Noah was a biblical prophet and the final patriarch living before the Great Flood. According to the Book of Genesis, he was the son of Lamech and lived in Mesopotamia. Following divine instructions to escape a global deluge intended to punish human wickedness, he constructed an ark to preserve his family and various animal species. As a survivor of the flood, he is recognized as a foundational figure in the history of humanity and is commemorated in several Christian and other religious traditions.