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Apollodorus, Library 1.7.2 (Frazer)

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Prometheus advises his son Deucalion to build a chest (larnax); after nine days and nights adrift he lands on Parnassus, sacrifices to Zeus Phyxios ('of Escape'); Zeus sends Hermes to grant a wish; stones thrown over their heads become men (Deucalion's) and women (Pyrrha's) · laos 'people' from laas 'stone.'

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flood-4

And Prometheus had a son Deucalion. He reigning in the regions about Phthia, married Pyrrha,
the daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora, the first woman fashioned by the gods.
And when Zeus would destroy the men of the Bronze Age, Deucalion by the advice of Prometheus constructed a chest,
and having stored it with provisions he embarked in it with Pyrrha.
But Zeus by pouring heavy rain from heaven flooded the greater part of Greece, so that all men were destroyed,
except a few who fled to the high mountains in the neighborhood.
It was then that the mountains in Thessaly parted, and that all the world outside the Isthmus and Peloponnese was overwhelmed.
But Deucalion, floating in the chest over the sea for nine days and as many nights, drifted to Parnassus,
and there, when the rain ceased, he landed and sacrificed to Zeus, the god of Escape.
And Zeus sent Hermes to him and allowed him to choose what he would, and he chose to get men.
And at the bidding of Zeus he took up stones and threw them over his head,
and the stones which Deucalion threw became men, and the stones which Pyrrha threw became women.
Hence people were called metaphorically people (laos) from laas, “a stone.”

Apollodorus, The Library 1.7.2 · tr. J. G. Frazer, 1921

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flood · flood-4

In both traditions repopulation after the flood is not biological but liturgical: the survivor's post-landing sacrifice is the literal manufacturing step for the next humanity. The new race is produced by ritual from inert material (thrown stones; poured offerings), and both texts pause to etymologize the result · Greeks from laas, mankind as 'the race of Manu' (mānava).

Deucalion lands on Parnassus and his first act is sacrifice · to Zeus Phyxios, 'god of Escape.' The sacrifice is answered by Hermes with a wish; Deucalion asks for people, and the stones he and Pyrrha throw over their heads become men and women (laos 'people' from laas 'stone').

set against Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 1.8.1.7–10

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