Hesiod’s Ages of Man

* One of the earliest Greek poets * Theogony

* Father of Greek didactic poetry

Age of Gold
Age of Silver
 Time of Cronus (Saturn)
 Men were pure in heart and deed.
 Men made of Gold by Cronus
 Men respected each other and the gods
 No sorrow or work – always spring
 Always youthful and long-lived – earth fed them
 There were no laws nor punishments
 Duller than the first; men made of silver by
Zeus
 Less virtuous
 Bodies matured with the passage of time,
but spirits remained juvenile
 Each child stayed isolated at home with the
mother for 100 years (devoted to childish
pleasures).

 They lived in freedom, safety, and peace.  Lives were short and unhappy

 When they died, they ‘passed away like a dream’  They were selfish which created injustice
and war
 Became kindly spirits dwelling on earth, guardians
 Didn’t honor the gods and never tried to
of man please them.

 Old age earned them respect and gratitude.
 Weather was kind and there was eternal spring.
 Nectar and milk formed the rivers while the
leaves dripped with honey.
 Animals feasted in abundant green pastures.
 Men enjoyed nature – wildflowers, and the stars.
 Men were neither acquisitive nor aggressive.
 There were no armies and no wars.
 The spirits protected the living from danger.
Age of Bronze
 Eternal spring was changed to a year of 4
seasons.
 First houses were built to protect the people
from too much cold or heat.
 Zeus buried them under the earth where
they became underground spirits
 Food was less plentiful.
 People learned to toil the field and plant for
food.
 Dead bodies became part of the earth.
 Spirits of the dead enter the underworld.

 Men made of bronze from ash trees (source of spears)

 Terrible and warlike nature; weapons and houses made of bronze

 Hostile and aggressive, they killed each other off – they lived by the sword

 Loved Ares, the god of war

 Brute strength made them powerful; heart was unresponsive

 Died young ;Died and went to Hades, nameless and unremembered

Age of Heroes

• Made by Zeus, they were half-gods (e.g., Cadmus) and spoke with gods

• Died in warfare but went to the “Islands of the Blessed” (Elysian Fields) in the afterlife, a beautiful and peaceful
place, like Eden

• Grief can no longer touch them

• Honor and glory earned in their lifetime survived.

• Ruled by Cronus (freed from Tartarus by Zeus)

Iron Age

 This is our own – life is hard and miserable (day is filled with work and grief)

 We grow old quickly and die hard after a life of labor

 Many people die

 Men lie and cheat, betray their friends, disrespect their parents

 Worst crimes in history now occur throughout the world, yet don’t feel shame

 There’s no more justice and faith

 A time of sorrow and suffering…(fraud, violence, and greed)

 Earth’s bounty have now been divided into private properties.

 We feel that earth doesn’t provide much

 Ships are built to acquire more wealth

 We tore the earth in search of gold and iron – making people more powerful.

 Values of these metals led to war – mortal’s hands became bloody because of greed.