Deluge

Deluge (Lat. diluvium, flood), a term applied specially to the great flood recounted in Genesis vii., viii. The traditions of many nations, however, refer to a similar deluge. The Chaldean Account of the Deluge, discovered and published by Mr. George Smith in 1872, exhibits striking resemblances to the Biblical account, but is, of course, markedly polytheistic. An Indian tradition not found till the 12th century A.D. is almost certainly derived from the Chaldean. The best-known Greek deluge myth is that of Deucalion (q.v.). Numerous deluge traditions exist also among the North American Indians and the Polynesians, but must be received with some suspicion, having probably in some cases been suggested by the incautious questioning of the missionaries. The question whether the deluge was total or partial has been much discussed. The geological difficulties in the way of the former view are so considerable that commentators incline to the latter.