Hesiod's Theogony PDF 2024

In the Beginning: Hesiod’s Creation Story Winter 2024 Hesiod Active c. 675 BC Boeotia; father from Ionia And they once taught Hesiod the art of singing verse, While he pastured his lambs on holy Helikon’s slopes. And this was the very first thing they told me, The Olympian Muses, daughters of Zeus A...

In the Beginning: Hesiod’s Creation Story Winter 2024 Hesiod Active c. 675 BC Boeotia; father from Ionia And they once taught Hesiod the art of singing verse, While he pastured his lambs on holy Helikon’s slopes. And this was the very first thing they told me, The Olympian Muses, daughters of Zeus Aegisholder: “Hillbillies and bellies, poor excuses for shepherds: We know how to tell many believable lies, But also, when we want to, how to speak the plain truth.” So spoke the daughters of great Zeus, mincing their words. And they gave me a staff, a branch of good sappy laurel, Plucking it off, spectacular. And they breathed into me A voice divine, so I might celebrate past and future. And they told me to hymn the generation of the eternal gods, But always to sing of themselves, the Muses, first and last. Theogony 23-35 “Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son Achilles and its devastation.” Homer, Iliad, 1.1 And they once taught Hesiod the art of singing verse, While he pastured his lambs on holy Helikon’s slopes. And this was the very first thing they told me, The Olympian Muses, daughters of Zeus Aegisholder: “Hillbillies and bellies, poor excuses for shepherds: We know how to tell many believable lies, But also, when we want to, how to speak the plain truth.” So spoke the daughters of great Zeus, mincing their words. And they gave me a staff, a branch of good sappy laurel, Plucking it off, spectacular. And they breathed into me A voice divine, so I might celebrate past and future. And they told me to hymn the generation of the eternal gods, But always to sing of themselves, the Muses, first and last. Theogony 23-35 Hesiod 2 main poems Works and Days Theogony Cosmogony Cosmos + gonos (birth) Account of the universe's physical origin and organization Theogony Cosmology Metaphysical statement about the universe's nature and purpose Cosmology Theogony Succession myth: how Zeus became ruler of cosmos See start of poem 37 - 115 9 Muses Daughters of Zeus and Memory They were born on Pieria after our father Kronion Mingled with Memory, who rules Eleutherae's hills. She bore them to be a forgetting of troubles, A pause in sorrow. For nine nights wise Zeus Mingled with her in love, ascending her sacred bed In isolation from the other Immortals. But when the time drew near, and the seasons turned, And the moons had waned, and the many days were done, She bore nine daughters, all of one mind, with song In their breasts, with hearts that never failed, Near the topmost peak of snow capped Olympos. (53-63) Cosmology Succession myth: how Zeus became ruler of cosmos Theogony See start of poem 37 - 115 9 Muses Daughters of Zeus and Memory Genealogy Structure 1-115 Proem 116-236 The first Gods and their offspring Gaea + Uranus = Titans (132ff.) 237-670 Birth of the Olympians; Zeus’ rise to power 671-end Offspring of the Olympians First Gods - lines 116 - 236 Chaos Gaea/Earth Tartarus Eros In the beginning there was only Chaos, the Abyss, But then Gaia, the Earth, came into being, Her broad bosom the ever-firm foundation of all, And Tartaros, dim in the underground depths, And Eros, loveliest of all the Immortals, who Makes their bodies (and men’s bodies) go limp, Mastering their minds and subduing their wills. Theogony 116-122 First Gods 116 - 236 Creation myth Account of Genesis In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God’s spirit hovered over the waters. