Moral Decay and Natural Disasters

The archetype of large populations being destroyed by natural disasters because of societal and moral breakdown is a recurring theme in many ancient stories, myths, and legends. This archetype is often used as a cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of immorality and wickedness. In these stories, a powerful deity or force sends a flood, fire, or other catastrophic events to wipe out bastard humanity as punishment for their sins.

However, a select few individuals or a small group of people are often able to survive and repopulate the earth. In its modern evolution, of the zombie motif, these survivors often have to hunt the remnants of the undead population to finish them off.

Popular themes within these stories involve forms of immorality amongst the survivors, especially the wounded hero hiding his/her infected bite wound from the other survivors, predatory gangs, and betrayal. Oh, and there’s always the bit where the person elects themselves to be the one to shoot an infected loved one just before they “turn” as a righteous act of mercy.

Today, many scientists and environmentalists warn that human actions, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, are contributing to global warming and other environmental issues. These actions are seen as a form of societal and moral decay, similar to the immorality and wickedness in the ancient stories.

The warning is that if these actions continue, they will lead to devastating consequences, such as rising sea levels, severe weather events, and loss of biodiversity, that could potentially threaten the survival of human populations and other species. This can be seen as a modern version of the archetype, where humanity is facing the possibility of being punished by nature for its actions.

Some classic examples from ancient times include:

1. Noah and the Flood – as told in the Bible, God sends a flood to destroy humanity because of their wickedness.
2. The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – as told in the Bible, these two cities were destroyed by God because of their sins and immorality.
3. The Epic of Gilgamesh – in this ancient Mesopotamian epic, a great flood is sent to destroy humanity, but one man, Utnapishtim, is warned by the god Ea and builds a boat to survive.
4. The Story of Deucalion and Pyrrha – in Greek mythology, a flood is sent by Zeus to destroy the human race, but Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha are able to survive and repopulate the earth.
5. The Legend of Atlantis – in this ancient Greek story, Atlantis is a powerful and advanced civilization that is destroyed by a natural disaster as punishment for its moral decay.
6. The Mahabharata – In Hindu mythology, the story of the “Great war” is a large population destroyed by a natural disaster due to the moral decay.
7. Ogyges flood – Ancient Greek flood story, where the city of Thebes is destroyed by a flood due to its inhabitants’ moral decay.
8. The Popol Vuh – In Mayan mythology, a great flood is sent to destroy the human race, but a few survivors are able to start anew.

Summaries

Noah

The story of Noah and the Flood is an ancient story found in the Bible that can be interpreted as an archetype of large populations being destroyed by natural disasters because of societal and moral breakdown. In this story, God sees that the earth has become corrupt and filled with violence, and decides to wipe out humanity with a great flood as punishment for their wickedness. However, Noah, a righteous man, is warned by God of the impending disaster and is instructed to build an ark to save himself and his family, as well as a pair of every kind of animal.

From the perspective of the archetype, the story of Noah and the Flood can be seen as a cautionary tale that warns against the dangers of immorality and wickedness. It suggests that if society does not change its ways and reform its moral behavior, it will face severe consequences, in this case, a catastrophic flood. The story also implies that a small group of righteous individuals can survive and even thrive in the face of societal breakdown, while the rest of humanity is destroyed.

This story also has an environmental perspective, as the flood is seen as a natural disaster caused by human actions, and the salvation of Noah and the animals are a reminder of the interdependence between human and non-human lives. The story can also be seen as a call to take responsibility for our actions, and to change them in order to avoid the devastating consequences.

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a story from the Bible that can be interpreted as an archetype of large populations being destroyed by natural disasters because of societal and moral breakdown. In this story, God sees that the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah have become extremely wicked and corrupt, with the inhabitants committing various sins such as violence, sexual immorality, and lack of hospitality. As a result, God decides to destroy the cities with fire and brimstone, sparing only Lot and his family.

The destruction of the cities is seen as a natural disaster caused by human actions, and the salvation of Lot and most of his family (God evidently didn’t like Lot’s wife much and killed her for the most trivial of reasons) is a reminder of the interdependence between human and non-human lives. The story can also be seen as a call to take responsibility for our actions, and to change them in order to avoid the devastating consequences. Additionally, the destruction of these cities also serves as a reminder of the importance of hospitality and showing kindness to strangers.

The Epic of Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian epic that tells the story of a king named Gilgamesh and his journey to find immortality. The epic is considered one of the earliest surviving works of literature and is considered a masterpiece of world literature.

The epic tells the story of Gilgamesh, the powerful and ambitious king of Uruk, who is two-thirds god and one-third man. Gilgamesh is said to be the strongest and most handsome man in the world, but he is also arrogant, cruel, and a bit of a rotter. In an effort to become immortal, Gilgamesh sets out on a journey to find the secret of eternal life. Along the way, he meets and befriends Enkidu, a wild man created by the gods to challenge Gilgamesh’s power. Together, they embark on a series of adventures and battles, including the slaying of the giant monster Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.

