Classical Studies 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Cronus

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 2200
• Professor: Aara Suksi

Document Summary

Alienation of the human and divine: prometheus, fire, and pandora. Hesiod"s second major poem: works and days humanity"s steady decline from an original. Golden age: praises zeus for imposing lawful order on a previously chaotic universe but laments the undeniable fact that people are now much worse off than they were under. Deterioration in human society = zeus" quarrel with prometheus: supremely cunning titan who maneuvered zeus into accepting the bad part of animal sacrifices. Humanity"s alienation from the gods: prometheus and fire. Before this quarrel, men could live freely and like gods zeus is now angered and presents them irresistible bait that will spoil the promethean enlightenment: asks hermes, athene, and hephaestus to create the first women pandora. Zeus" eagle eats prometheus" liver everyday and then it grows back every night (all while bounded) Pandora sheer deception, irresistible to men . Pandora is alluring on the outside but worthless within.