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that light was good, and God divided light from darkness. God called light “day,” and darkness he called “night.” Evening came and morning came: the first day. Genesis First Gods 116 - 236 Creation myth Account of Genesis Acts of will So in Hesiod generation rather than creation Primacy of Eros First Gods - lines 116 - 236 Chaos Gaea/Earth Tartarus Eros Creation myth Account of Genesis Acts of will First Gods 116 - 236 So in Hesiod generation rather than creation Primacy of Eros Importance of generation, sexual reproduction in the cosmos Theogony lines 123 - 125 From the Abyss were born Erebos and dark Night. And Night, pregnant after sweet intercourse With Erebos, gave birth to Aether and Day.. Theogony lines 131 - 136 Then she [Gaia] gave birth to the barren, raging Sea Without any sexual love. But later she slept with Ouranos and bore Ocean with its deep currents, And also: Koios, Krios, Hyperion, Iapetos, Theia, Rheia, Themis, Mnemosyne, Gold-crowned Phoibe and lovely Tethys. Primacy of Eros First Gods 116 - 236 Importance of generation, sexual reproduction in the cosmos Parthenogenic creation asexual reproduction; conception without sex First Gods - Lines 137 - 210 Gaea + Uranus Titans e.g., Rhea, Themis, Cronus First Gods 116 - 236 Uranus' fear of his children Response? Stuffs them back into the earth Gaea's response? First Gods 116 - 236 Uranus' fear of his children Response? Stuffs them back into the earth Gaea's response? Use of deceit, “a really wicked trick” Castration of Uranus First Gods 137 - 210 Overthrown by castration procreation and power Separation of earth and sky Needed for inhabitable cosmos Psychological theory Cronus cuts off genitals of his father Uranus tossed into the sea foam Aphrodite aphros = foam Birth of Aphrodite Testifies to function as patron of masculine sexual pleasure First Gods 116 - 236 In Homer - daughter of Zeus and Dione Exploration of opposites, tensions in myth Idea of affinity between love and hate I hate and love. Perhaps you’re asking why I do that? I don’t know, but I feel it happening, and am racked. Odi et amo. quare id faciam fortasse requiris? nescio sed fieri sentio et excrucior. Catullus 81 1-115 Proem 116-236 The first Gods and their offspring Gaea + Uranus = Titans (132ff.) 237-670 Birth of the Olympians; Zeus’ rise to power 671-end Offspring of the Olympians Structure Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Cronus "forced himself upon Rheia" Birth of the Olympians lines 237 - 670 Cronus + Rhea Hestia Demeter Hera Hades Poseidon (the first Olympians) Zeus Birth of the Olympians - 237 - 670 Cronus "forced himself upon Rheia" Eats his children Theogony - lines 243 - 251 And Kronos swallowed them all down as soon as each Issued from Rheia's holy womb onto her knees, With the intent that only he among the proud Ouranians Should hold the title of King among the Immortals. For he had learned from Earth and starry Heaven That it was fated for him, powerful though he was, To be overthrown by his child, through the scheming of Zeus. Well, Kronos wasn't blind. He kept a sharp watch And swallowed his children. Cronus "forced himself upon Rheia" Eats his children Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Birth of Zeus Crete Further deceit Use of stone Zeus matures, Cronus vomits up offspring Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Rise of Zeus Prometheus Pandora Titanomachy Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Titanomachy Titan + mache = battle of the Titans Titans = children of Uranus Cronus, Rhea etc. Theogony lines 207 - 210 But great Ouranos used to call the sons he begot Titans, a reproachful nickname, because he thought They had over-reached themselves and done a monstrous deed For which vengeance later would surely be extracted. Titanomachy Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Titan + mache = battle of the Titans Titans = children of Uranus Cronus, Rhea etc. So children of Uranus vs. children of Cronus Theogony lines 462 - 469 The earth crashed and rumbled, the vast sky groaned And quavered, and massive Olympos shook from its roots Under the Immortals' onslaught. A deep tremor of feet Reached misty Tartaros, and a high whistling noise Of insuppressible tumult and heavy missiles That groaned and whined in flight. And the sound Of each side shouting rose to starry heaven, As they collided with a magnificent battle cry. Titanomachy Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Zeus and Olympians victorious Titans imprisoned in Tartarus Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Typhoeus Born of Gaea and Tartaros Theogony lines 606 - 614 When Zeus had driven the Titans from Heaven, Earth, Pregnant by Tartaros thanks to golden Aphrodite, Delivered her last-born child, Typhoios, A god whose feet never gave out, from whose shoulders grew The hundred heads