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Hesiod's Writings

Overview of Hesiod's Writings

Greek poet Hesiod is widely regarded as having lived between 750 and 650 B.C., roughly at the same time as Homer. Ancient writers attributed the development of Greek religious practices to Hesiod and Homer. He is cited by contemporary academics as a key source for information on ancient Greek history, mythology, agriculture, economy, astronomy and timekeeping.

In order starting with the oldest; Orpheus, Musaeus, Hesiod, and Homer were regarded as the earliest poets in Greece in the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC. Greek authors then started to think of Homer as coming before Hesiod. Those who followed Orpheus and Musaeus were likely responsible for the prominence accorded to their two cult heroes, and it's possible that the Homeridae were behind Homer's promotion over Hesiod in later antiquity.

Ancient commentators credited three works—Works and Days, Theogony, and Shield of Heracles—to Hesiod. These are still in existence today. Of the other works attributed to him, only fragments remain. All of the surviving works and fragments were written using the traditional epic metre and vocabulary. The Shield of Heracles, however, is today recognized as a forgery and was most likely inscribed in the sixth century BC.

Numerous ancient manuscripts contain variations on the Greek mythology origin narrative. Theogony, a poem by Greek poet Hesiod who lived in the eighth century BC, is the most complete example. His creations incorporate all Greek mythology and customs up to that point.

Overview of Hesiod's Writings

Creation Accounts

Theogony

According to Hesiod's Theogony, the universe started out as nothing more than chaos and vacuum. It is important to note that the Greek term for chaos did not originally signify "empty space or a dark void," as it does today.

Gaia, which is Greek for "earth," and Eros, which means "love," came after Chaos. Hesiod claims that Gaia came into existence in order to become the abode of the gods; however, it is not clarified whether Gaia and Eros were born from Chaos or whether they were pre-existing. Similar to the Sumerian creation myth, which narrates how Earth was first formed as a home for the gods, this myth dates back to antiquity.

Ages of Man

Hesiod describes what is knonw as the five ages of Mankind. Period in which humanity has undergone 5 major ages throughout the world.

The Golden Age - an age when mankind lived to be thousands of years old, never felt pain and enjoyed their lives in banquets.
The Silver Age - The first age was gone and mankind's life became more dull. A time when man denied the gods their dues.
The Bronze Age - Brazen men appeared, monstrous in size. An age of Giants. Humanity became more war like.
Age of Hero's - A better race emerged, a race of godlike hero's.
The Iron Age - a time of pain and difficulties, when men's minds are hard as iron and stubborn.