Hésiode et la Muse (1891)
by Gustave Moreau
Because we were running out of time at the end of class, I may have rushed Hesiod’s five races of men in his Works and Days. I want to make sure they are clear for you. The following is his list with line numbers from the Norton.
The Golden race of mortal men — see lines 63-73
This race thrived under the reign of Kronos and was made by the Olympian gods (Zeus, et al.). They lived like the immortals, without strife or toil.
The Silver race of mortal men — see lines 80-90
This race is inferior to the golden one, even though they too were created by the Olympian gods. They remained children for 100 years, and then became petulant and violent adults. They committed crimes against each other and refused to honor the gods.
The Bronze race of mortal men — see lines 96-108
This race was made by Zeus and fashioned from the Ash tree. They were a warring race who lived off of meat and used bronze tools and weapons. They were the first race to go to Hades upon their death.
The Divine race of heroes — see lines 111-125
This is the semi-divine race, the demi-gods and heroes we see in the Odyssey and the Iliad. This race warred as well, but when they died Zeus let them dwell in the Isles of the Blessed Ones.
The Iron race of mortal men — see lines 126-153
This is Hesiod’s race. There is no end to their daily toil and strife because the gods bring about many troubles for them.
I have had very little interaction or knowledge of the various ages until now. My brief research recently has opened very interesting doors on the subject matter thus far; however I would like to fast forward to the last age “Iron” where strife and evil seems abundant.
It is particularly captivating the point we briefly dived into about Pandora and the “Hope” left in jar discussion. While mythology experts claim “Hope” was intended as a bad and good symbolism. I for one am a bit skeptical to accept it as a bad gesture. “Hope” being left in jar I see as oil and water in a jar. I prefer to see the oil which floats at top as evil and the water, a more pure substance (at bottom) as what was ideally left behind. Hope is stuck or left in jar as the one thing we can reach into jar for or go back to, it is never used up and is there when we need it most to use in an unlimited sense. Also “hope” being left in Pandora box or jar can be seen as all the pollutants or evils Pandora was supposed to unleash; was just that! The bad departed and left for the “good”/”hope” to fill the empty space.
Might seem a bit naïve but Hope is definitely the one and only thing that picks just about anyone up. No matter how powerful, rich or intelligent one is. If you lose any of those things we strife for as human beings/ kings or whatever other label, “hope” is what gets us going to rebuild or recover from the bad we experience or sometimes find ourselves tangled into.
QL