of a frightful dragon Flickering dusky tongues, and the hollow eyesockets In the eerie heads sent out fiery rays, And each head burned with flame as it glared. Typhoeus Born of Gaea and Tartaros Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Continuing importance of feminine principle Uranus (castration), Cronus (stone) Ambivalence Contrast to rule of Zeus Serpent and prehistoric goddess Typhoeus Born of Gaea and Tartaros Birth of the Olympians 237 - 670 Continuing importance of feminine principle Uranus (castration), Cronus (stone) Ambivalence Contrast to rule of Zeus Serpent and prehistoric goddess Conflagration and geological catastrophe Structure 1-115 Proem 116-236 The first Gods and their offspring Gaea + Uranus = Titans (132ff.) 237-670 Birth of the Olympians; Zeus’ rise to power 671-end Offspring of the Olympians Offspring of the Olympians 671 - end Zeus as king Marriage to Metis About to give birth to Athena "Stuffs her in his stomach" Importance of wisdom Key to his success as ruler Zeus + Themis Eunomia Dike (Justice) Eirene Offspring of the Olympians 671 - end Zeus as king Last marriage Hera Athena Offspring of the Olympians 671 - end Zeus as king Last marriage Hera Birth of Athena Hera's response? Offspring of the Olympians 671 - end Zeus as king Last marriage Hera Birth of Athena Hera's response? Rivalry with husband Theogony Ends with ascension of Zeus Progression Theogony Rule of Zeus 1) Zeus appointed king →unlike Cronus and Uranus Theogony 666 - 670 So the blessed gods had done a hard piece of work, Settled by force the question of rights with the Titans. Then at Gaia's suggestion they pressed broad-browed Zeus The Olympian, to be their king and rule the Immortals. And so Zeus dealt out their privileges and rights. Theogony Rule of Zeus 2) Zeus delegates authority → again unlike Uranus and Cronus Rule of Zeus Theogony 3) Zeus doesn’t rule by brute force alone st 1 →role of wife Metis (“cunning intelligence”) Rule of Zeus Theogony 4) During Zeus’ rule gods are more anthropomorphic and less animistic Ends with ascension of Zeus Theogony See progression from universe ruled by crude and violent forces, to one in which ruling forces are anthropomorphic and essentially human Theogony Zeus' rise to power as succession myth Uranus > Cronus > Zeus Triumph of son over father Also: male over female Rereading of Succession Myth Theogony 1) Gaea gives birth to Uranus, Mountains, Sea etc. In the beginning there was only Chaos, the Abyss, But then Gaia, the Earth, came into being, Her broad bosom the ever-firm foundation of all... Earth' first child was Ouranos, starry Heaven, Just her size, a perfect fit on all sides. And she bore the Mountains in long ranges, haunted By the Nymphs who live in the deep mountain dells. Then she gave birth to the barren, raging sea... Theogony 116-131 Rereading of Succession Myth 2) Uranus and beginning of struggle Theogony Birth process Castration of Uranus by son Cronus at the instigation of Gaea Vast Earth groaned under the pressure inside, And then she came up with a plan, a really wicked trick. She created a new mineral, grey flint, and formed A huge sickle from it and showed it to her dear boys. And she rallied them with this bitter speech: "Listen to me, children, and we might yet get even With your criminal father for what he has done to us. After all, he started this whole ugly business." Theogony 160-167 Rereading of Succession Myth Theogony 3) Defeat of Uranus and challenge to female fecundity How? The genitalia themselves, freshly cut with flint, were thrown Clear of the mainland into the restless, white-capped sea, Where they floated a long time. A white foam from the god-flesh Collected around them, and in that foam a maiden developed And grew. Her first approach to land was near holy Kythera, And from there she floated on to the island of Kypros. Theogony 188 - 193 Rereading of Succession Myth 4) Next step? Cronus? Theogony Cronus “imitates” pregnancy and then “gives birth” to Olympians Rereading of Succession Myth 5) Last step? Theogony Zeus absorbs the female into himself when he consumes Metis. Male pregnancy Rereading of Succession Myth 5) Last step? Theogony Zeus absorbs the female into himself when he consumes Metis. Male pregnancy Dionysus: son of Zeus and Semele Gaea - triumph of female - “She came