6Th Hesiod's Works and Days

Perses

Hesiod’s brother, to whom Works and Days is addressed, offering advice on living a just and hardworking life

Works and Days

A didactic poem by Hesiod that provides moral lessons, farming advice, and myths, including the story of Pandora and the Ages of Man

Eris (again)

The goddess of strife, who appears in two forms in Works and Days: one representing productive competition and the other destructive conflict

Pandora

The first woman, created by the gods as a punishment for humanity, who opens a jar (or box) releasing all evils into the world, leaving only hope inside

The Ages of Man

A myth in Works and Days describing the five successive ages of humanity, each declining in virtue and happiness

The Golden Age

A time of peace and prosperity when humans lived in harmony with the gods and did not experience suffering

The Silver Age

An age where humans were less virtuous, disrespected the gods, and eventually perished

The Bronze Age

A violent age of warlike humans who destroyed themselves through their own aggression

The Heroic Age

A brief, noble age of heroes, including those who fought in the Trojan War, who were rewarded with a better afterlife

The Iron Age

The current age, marked by toil, injustice, and moral decline, as described by Hesiod

Conservative

A worldview reflected in Hesiod’s works, emphasizing tradition, hard work, and respect for the gods and justice