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Delahoyde & Hughes
Orpheus
HESIOD:
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In addition to the few biographical details we receive in
Theogony, here Hesiod reports that he was a singer at the funeral
games for a prince of Euboea. Since the Greek alphabet was first used by
the Euboeans, this may be why Hesiod's works were written down.
Works and Days tells of an argument between Hesiod and his brother
over their father's will. Hesiod expounds on issues of right and wrong as
illustrated in myths.
Pandora:
She was sent to Prometheus' dim brother Epimetheus, who had been
instructed not to accept gifts from Zeus. Once among humankind, Pandora
lifted the lid of a jar (in the Middle Ages this became "Pandora's box"),
out of which poured ills, torment, pain, disease, anguish, pestilence,
etc. Only hope remained in the jar.
Works Consulted
Hesiod. Works and Days. Trans. M.L. West. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1978.
Powell, Barry B. Classical Myth. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2001.
The most important myth related is that of Pandora, a more elaborate
version of the brief story related in Theogony -- the story of
Zeus punishing mankind by inflicting woman. Because Prometheus tricked
Zeus, the king of gods and men deprived humankind of fire. But Prometheus
stole it back. So Zeus had Hephaestos craft a creature out of clay that
Athena then supplied with the "womanly skill" of weaving and tended to
her clothing and hair. Aphrodite gave her desire and heartbreak, "and all
the aching sorrow of love." Hermes added "thievish morals" and "the soul
of a bitch." Because she was given all these gifts by the gods, she was
named "Pandora" ("All-gifted").
The Five Races:
Etiologically, the myth explains the origin of woman and of suffering. In
Theogony, Hesiod portrays Pandora and womankind as unproductive
consumers. Pretty misogynistic.
The idea of the progressive degradation of the generations finds its way
into Works and Days. Hesiod describes the blissful and ideal
golden age, the disrespectful silver age, the violent bronze age, the
heroic fourth age (including the Trojan War), and Hesiod's own iron age.