Eden, Noah Depicted in Ancient Greek Art describes a new book that, playing on the popularity of the The Da Vinci Code, is called The Parthenon Code, by Robert Bowie Johnson Jr. The Parthenon Code compares the story of Genesis in the Old Testament with the story the Greeks recorded about their own genesis on the Parthenon and on vase paintings.

The Five Ages of Man
The Greek poet Hesiod's story of the creation of mankind.

From the press release for "The Parthenon Code"

"The author shows that Greek myth/art tells the same story as Genesis except from the standpoint that the serpent enlightened Adam and Eve in Eden rather than deluding them. "In their vase-paintings and sculptures, ancient Greek artists take us back through Noah and the Flood to a woman, a serpent, and an apple tree in an ancient paradise," Mr. Johnson said. "Greek art portrays the myth, and Greek myth explains the art. Once you see the Genesis connection, Greek myth/art becomes easy to understand. The Greek artists meant for us to understand it," he added.

"Six ancient vase depictions of the Greek version of Eden and five sculptures relating to Eden appear in the book.

"According to the author, an authentic ancient Greek artists' code, designed to clearly portray Greek religious history to the masses, first appeared in about 600 BC and reached its highest form with the sculptures of the Parthenon, the national symbol of Greece, completed in 432 BC.

"The Parthenon Code reveals that the ancient Greeks rejected the Creator God of Noah in favor of "man as the measure of all things." Thus, Greek myth/art celebrated the re-emergence of the way of Kain (Cain) after the Flood, and the rebirth of the serpent-friendly Eve, whom the Greeks worshipped as Athena. The Greeks called Noah Nereus, the "Wet One," and dated the beginning of their contrary religious outlook from the latter years of his life, depicting the patriarch's image on many vases, seventeen of which appear in the book.