Greek legend
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
They were the sole survivors of the deluge sent by Zeus to destroy the whole human race, and repopulated the world by casting stones behind them which were turned into men.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Greek legend” mean?
They were the sole survivors of the deluge sent by Zeus to destroy the whole human race, and repopulated the world by casting stones behind them which were turned into men.
Is “Greek legend” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.