Zeus' Visit
After evil was released by Pandora to mankind, rumours of wickedness beyond belief were heard everywhere, including to Zeus himself. He began to wonder if he could destroy mankind and create them again, but without the aid of Prometheus, he hesitated. Finally, he called upon his son Hermes, and decided to go down to Earth to see for themselves.
"Let us disguise as man and go down to Greece as poor travellers. If we find that men are not fit to live, I will destroy them myself," Zeus said.
Hermes replied, "Let us not be over hasty. We shall visit three households. and if we find that two out of the three resemble destruction, then let mankind perish. But if we find good in two, then spare mankind but unleash whatever doom you see fit to the wicked."
Zeus agreed, and the two of them descend into the land of Arcadia, in which at that time the King of Arcadia was Lycaon, a man of evil. He had fifty sons, and most of them were like himself, cannibals. Zeus and Hermes entered Lycaon's palace, and he threatened to kill them at first. But Hermes was so young and handsome, which would make him an excellent feast. Thus, he changed his mind. He bade Zeus and Hermes to sit at the dining table, but unfortunately there was no fresh meat ready for that day. So Lycaon ordered his son Nyctimus, who was not as wicked as the rest, to be killed and served. But when Zeus saw the meal on the table, immediately he knew what it was, and he sprang to his feet in his godly form. Lycaon cowered in fear, realising his guests were Immortals.
"You are not fit to be a man! Go into the wilderness and haunt the mountains and valleys as a wolf! And your sons with you!" Cried Zeus.
So Lycaon and his sons fled into the wilderness of Arcadia, all of them turned into wolves. Zeus resurrected Nyctimus and bade him to rule Arcadia. Then he and Hermes, returned to disguise, continued on their way. One evening they came to a little cottage on a mountain top near Tyana. There were no servants in the house, and the only inhabitants were an old man, Philemon, and his wife Baucis. They welcomed the travellers, made up fire with their last faggot, and cooked their last bacon. They prepared the only bed in the house for the guests, then began to prepare supper. Philemon placed two wooden cups upon the table and pour into them wine from the only remaining jar in the house. All this they did with simple kindness, talking to their guests and welcoming them, without the slightest idea who the travellers really were. But when Philemon came to refill the cups which he had seen his guests drained to the dregs, he found them both still full of wine. Then he fell on his knees.
"Noble sirs! Surely you are Gods blessed from Olympus! Pardon us, our entertainment has been so poor, and our food so meagre," he cried.
Zeus smiled, and said, "We are Zeus and Hermes, and in you we find nothing to blame. Come, and see what we propose for you!"
He led the way out of the cottage, and the cottage turned into a beautiful marble house.
"Now, what gift do you desire for yourselves?" Said Zeus.
Philemon and Baucis spoke together for a few moments, after which Philemon turned and said, "We desire most to be your priest and priestess, and that we may both die at the same moment."
"I grant you, and whatever may chance upon the wicked men, here on this mountain top you will be safe. I will make you young again, and when death comes, the both of you will be turned to trees so that you will stand here and bow to my temple," cried Zeus, and a thunder rolled across the sky.
Later, Zeus and Hermes left the area, and they came to Thessaly. Here they found a house in which lived Deucalion and Pyrrha.These two were kind, welcomed the Gods, and practised all the diligent arts Prometheus had taught. Zeus was satisfied and made a decision.
"Now I will let loose a great flood, and those who are not fit to live will be drown. As for you Deucalion, build a ship, and in this ship you will be safe," said Zeus.
For nine days and nine nights rain poured, and Poseidon stirred his trident so that the sea flowed in over the land as well. Deucalion and Pyrrha, in their ship, came to Mount Parnassus, near Apollo's shrine. In the morning, a voice from the shrine spoke to them, "Deucalion and Pyrrha! Go down into the valley before you, cover your heads with cloaks, and cast behind you the bones of your mother!"
For a long time they were puzzled, but at last Deucalion had the answer. Their mother was Earth, and the bones were the stones. So they went down into the valley, covered their heads, and began to throw stones backward over their shoulders.
They turned around, and they saw the stones they had thrown had grown into men and women, and in this way the land of Greece was re-peopled.