How Flood Myths Can Give Us Hope During This COVID-19 Pandemic Chasing Gods

2020 – The flood of the new Coronavirus has caused a global pandemic and worldwide catastrophe. Hospitals are overwhelmed with the sick, governments are enforcing self-isolation and the economy is heading towards a recession.

Times of panic, instability and chaos elicit strong emotions and wild speculations; some think the pandemic is China’s fault since the virus first appeared there, and some take matters into their own hands.

Others believe the virus is a biological warfare or perhaps a gigantic secret plot arranged by world elites. The actions of the people and governments are watched in scrutiny and fingers are pointing in all directions.

While people blame each other, I find it wise to revisit the past. Pandemics of infectious diseases have been periodically wiping out significant portions of the population since the beginning of recorded history.

 

 

Timeline from https://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/

 

Marseille during the outbreak of a pandemic in 1720 by Michel Serre

 

There were many more pandemics, and many are found in all sorts of literature.

Before the common era, pandemics also known as plagues were often recorded in epic poems such as Homer’s Iliad, where Apollo, the god of Protection and Affliction, sends a deadly plague upon the Greeks.

Or in religious works, such as the bible, where God instructs Moses to toss sooth in the air which will cause a plague;

 

“Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. 9 It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land.”

Exodus 9:8–9

 

Whether or not these specific events occurred is unclear, however, the knowledge of plagues was clearly present.

Examining history, it is clear that there is a pattern of recurring pandemics stretching back to ancient times, and despite advances in science and technology, there seems to be no abating.

There are also mythologies on natural disasters from around the world which seem to suggest that cycles of absolute disorder, such as those experienced during a pandemic are part of the human experience, and that they may not be something we could ever escape from… but perhaps are something that is needed and even merited.

 

Men vs. Nature

Ancient Native Americans believed that there is a cycle of action and reaction, between men and nature.

A Cherokee myth tells how men were once upon a time living harmoniously with animals. But one day, the humans got too numerous and powerful and treated them very poorly. The animals had a meeting and decided that the way to bring balance back is to infest men with diseases.

Most of the pandemics are scientifically known to have originated in animals.

 

Pandora’s Jar

But our doom is not our end.

A well-known mythology told by the Greek poet Hesiod tells how a href="...