Pyrrha.
The woman who repopulates the earth
Pyrrha: Greek Myth, Deucalion and the Survivors of the Floodsurvives the flood beside and shares the task of restoring human life. Her concern about the ’s words makes their interpretation a question of conscience as well as ingenuity.
More than a myth.
Pandora’s daughter
The identifies as a daughter of and . Her marriage to joins the families of the two brothers whose stories concern humanity’s beginnings. The daughter of the woman associated with human troubles thus becomes part of a narrative about human survival and renewal.
Why Pyrrha hesitates at the oracle
’s commands the survivors to throw the bones of their great mother behind them. initially fears that obeying would violate the dead. Her hesitation is meaningful: the pair must understand the words before performing an act that seems impious. ’s interpretation identifies Earth and stones instead of an actual mother’s remains.
The women formed from stones
Once the pair accepts the interpretation, the stones throws become women. gives her an active share in rebuilding the human world. The scene should not be reduced to acting while an unnamed wife watches, because the two sets of actions are explicitly needed for the new community.
Questions about Pyrrha
Who are Pyrrha’s parents?
and in the . is her husband, not her father.
What do Pyrrha’s stones become?
Women, in ’s account. ’s stones become men, and together their actions restore a human population.
It’s a family affair.
Pyrrha
Flood survival & humanity’s renewalNo children represented in this edition.
The stories of Pyrrha.
Ancient voices.
Enduring stories.
Myths have many tellings. These are the ancient works behind this profile, linked to freely available English translations.
Library
Book 1.7.2
Metamorphoses
Book 1.350–415