up with a plan, a really wicked trick” (line 161) - castrates Uranus → conquest of male sexuality Zeus - triumph of male - “Zeus tricked her [Metis], gulled her with crafty words, and stuffed her in his stomach...” (lines 674 – 676) - swallows Metis → conquest of female sexuality Rereading of Succession Myth Gradual usurping of the feminine role - physical and mental Gaea > Zeus Metis and Athena Theogony Birth process, wisdom Male control of reproduction, parentage Patriarchy established Permanence of Zeus' rule ensured Theogony Near Eastern Parallels and Influences Mesopotamia Near Eastern Parallels and Influences Theogony Mesopotamia Babylon Enuma Elish 1100 BC, but incorporates much earlier material Enuma Elish 1) Begins with gods of primordial waters male god Apsu – fresh water female god Tiamat – salt water Give birth to gods such as Anu (sky) and Ea (water) 2) Apsu plans to kill young gods Ea finds out – kills his father Apsu via magic spell 3) Ea and his wife give birth to Marduk (3rd generation) 4) Tiamat now determines to destroy younger gods – creates monsters to help her 5) Only god willing to fight is Marduk 5) Only god willing to fight is Marduk 6) Marduk defeats Tiamat 7) Marduk returns home in victory Divides gods into those who live in the sky and those who live beneath the earth Other gods are grateful; build a palace for him and proclaim him lord of the universe Similarities between Enuma Elish and Theogony 1)1st generation of gods made of primal pairs 2)Fathers Apsu and Uranus hate the 1st children 3) In initial round of conflict the clever sons Ea and Cronus overthrow their fathers 4)In 2nd round of conflict, gods of the 3rd generation (Marduk and Zeus) fight against an earlier divine generation 5) Terrible monsters are overcome (Tiamat and her army; Titans and Typhoeus) 6) Sky gods (Marduk and Zeus) achieve victory and become king 7) Stories begin with powers of nature and end in organization of universe as a monarchic state Theogony Near Eastern Parallels and Influences Also Hurrian-Hittite Kingship in Heaven and Song of Ullikummi Near Eastern Parallels and Influences Theogony Also Hurrian-Hittite Kingship in Heaven and Song of Ullikummi Anu (sky) and son Kumarbi Myth of divine succession Anu challenged by Kumarbi Kumarbi bit Anu's genitals and his manhood went down Into Kumarbi's inside. When it lodged there, and when Kumarbi had swallowed Anu's manhood,he rejoiced and Laughed. Anu turned back to him and said: "You rejoice Over your inside, because you have swallowed my Manhood. Do not rejoice over your inside! In your inside I have planted a heavy burden. First, I have impregnated You with the noble Storm god. Secondly I have impregnated You with the river Tigris, which cannot be withstood. Thirdly I have impregnated you with the noble Tasmishu. Three dreadful gods I have planted in you belly as seed. You will go and kill yourself by banging your head Against the rocks of your own mountain. Near Eastern Parallels and Influences Also Hurrian-Hittite Kingship in Heaven and Song of Ullikummi Anu and Kumarbi Theogony So Kumarbi pregnant with those who are to depose him, spits out seed God comes out of his head (?) Eating of stone instead; spit out, placed somewhere as cult object (?) 1) Uranus castrated 2) Cronus swallows children. Children in belly. cf. Zeus and Athena 3) Blood from Uranus 1) Anu castrated 2) Ku. swallows Anu's genitals, embryos in belly 3) Ku. spits out seed impregnates earth 4) Cronus swallows stone. Set up in Delphi. 4) Ku. eats stone, cult object. Near Eastern Parallels and Influences Theogony Numerous very close parallels Other common themes No "intelligent creator" Order out of disorder (Flood, voyage to underworld) Theogony Near Eastern Parallels and Influences Nature of relationship Cross cultural influence Review of Hesiod’s Theogony Cosmogony, cosmology Proem introduction to poet and poem encounter with Muses connections with subjectmatter of poem; authority Generation versus Creation - thus importance of Eros, Aphrodite Succession Myth Gaea → Uranus Titans → Cronus → Zeus Olympians But not only son over father, but male over female Progression in poem – from primal entities to rule of Zeus esp. re: rule, authority, exercise of force Parallels with other Near Eastern myths, especially Enuma Elish, Kingship in Heaven