Wife of Deucalion, expert stone-thrower, and creator of the second human race.

The daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora, she was very pious and would never have looked in the box of her mother. She married her cousin Deucalion and, when ills and misfortunes hit the Earth, helped him prepare for the Great Flood.

Zeus let the waters roar down upon Earth, but was careful not to let a drop spill on Pyrrha and Deucalion. They were the only mortals who’d never insulted him, so he decided to let them live. Sailing the waters in their little boat, Pyrrha and Deucalion were the only survivors of a devastation which completely wiped out the wicked human race.

Given the task of repopulating the Earth they sought out Themis at Delphi and were told to throw their mother’s bones over their shoulders. They were somewhat disappointed to learn this could be accomplished merely by throwing stones — the bones of mother Gaia — which was quicker than the normal method but not nearly so much fun. Although as the waters receded a certain amount of grinding was inevitable.

Share this page Cite this article

Article last revised on September 06, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

Permissions page

---