Flood Myths and Deluge Legends

The Mesopotamian flood myth, known as the Epic of Gilgamesh, tells the story of Utnapishtim, who is instructed by the god Ea to build a boat to survive a great flood.

In the biblical flood narrative, Noah is instructed by God to build an ark to save himself, his family, and pairs of every kind of animal from a global flood.

In Hindu mythology, Vishnu is associated with the great flood that destroyed the world. He is said to have taken the form of a fish to rescue the sage Manu and his family.

In Greek mythology, the Flood of Deucalion is the great flood that wiped out humanity, except for Deucalion and Pyrrha, who survived by building a boat.

The Chinese flood myth, known as the Flood of Yu the Great, tells the story of Yu the Great, who is tasked with controlling the floodwaters and saving the people.

In Aztec mythology, Tlaloc is the god associated with floods and water. He is often depicted as a rain god with a mask or headdress adorned with seashells.

In Mayan mythology, the Flood of Hunahpu and Xbalanque is the great flood that destroyed the world and gave rise to the current creation.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, the Flood of Nun is the great flood that occurred at the beginning of creation. Nun is the god of the primordial waters.

The Hopi Emergence Myth is a flood myth that tells the story of a great flood and the emergence of humans from an underground world.

In Norse mythology, the Flood of Ragnarok is the great flood that occurs at the end of the world, known as Ragnarok.

The Flood of Shuruppak is a flood myth from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Shuruppak. It tells the story of a great flood that destroyed the world and the survival of a righteous man named Ziusudra.

In the flood myth of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, Zeus sends the flood to punish humanity for their wickedness.

The Chinese flood myth, known as the Flood of Gun, tells the story of Gun, who is tasked with controlling the floodwaters but fails. His son, Yu the Great, eventually succeeds in controlling the flood.

In the flood myth of the ancient Babylonian epic poem Enuma Elish, Enlil sends the flood to destroy humanity for their noise and disruption.

The Flood of Eridu is a flood myth from the ancient Sumerian city of Eridu. It tells the story of a great flood that destroyed the world and the survival of a righteous man named Ziusudra.