One of the most important parts of the epic is the story of a great flood sent by the gods to destroy humanity because of their relentless naughtiness, but one lucky man, Utnapishtim, is warned by the god Ea and builds a boat to survive. This story is similar to the story of Noah and the Flood and some might say the original inspiration for the Genesis story (hint: It almost certainly was).

The epic also explores the theme of the fleeting nature of human existence and the ultimate futility of trying to cheat death. Gilgamesh ultimately learns that true immortality can only be achieved through one’s deeds and legacy (i.e. by what we do through actions, not by our demands to have our identity recognised). The epic ends with Gilgamesh returning home, a changed man, who realizes that he must be content with the life that he has been given rather than the personal mythology of what he could be.

The Story of Deucalion and Pyrrha

The Story of Deucalion and Pyrrha is a Greek myth about a great flood sent by Zeus to destroy the human race. The myth is similar to the story of Noah and the Flood from the Bible and the epic of Gilgamesh from Mesopotamia.

According to the myth, Deucalion and Pyrrha were the only survivors of the flood. They were considered the most virtuous and wise people of their time, and were warned by the god Prometheus of the impending disaster. Prometheus advised them to build a large chest (an “ark”), in which they put all the necessary tools to survive and repopulate the earth.

Zeus destroys the human race with a great flood as a punishment for their wickedness and moral decay. According to the myth, the people of that time had become so corrupt and immoral that they no longer honored the gods or followed their commandments. They were consumed by greed, lust, and violence, and had lost sight of their humanity.

After the flood, Deucalion and Pyrrha landed on Mount Parnassus, and they were the only human beings left on earth. They went to see the oracle of Themis, who told them that in order to repopulate the earth, they had to throw behind them the bones of their mother. Not understanding the oracle, they went to the mountain and found some stones. They then threw the stones behind them and the stones turned into human beings. In this way, the human race was repopulated.

The story is a classic Greek myth about a great flood sent by Zeus to destroy the human race, similar to the story of Noah and the Flood from the Bible and the epic of Gilgamesh from Mesopotamia. The myth tells the story of Deucalion and Pyrrha, who were the only survivors of the flood, and how they repopulated the earth by following the advice of the god Prometheus and an oracle. It highlights the theme of societal and moral decay leading to natural disasters and the survival and continuation of humanity through a small group of righteous individuals. It also emphasizes the importance of the guidance of the gods and oracles, and the power of human will to overcome difficult situations.

The Legend of Atlantis

The Legend of Atlantis is a story that was first told by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, in his dialogues “Timaeus” and “Critias”. The dialogues were written around 360 BCE, and they are the only known written records of the story of Atlantis. In the dialogues, Plato tells the story of Atlantis through the character of an Athenian lawgiver named Critias, who in turn heard it from his grandfather.

In the dialogues, Critias claims that the story of Atlantis was passed down through generations by the Athenians and that it was a true story, that took place 9000 years before the time of the dialogues. However, it’s important to note that there is no concrete evidence to support the existence of an advanced civilization that matches the description of Atlantis, and many scholars believe that the story is a fictional or allegorical one.

Plato’s dialogues were written as a political and philosophical allegory rather than a historical record, and the story of Atlantis was used by Plato as a way to illustrate the themes of moral decay, hubris, and the fleeting nature of power and wealth. The story of Atlantis has served as an inspiration for many writers, artists, and philosophers throughout the centuries and has been interpreted in many ways, but it’s still considered by many as a myth or a fictional story.

The Legend of Atlantis is an ancient Greek story that tells of a powerful and advanced civilization that existed in the distant past but ultimately met its downfall because of moral decay. According to the story, Atlantis was a powerful and prosperous island nation located beyond the “Pillars of Hercules” (the Strait of Gibraltar), which controlled a vast empire and possessed advanced technology and architecture.

The story goes that the people of Atlantis became increasingly corrupt and moral decay set in. They began to use their power and wealth for selfish and unjust purposes, and eventually, the gods were angered by their behavior and decided to destroy Atlantis as a punishment. The story describes a great cataclysm, possibly a natural disaster such as an earthquake, which sank the island nation into the sea and wiped out the entire civilization.

The Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic that tells the story of a great war between two branches of a royal family, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, for control of the kingdom of Hastinapura. The epic is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. It is considered one of the longest epic poems in the world, with over 200,000 verses (that’s 1.8 million words!)

The Mahabharata tells the story of the Pandavas, who are five brothers, and the Kauravas, who are one hundred brothers, and their struggle for the throne of Hastinapura. The epic tells the story of the various events that led to the war, including politics, family dynamics, and the role of fate and destiny.

