Week 3 Story: Jupiter, a Forgiving God

(Deucalion and Pyrrha from ClipArt ETC)

“The humans have grown selfish and wicked,” said Jupiter as he peered to earth from his throne on Mount Olympus. “I have grown weary of their wicked deeds and ungrateful ways. We must teach them a lesson, will you help me, brother?” 

“I will,” returns Neptune and with that Jupiter calls his storms and water falls from the skies. Neptune summons his waves and calls the rivers for aid. Together they drown the world. “Break the reins that hold your waters!” Neptune slams his trident to the earth and with a thunderous clap cracks open upon the earth allowing his oceans to stretch across the land. The roaring waters of the streams and the lakes rush across the lands and cover everything in sight. Where there once were buildings and pastures stood nothing but open sea. The buildings that were built sturdy enough to withstand the waves could still not be seen. Their pillars and roofs were lost amongst the waves. No longer was there a clear distinction between the seas and the land. They were as one. One vast sea. 

The peaks of mountains peeked above the waves as the tops of the tallest trees reached for the sun. Most living things were washed away by the waves. Their life-force snuffed in an instant. Dolphins swam through empty houses. Whales blew water spots in the middle of the holiest temples. Farmer’s fields welcome schools of fish. The world was lost. If any had escaped the waters they would soon be defeated by hunger. 

Jupiter surveyed his work and was pleased. But he gloated for only a moment in satisfaction. “My brother and I punished mankind for their misdeeds. But what if I have acted in haste?” Jupiter sat and pondered the destruction of the human race for a while longer. When he came to the conclusion that he may have acted too hastily he summoned his brother to him.

“Brother, do you think we were too hasty with our judgments? We have destroyed humankind but we failed to consider that not all of man was wicked. What about the good and the pious? We did not consider them, but what are we to do now?” he asked, his voice cracking with emotion. 

“I too have considered this, brother,” answered Neptune, placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “All may not be lost. One of my dolphins spotted a small fishing vessel on the peaks of Mount Parnassus. A husband and wife are on board, they appear to be alive.” Neptune reported to his grieving brother. Jupiter looked upon the scene and saw the survivors, a man and a woman, a husband and wife, Deucalion and Pyrrha. The couple sat dazed in their tiny boat taking in the devastation. They were thankful to be alive. But they could not help but mourn the world. As Deucalion looked around tears began to well in his eyes. He turned to his wife and saw that she shared his grief. They began to pray. Jupiter saw that they were worshippers of the gods. He realized that his fears were affirmed - he had wiped out the pious and the wicked. But the only survivors were followers of the gods! 

“Brother!” he boomed, his thunderous voice echoing throughout both the heaven and the Earth. “Call back your waters, rein in the rivers and streams. These survivors must have a chance!”

Heeding his brother's words Neptune summoned Triton from the seas. The gargantuan creature arose from the depths, the raised his conch shell horn to his lips, his muscular arms and shoulders covered with barnacles and shells. With the sound of Triton’s horn, the rivers and streams retreated to their channels and the sea once again had a shore. Jupiter’s invisible hand moved Deucalion to take action. Deucalion and Pyrrha journey to the temple of the oracle on the top of Mount Parnassus. He believed that it was divine intervention that saw him land on the mount of the Oracle. When they reached the temple of the oracle they fell upon the seaweed covered stone and kissed the ground. They prayed for guidance. They prayed for forgiveness of their sins. They prayed for forgiveness of man’s sin. Jupiter heard their prayers. He instructed the Oracle to guide Deucalion and his pious wide in recreating the human race.

The Oracle spoke Jupiter’s words to the couple. 

“Leave this temple in veils and loosed frocks. Walk the earth throwing the bones of your sacred mother and humanity will be restored.” 

At first, these words troubled Pyrrha. She thought the Oracle spoke of her own deceased mother. She would not disturb her mother’s spirit by desecrating her bones. But her husband did not think this was what the oracle had meant. 

“Dear wife,” he said, “What if she means our mother this Earth?” 

“You may be right, dear husband,” she responded. “Gather some stones. The bones of the Mother Earth.” 

Deucalion and Pyrrha descended the mount dressed as Jupiter had commanded through the Oracle. With them, they carried stones from the outskirts of the temple. They threw the stones behind them as they walked. As time went on the stones began to soften and vaguely began to resemble the shape of man and woman. The stones grew soft and moist and from the softness and moisture grew life. And from the actions of the pious Decision and Pyrrha, the human race lived once more. 

Jupiter looked on from the heavens vowing to consider all aspects of humankind before passing a damning judgment to all. 

Author's Note: This story tells of a great flood created by Jupiter and his brother Neptune to punish humanity for their "wickedness." It also tells the story of the only two surviving humans and how they were able to recreate the human race. I wanted to tell this story from Jupiter's perspective. I also thought it would be interesting to make Jupiter remorseful for what he had done. I wanted to tell the story in his words as he viewed it but have him be a more forgiving god than he was in the original story. 

Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses, translated by Tony Kline (2000).