except for Deucalion and Pyrrha. Prometheus warned Deucalion of the impending flood, instructing him to build an ark or chest. Deucalion and Pyrrha stocked the ark with provisions and sailed for nine days and nights, eventually landing on Mount Parnassus.

After the floodwaters receded, Deucalion and Pyrrha prayed to Zeus for guidance on how to repopulate the earth. Zeus, moved by their piety, sent Hermes to them. Hermes instructed them to cast stones over their shoulders. The stones thrown by Deucalion became men, and the stones thrown by Pyrrha became women. This act repopulated the world with a new race of humans.

Pyrrha and Deucalion are thus considered the progenitors of the Hellenic race and are revered as symbols of piety, resilience, and the renewal of humanity. Their story is a prominent example of a flood myth found in various cultures around the world. They had several children, including Hellen, from whom the Hellenic people (Greeks) are said to be descended.