A glance at global flood myths
Ten traditions covered in parts 1-3 organized by the same criteria
Tradition Region Estimated period Cause Survival/Solution method Nature of the ending
Ziusudra Mesopotamia Oral origin, oldest layer God's anger at human noise Built a boat with Enki's tip Reconciliation with gods through sacrifice
Atrahasis Mesopotamia Clay tablet 18th century BC Noise due to population growth Enki's warning, loaded boat with property and livestock Oldest written record
Utnapishtim Mesopotamia Compiled around 12th-7th century BC Gods' decision to reduce humanity Cube-shaped boat, confirmed land with 3 birds Became an immortal hermit
Noah Hebrew Debated time of compilation Judgment for human sin Ark, confirmed land with raven and dove Rainbow covenant, reconstruction of humanity
Deucalion Greece Plato's mention 4th century BC Zeus's anger at human corruption Prometheus's tip, ark Created new humanity by throwing stones
Gunyu Chisu China Traditionally 23rd-22nd century BC, archaeologically linked to flooding around 1900 BC Natural disaster (not judgment) Flood control through waterways, not dams Founding of Xia dynasty, start of hereditary monarchy
Manu-Matsya India Literature established around 6th century BC Part of periodic world destruction Warned and rescued in return for saving a fish Became the new progenitor of humanity
Rainbow Serpent Australia Oral, date cannot be specified The process of world formation itself N/A (continuation of creation, not an event) Remained as current terrain
Flood of the wooden people Maya Popol Vuh oral, colonial era record Reworking of imperfect creations None (some escaped by becoming monkeys) Re-creation leading to corn people
Tata-Nena Aztec Five Suns era oral tradition Era replacement by rain god Tlaloc Survived through goodness, but violated rules Transformed into dogs and transitioned to the next era
Hopi, Cheyenne, Blackfeet North America Oral, date cannot be specified Explanation of tribal/linguistic origins Evacuated to mountain tops, language differentiation through colored water Explanation of tribal/linguistic diversity