Then came the Age of Bronze, when man's life was much shorter, and war was a constant event. But men of this Age could also achieve great strength and Heroism. However, there eventually developed a growing disrespect and irreverence toward the Gods. Zeus would not tolerate this.
The final act came at the hands of the king of Arcadia named Lycaon, who killed a young boy, dismembered him, and attempted to offer the remains to Zeus. For this offense, and for impiety in general, Zeus decided to send a flood to wipe out the entire Age.
Zeus ordered Poseidon to slam His trident into the sea and create a tidal wave. It was so powerful that even mountains were submerged. Zeus also unleashed downpours of rain from above.
The only people who survived the flood were a man named Deukalion (son of Prometheus) and His wife, Pyrrha (the daughter of Pandora), who had been forewarned by the Gods about the coming flood because they were the only suitable people left. They built a chest large enough to hold them above the water, and when the flood receded, they landed on Mount Parnassus.
The two also built a new Temple of Themis to re-establish Divine Law. Themis later instructed them to walk along the mountain and throw stones behind in their wake. Each one by Deukalion created a man, and each one by Pyrrha, a woman. Mankind would now get a second chance.
