Asher Sisneros

Hesiod’s Works and Days addresses the feuds between the gods, the creation of men, and proper ethics for prosperity. Zeus’ sovereignty over humans is one of the central themes. The deathless gods made the five races of men. Hesiod believed Zeus was sovereign because the gods created the five races of men, and Zeus was the most powerful deity. This essay will address the five races of men, their attributes, and Hesiod’s view on the future.

            The deathless gods created the “Golden Race” first. Their minds were perfect and unflawed. Wisdom and ethics poured from their actions, and they glorified the gods in all their ways. Since they sacrificed to Zeus and everyone on Mount Olympus and had pure minds, the earth gave them an abundance of fruit and blessed their work. They were good. Eventually, the “Golden Race” died, but their spirits were allowed to roam the earth because of their goodness.

            After the “Golden Race” of men died, the deathless gods created a “Silver Race.” They were horrendous before the gods compared to the “Golden Race.” Instead of blessing the Olympians like their predecessors, they were insolent and refused to pay homage. However, their poor morals didn’t stop with the gods. They also disrespected each other and fought. All of this displeased Zeus, who hated them. In response to their bad behavior, Zeus repaid them with short lives. While they died prematurely, hated by the Olympians, they still had honor among men. So, their spirits were cast into the underworld, where they lie today.

            Once the “Silver Race” became obsolete, Zeus and the deathless gods made the “Bronze Race.” The second generation of men (the “Silver Race”) seemed like saints compared to the Bronze People. Unlike the others, they embraced their strength and desired power. They were warriors. All of the civilization was war-mongering, and their strength didn’t help that inner nature. Not only were their morals dead—they murdered each other constantly—but they also loved Ares, the god of war. Over time, they eventually died, but unlike the “Golden Race,” their spirits were cast into Hell.

            Then the gods made a fourth race of men. This one was a nobler sect, and more honorable than the war-loving Bronze Generation. While they were strong and mighty, they didn’t seek power and murder each other without a cause. “Demi-gods” are what the fourth race was called, and they were all heroes. The Olympians loved them because of their honor, bravery, and subservience to Zeus. As a blessing, Zeus made another home for them away from this corrupted earth. That home is the seal of perfection, and Cronus rules over them.

            Finally, the Olympians made a fifth generation of men. This one was called the “Iron Race.” They were terrible and awful, constantly hustling about industriously and slandering each other. The Iron Generation did not fear the gods at all and praised evil men. They were people who loved wickedness and violence and condemned the innocent. Their sorrow was always increasing. Zeus promised one thing to the Iron People: Destruction.

            According to Hesiod, he was born as a member of the “Iron Generation.” He also said the humans on earth were becoming, progressively, more and more wicked. Specifically, they became more and more distant from the gods and embraced apostasy. Zeus was going to curse all the apostate generations with death. That concludes this essay, what Hesiod believed about each generation and the future, and his case for submission to Zeus.