4

Hesiod was a renowned Greek epic poet.

Some believe he was a contemporary of Homer, while others argue that he came after Homer.

His two most significant works were "Days and Works" and "Theogony."

"Days and Works" is presented in the form of a letter to his slothful brother. It offers advice on the optimal times for planting and contains proverbs to guide one towards a better life.

"Theogony," on the other hand, is essentially a family tree of the gods, tracing their lineages and relationships.

One of the best pieces attributed to Hesiod is a satire of the Iliad called "The Battle of the Mice and Frogs."

Another interesting work is the purported contest between Hesiod and Homer, which adds an element of mystery and speculation.

Additionally, fragments of other reputed works by Hesiod are also included, further enriching our understanding of his literary output.

Overall, Hesiod's works provide valuable insights into the beliefs, values, and literary traditions of ancient Greece.

These pieces, many of which are fragmentary, provide captivating insights into ancient Greek life and religion or belief.

Even though the outcome of the "Contest of Homer and Hesiod" is as it is, Hesiod's works (or the others here that have customarily been attributed to Homer) do not possess the same level of beautiful writing or impressiveness as the Iliad or Odyssey.

However, they are still worth exploring for those who have a passion for Homer and/or Greek mythology. It is similar to how a fan of an epic movie will relish all the "bonus features" on the DVD.

These fragments offer a unique perspective and can enhance our understanding of the rich and diverse world of ancient Greek culture.

They may not be as polished as the more famous works, but they have their own charm and value.

For those interested in delving deeper into the mythology and history of ancient Greece, these pieces are definitely worth a look.

I've been informed that this particular Loeb edition is truly the most outstanding deal available when it comes to Greek and Latin literature.

It not only includes the works of Hesiod but also The Homeric Hymns.

This combination makes it an incredibly valuable resource for anyone interested in delving into the rich and diverse world of ancient literature.

The Loeb series is renowned for its high-quality translations and comprehensive annotations, which help to make these ancient texts more accessible to modern readers.

With this edition, you can explore the works of two of the most important figures in Greek literature and gain a deeper understanding of their contributions to the development of Western culture.

Whether you're a student, a scholar, or simply a lover of great literature, this Loeb edition is definitely worth adding to your collection.

My two most beloved stories are the Hymn to Hermes and the Battle of the Frogs and Mice.

The Hymn to Hermes is a fascinating tale that details the birth of the Trickster and his mischievous baby adventures, particularly when he steals Apollo's long-horn cows. It offers a unique perspective on the character of Hermes and his early exploits.

The Battle of the Frogs and Mice, on the other hand, is an animal story. Similar to those found in many animistic cultures, it is an epic and brutally told narrative that mirrors the Iliad. This story brings to life the conflicts and struggles of the animal world in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Together, these two stories offer a rich and diverse exploration of different themes and genres, captivating readers with their unique charm and vivid descriptions.

Thank goodness a passage of Plutarch is rescued in this book.

This passage mentions and deciphers Hesiod’s veiled symbolic chronological figures, revealing that it extends into the millions of years.

Using this, one can then flesh out the more detailed timing of his dynasties’ year-periods within the houses of each of his being phases, such as gigantomachy and titanomachy. He places each of their sections within his mentioned 9 1/2 to 10 divine ages of Zeus, or 10 Numakos periods.

All of his sacred mythologium descent cycles of beings, from the gods to us, are properly placed upon and within this cycle or scale, which is an equally geologic scale of the earth’s ages in revelation, as he shows in this work.

For the latter, he mentions here the river of fire, Styx, which recreates all at the end of each 10 divine ages as it flows out from the North, coming from Eilythia. The Norse’s Elivagar also retain the same record of such a cycle of destruction coming out from such a land in the North.

See modern geology on the phases of Arctida repeating out from Ellesmere Orogeny.

It just may be that all of the great ages of deep history are revealed in this work, if only you know how to read it. It is truly a marvelous work.

An interesting compilation of classic Greek poetry awaits the reader, offering a mostly historic interest.

Two long works, namely "Theogony" and "Works and Days", serve as the anchors of this collection.

"Theogony" presents a near-Biblical account of the origins and lineages of the gods. It provides valuable insights into the classical Greek perception of the cosmos, yet it largely appears to be a reference material.

"Works and Days", on the other hand, is a compilation of advice for everyday life, encompassing a wide range of topics from beekeeping to the treatment of slaves. I found this work almost preferable for its ground-level perspective on Greek society during that period.

There are numerous other fragmentary pieces within this collection as well, including toasts to the gods and scraps of lost poetry. I took great pleasure in reading about the other Trojan War epics that were created to fill the gaps in the Iliad and the Odyssey. I was unaware that there were so many works围绕 the same subject. It seems that the impulse to fill in the blanks and potentially cash in is a universal one.

The collection concludes with the short "Battle of Frog and Mice", a humorous and gory spoof on war in miniature. If nothing else, this piece might be worth checking out. Ultimately, I did not consider this work to be essential (I have a preference for my old Edith Hamilton mythology or any of the Iliad/Odyssey/Aeneid), but it does offer a window into the era of its creation.

Quotes

Ouch for the Ladies

"For from her is the race of women and female kind: of her is the deadly race and tribe of women who live amongst mortal men to their great trouble, no helpmeets in hateful poverty, but only in wealth. And as in thatched hives bees feed the drones whose nature is to do mischief--by day and throughout the day until the sun goes down the bees are busy and lay the white combs, while the drones stay at home in the covered skeps and reap the toil of others into their own bellies--even so Zeus who thunders on high made women to be an evil to mortal men, with a nature to do evil."

A Nuanced Prayer to Ares

"Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife. Rather, o blessed one, give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace, avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of death."

I went back to this particular work because of reading Natalie Haynes' Pandora's Jar. She made references to Hesiod, and I was aware that I had a copy that I had never read (or perhaps it had been too long ago). It is highly pertinent to Pandora, Helen, and Medea especially.

The edition I have, originally published in 1914 and updated regularly until 1964, is filled with rather old-fashioned English. Additionally, due to the fact that they couldn't be bothered to include certain fragments in the Catalogues of Women earlier in the text, they were simply appended at the end. And there's even a further appendix to that appendix. I mean, really!

And it's all in there, just as Natalie Haynes said. Pandora is described as "an evil thing for men as the price of fire." The swearing of oaths to protect the eventual winner of the Marry Helen Later of Troy contest is also mentioned. Creon's relatives killing Medea's children and spreading the rumor that she had done it. Her killing them herself to seek revenge on Jason was an invention of Euripides that is now well-known.

Other interesting bits include Phoebus' mom, Leto, devising a scam to fleece pilgrims to a Phoebus Apollo shrine on the land of Delos. She claims that "you will never be rich in oxen and sheep, nor bear vintage nor yet produce plants abundantly." This way, those dwelling on Delos will be fed "from the hands of strangers." What a scam! I just bet that was Leto's idea - NOT!

There's also a Homeric hymn about the mother of Hermes being visited regularly by Zeus while Hera slept "and neither deathless god nor mortal man knew it." Until >now anyway, you blabbermouth.

And the contest between Hesiod and Homer section, which seems to have influenced Aristophanes in his slagging off contest between Euripides and Aeschylus in "The Frogs." This latter work is funnier than the former and made Diet Pepsi come out my nose when I read it in the 90s. Right then, I wanted to know if it was just as funny in Greek and searched for a Greek class for ages until one finally had enough students to start.