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Hesiod’s Ages of Man circa 700 BC. Age of Gold. Time of Cronus (Saturn) Men made of Gold by Cronus No sorrow or work – always spring Always youthful and long-lived – earth fed them When they died, they ‘passed away like a dream’ Became kindly spirits dwelling on earth, guardians of man.
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Age of Gold • Time of Cronus (Saturn) • Men made of Gold by Cronus • No sorrow or work – always spring • Always youthful and long-lived – earth fed them • When they died, they ‘passed away like a dream’ • Became kindly spirits dwelling on earth, guardians of man
Age of Silver • Duller than the first; men made of silver by Zeus • Had very long lives, but they were contentious • Didn’t honor the gods and fought with each other • Zeus buried them under the earth where they became underground spirits
Age of Bronze • Men made of bronze from ash trees (source of spears) • Terrible and warlike nature; weapons and houses made of bronze • Hostile and aggressive, they killed each other off • Died and went to Hades, nameless and unremembered
Age of Heroes • Made by Zeus, they were half-gods (e.g., Cadmus) and spoke with gods • Died in warfare but went to the “Islands of the Blessed” (Elysian Fields) in the afterlife, a beautiful and peaceful place, like Eden
Iron Age • This is our own – life is hard and miserable • We grow old quickly and die hard after a life of labor • Men lie and cheat, betray their friends, disrespect their parents • A time of sorrow and suffering…