According to Greek legend, Zeus resolved to destroy all humanity by a flooding the entire world. Deucalion then constructed an ark in which, according to one version, he and his wife rode out the flood and landed on Mount Parnassus.
In the Hindu culture Vaivasvata Manu, whose original name was Satyavrata, saved humanity from the great flood after being warned of it by the Matsya avatar of Vishnu, who had also advised him to build a giant boat. The story is mentioned in early Hindu scriptures.
In North American Hopi mythology as told in Oraibi, Tawa destroyed the Third World in a great flood. Before the destruction, Spider Grandmother sealed the more righteous people into hollow reeds which were used as boats and thus ensured the survival of the people.
The story of Noah's Ark is told in the Hebrew Bible in the Genesis flood narrative, and also in Sura 71 of the Quran. Similar tales are told in Africa. There are at least 34 cultures in which an epic flood story is part of the heritage.