One of the most important parts of the epic is the story of a great flood, caused by a king named Sagara, who was punished by the god for his arrogance. The flood submerged the whole earth, but the sage Vasistha and the king’s grandson, Bhagiratha, were able to save the kingdom by bringing the river Ganges to the earth, which is the same story that is told in the Ogyges flood.

The Mahabharata also explores themes of loyalty, duty, sacrifice, and the nature of good and evil, and it’s considered one of the greatest works of world literature. It is not just a war story but also explores the moral dilemmas and complexities of human existence. It’s widely read and studied in India, and it’s also been adapted into various forms of art and literature, including plays, films, and television series.

The Ogyges Flood

The Ogyges flood is a story from ancient Greek mythology, which tells of a great flood that submerged the whole earth in the time of Ogyges, the first king of Thebes. The story of the Ogyges flood is similar to other ancient flood myths such as the story of Noah and the Flood and the story of Deucalion and Pyrrha.

According to the myth, Ogyges was a powerful and arrogant king who angered the gods with his actions, and as a punishment, they sent a great flood to destroy the earth and the human race. Only a small number of people were able to survive the flood by fleeing to high ground.

The story of the Ogyges flood is said to have taken place in the region of Boeotia, in central Greece, and it’s considered one of the earliest flood myths in Greek mythology. It’s believed that the myth was created to explain natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes that occurred in ancient times and caused widespread destruction.

The story of the Ogyges flood is not well-known today, and it’s not present in the most famous Greek works of literature. It’s mostly found in fragments of ancient texts and it’s not as widely studied as other flood myths. However, it serves as a reminder that human actions have consequences, and that natural disasters can be seen as a form of punishment for societal and moral decay.

The Popol Vuh

The Popol Vuh is a sacred text of the K’iche’ Maya people of Guatemala. It is an epic narrative that tells the story of the creation of the world and the early history of the K’iche’ people. The text is considered one of the most important works of pre-Columbian American literature, and it’s an important source of information about the cosmology, mythology, and history of the ancient Maya civilization.

The Popol Vuh tells the story of the creation of the world, the first humans, and the first kings of the K’iche’ people. The text describes the creation of the world by the gods and goddesses, who created the earth, the sky, the animals, and the first humans. It also describes the struggle between the gods and the forces of darkness, and how the gods created a new race of humans to replace the first ones who were not perfect.

The Popol Vuh also tells the story of the first kings of the K’iche’ people, who were said to be semi-divine and chosen by the gods to rule. The text describes how the kings were able to bring peace and prosperity to the land, but also how they were challenged by rival kingdoms and internal conflicts.

The Popol Vuh also has a flood story, where the gods decided to destroy the first humans who were not obeying the gods’ commandments and created a new race of people. The flood was sent by the gods to purify the earth and to make a new creation.

Like modern-day TikTokkers, the first people created by the gods were not perfect because they lacked intelligence and consciousness. They were not able to speak or think, and they were not able to worship the gods or understand the natural world. They were also not able to understand the concept of death and they were not able to procreate. The gods were not pleased with their creation and decided to destroy them and create a new race of people.

In the story, the gods decided to create a new race of people who would be able to think, speak, understand the natural world, worship the gods and understand the concept of death. They also gave them the ability to procreate and be able to continue the human race.

There are several other examples of this archetype of large populations being destroyed by natural disasters because of societal and moral breakdown.

Here are a few lesser-known examples:

1. The Epic of Atrahasis: This is an ancient Mesopotamian story that tells of a great flood sent by the gods to destroy humanity because of their noise and overpopulation. A man named Atrahasis is warned of the flood by the god Enki and builds a boat to survive and repopulate the earth.
2. The Story of the Black Serpent: This is a story from the mythology of the indigenous people of Australia, which tells of a great flood sent by the creator spirit to punish humanity for their wickedness and moral decay. A group of people led by a man named Yhi survive the flood by climbing a sacred mountain.
3. The Legend of the Great Flood of Japan: This is a story from Japanese folklore, which tells of a great flood sent by the gods to destroy humanity because of their wickedness and moral decay. A group of people led by a clever chap called Nuwa also survive the flood by climbing a sacred mountain.
4. The Story of the Great Flood of China: This is a story from Chinese folklore, which tells of a great flood sent by the god Gong Gong to destroy humanity because of their wickedness and moral decay. A group of people led by a wise fella named Yu to survive the flood by building dams and channels.
5. The Destruction of the City of Kila: A Hindu legend, Kila, the city of demons, is destroyed by a great fire, sent by Lord Shiva, as a punishment for their evil deeds.

The Younger Dryas Period

The Younger Dryas period is a climatic event that occurred approximately 12,800 to 11,500 years ago, during the end of the last Ice Age. It is named after the climate indicator flower species Dryas octopetala, which characteristically thrived during this period. The Younger Dryas period is characterized by a sudden return to cold temperatures and glacial conditions, after a warming period known as the Holocene Thermal Maximum.

