Greek Mythology: The Five Ages of Humankind's Progress

Running head: GREEK MYTHOLOGHY
GREEK MYTHOLOGY
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Author Note

1GREEK MYTHOLOGHY
Hesiod evoked this idea of an epic when he was tending his sheep in the Boeotian region
and he met with the Nine Greek Muses. They were the daughters of Zeus and they inspired
Hesiod to write the epic Works and Days that explains these five ages in depth. The passage
comes from Hesiod’s “The Five Ages” an epic poem that reflects in the verse of 109 and 201.
This passage gives us a deeper understanding of human nature and its consequences. After
discussing the story of Prometheus, Pandora and the godly fire, Hesiod explains the why there
was no alternatives for human as well as Prometheus to be deceit from the will of the Zeus
(Mythicspiral.blogspot.com. The Promethean Fire and Pandora's' Revenge. 4-9. 1). Through this
medium, Hesiod explains the five ages that followed. The first passage explains the Golden Age
when the gods created the race of men. According to Hesiod, it was time for peace and harmony
where there was not violence amongst the living. Even animals could speak to humans and none
would grow old or get ill. Death would still exist but it would be painless as it came during sleep
when their time was done.
However, when the Titan Cronus overpowered and dethroned his father Uranus to take
control of the current age, instead of keeping peace he started chaos. After hearing the prophecy
from Gaia that his own children would dethrone him, this made Cronus swallow his children
except for Zeus who survived due to Gaia and later on came back to set his brothers and sisters
free. This would lead to a ten-year war known as Titanomachy, amongst the Olympian Gods and
the Titans (Shean. Spiteful Zeus. 58-70. 6). This war led to the end of the golden age. After the
end of the first age, the race still existed as benevolent spirit who roamed the earth. Zeus wanted
to create a new generation. Therefore, he created the second age or the Silver Age of mankind.
However, they were inferior to that of the golden age from all aspects. The human were not only

2GREEK MYTHOLOGHY
immature, but they lived short lives because of their mistakes and they did not honor the gods.
Zeus lost his patience and he destroyed the silver age.
According to Slater (2014) when the silver age ended, the humans of that age were sent
to the underworld where they became a part of Hades. Zeus though of creating a third generation
and he created the Bronze Age where the human were strong and warlike. The people who lived
during this age had weapon, armors and even houses made of bronze. Instead of having normal
food, they ate the heart of their enemies, as they were barbaric in nature. These humans
worshipped the god of war, Ares and in the end due to their destructive nature, they ended up
destroying themselves and their souls went to the underworld (Scully. Hesiod's Theogony. 47-56.
54). Hesiod explains that after the end of the Bronze Age, Zeus thought of creating a new race
that would be honorable and noble. Therefore, he created the Age of Heroes where the humans
respected the gods and had many some special individuals called the demi-gods who possessed
some divine qualities. The demi-gods were the direct offspring of Zeus and other Gods
consummated with humans. According to Park (2014) it was not long that the demi-gods met
their end in wars such as the Seven against Thebes and the Trojan War. The ones who passed
went to the Elysian Fields where divine souls live a happy life. These fields were a small part of
the underworld where Zeus’s brother Hades ruled.
In the end, Zeus made the last race of the last age of men known as the Iron Age. Hesiod
is a part of this age as he has explained this age represents a time of constant stress and labour.
Humans do not posses morality anymore and they lie and oppose each other to rise on top. In this
age the human grow old quickly and they are beset with constant troubles and pressure (Hunter.
Hesiodic voices. 10-15. 13). Hesiod also explains that this age would make people remorseless
and there would be no help against evil. It is also been mentioned that just like the previous ages;