Book Review – Theogony – Works and Days by Hesiod

Theogony

Continuing in the tradition of Greek poets by invoking the Muses, Hesiod gives us the semi-creation account of the Greek pantheon, the origin of men and evil, and the genealogy of the gods. Hesiod is credited, at least to our knowledge of providing the well-known origin stories of the gods and Greek myths. While the poetry, at least translated, doesn’t stand out all that well; it is interesting that the Greeks saw order, design, and hierarchy in the universe and translated from the theology to the societal among the polis and the family.

Works and Days

A personal grudge from Hesiod to his brother, but it reads like a book of sayings or a Poor Richard’s Almanac. It contains common planting tips for agriculture but also how best to live among each other in this budding city-state. The suggested laws have a ring of Old Testament Leviticus/Deuteronomy and attempts to provide a means for violence to be lessended in this new blended society and where law and politics (and good work ethic) is a means to lessen violence. This flows really well from Oresteia especially The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides by Aeschylus. Not so much as a poetry read but interesting to see the real life day-to-day maturations of a typical Ancient Greek life.