During the Younger Dryas, temperatures dropped by about 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (9 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit) in just a few decades, and the ice sheets that had retreated during the warming period began to advance again. This cooling event lasted for about 1,200 to 1,300 years, before temperatures began to warm up again.

The cause of the Younger Dryas is still a subject of much debate among scientists. Some theories suggest that it was caused by a sudden influx of cold fresh water from North America into the North Atlantic ocean, disrupting the ocean currents that help to regulate the Earth’s climate. Other theories suggest that it could have been caused by a comet or asteroid impact, or by volcanic activity.

It’s important to note that the Younger Dryas period had a significant impact on the human populations of the time, as the sudden change in climate led to a change in the availability of resources and a shift in the distribution of human populations. It’s also important to note that this period is also known as the “Big Freeze” and it’s considered as one of the most significant global cooling events of the last 10,000 years. It’s also a good example of how the climate can change rapidly and how this can have a significant impact on the environment and human populations.

The exact impact of the Younger Dryas period on human populations is not well-known and is still a subject of much debate among scientists. However, it’s believed that the sudden and severe cooling of the climate during this period had a significant impact on the availability of resources and the distribution of human populations.

The sudden change in climate likely led to a decline in the availability of food, as the colder temperatures and glacial conditions would have made it more difficult for plants and animals to survive. This would have made it more difficult for human populations to sustain themselves, leading to a decline in population size or a shift in the distribution of human populations.

It’s also believed that the Younger Dryas period led to a decline in the population of large mammals such as mammoths, mastodons, and giant bison, which would have been an important source of food for human populations. This would have made it even more difficult for human populations to sustain themselves, leading to a decline in population size or a shift in the distribution of human populations.

It’s also suggested that the Younger Dryas period could have contributed to the collapse of the Clovis culture, a prehistoric culture that existed in North America around 11,000 years ago. However, this theory is still controversial and other factors such as overhunting, disease, or human migration could have contributed to the collapse of the Clovis culture.

The Younger Dryas period is not associated with any flood. It is a climatic event characterized by a sudden return to cold temperatures and glacial conditions, after a warming period known as the Holocene Thermal Maximum. The cause of the Younger Dryas period is still a subject of much debate among scientists. Some theories suggest that it was caused by a sudden influx of cold fresh water from North America into the North Atlantic ocean, disrupting the ocean currents that help to regulate the Earth’s climate. Other theories suggest that it could have been caused by a comet or asteroid impact, or by volcanic activity.

Graham Hancock

“Descriptions of a killer global flood that inundated inhabited lands of the world turn up everywhere amongst myths of antiquity. In many cases these myths clearly hint that the deluge swept away an advanced civilization that had somehow angered the gods, sparing ‘none but the unlettered and the uncultured’ and obliging the survivors to ‘begin again like children in complete ignorance of what happened … in early times’. Such stories turn up in Vedic India, in the pre-Columbian Americas, in ancient Egypt. They were told by the Sumerians, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Arabs and the Jews. They were repeated in China and southeast Asia, in prehistoric northern Europe and across the Pacific. Almost universally, where truly ancient traditions have been preserved, even amongst mountain peoples and desert nomads, vivid descriptions have been passed down of global floods in which the majority of mankind perished.

To take these myths seriously, and especially to countenance the possibility that they might be telling the truth, would be a risky posture for any modern scholar to adopt, inviting ridicule and rebuke from colleagues. The academic consensus today, and for a century, has been that the myths are either pure fantasy or the fantastic elaboration of local and limited deluges – caused for example by rivers overflowing, or tidal waves. ‘It has long been known,’ commented the illustrious anthropologist Sir J. G. Frazer in 1923,

that legends of a great flood in which almost all men perished are widely diffused over the world…. Stories of such tremendous cataclysms are almost certainly fabulous; [but] it is possible and indeed probable that under a mythical husk many of them may hide a kernel of truth; that is, they may contain reminiscences of inundations which really overtook particular districts, but which in passing through the medium of popular tradition have been magnified into worldwide catastrophes.

Unquestioningly following Frazer’s lead, scholars to this day still persist in seeing flood stories as

recollections – vastly distorted and exaggerated … of real local disasters…. There is not one deluge legend but rather a collection of traditions which are so diverse that they can be explained neither by one general catastrophe alone, nor by the dissemination of one local tradition alone … Flood traditions are nearly universal… mainly because floods in the plural are the most nearly universal of all geologic catastrophes….

My guess is that such thinking will not much longer survive the steady accumulation of scientific evidence that suggests that a series of gigantic cataclysms, exactly like those described in the flood myths, changed the face of the earth completely…. “(Hancock 2002) https://grahamhancock.com/underworld/