WEEK 5: HESIOD (2/11)
dactylic hexameter, didactic poetry
poetic competition
written text: sixth century BC
The Theogony (birth of the gods)
the importance of cosmogony (cf. The Book of Genesis)
pp. 3-5: invocation to the Muses; the question of truth
pp. 5-6: "Kings and Singers"
what makes a good king? why is this important?
pp. 6-7: first generation (primordial forces, Ouranos)
pp. 7-18: Second generation (Titans, Zeus and his siblings, Prometheus)
pp. 18-33: Third generation (the victory of Zeus over all comers)
Themes
poetic inspiration and the truth
the succession of generations
Near Eastern influence:
"The Song of Kumarbi" (aka "Kingship in Heaven")
Zeus as ultimate god, the justice of Zeus
the ultimate victory of the new gods of order against the old (victories over Prometheus, Titans)
cunning vs. authority
mankind and its lot
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Updated 2-10-08, bolmarcich[at]mail.utexas.edu