Homer and Hesoid

The first thing that comes to mind when Ancient Greece is brought up, is the larger than life accounts of the almighty gods, yet one never takes a step back to examine who and where these accounts exactly came from. Homer and Hesiod were both born around eight hundred B.C and were the first to write about these Greek gods and goddesses. It’s easy to say that Hesiod and Homer may have been the single most influential poets in Greek history, as both told stories of great importance to the type of lifestyle and societal issues Greece was built upon. Homer and Hesiod held a lot in common yet shared many differences as well. Both oral poets described stories and events involving the gods of Greece. Homer is known for his famous works including the Iliad and the Odyssey in which he tells the stories of hero’s and the ways in which the gods of Greece intervene within their mortal’s lives. In Homer’s pieces, the god’s roles play a large part in developing the overall story line. This is seen in the Iliad as the gods are involved in taking sides and occasionally action during the Trojan war; Apollo for the Trojans, and Athena for the Achaeans. In both of Homer’s epics, the gods perform certain task in order to harm or help out a certain character. In the Odyssey, Poseidon the mighty god of the ocean throws obstacles in Odyseuss way in order to keep him from returning home. However Athena on the other hand, greatly assist Odyseuss on his journey home. Most of the people that Homer writes about, believe in a predetermined life, as if the gods will control all the outcomes to the events in their lives. Homer constantly references to the gods and their ability to control mortal lives, actions, and consequences. In both the Iliad and the Odyssey the story revolves around the hero’s and mortals while the gods also playing large roles, are seen more in the background of the main story. Like Homer, Hesiod also had several epics in which god’s of Mount Olympus were involved. However instead of telling a story where the main focus is on the mortals, Hesiods works and days and Theogony revolved more around the beginning and rules or powers the gods possessed. Hesiod used the similar formats in both epics, consisting of the same didactic pattern. In |Works and Days Hesiod explains the Greeks views on virtue and justice and goes into detail about the five ages of man in which the gods have complete great control over. These ages of men consist of the Golden age, Silver age, Bronze age, Heroic age, and the Iron age, all of which Zeus has the power to end and or begin a new age. In Hesiod’s Theogony he explains the evolution of the gods beginning with Gaia, chaos, and Eros. Without historical accounts such as the ones by Homer and Hesiod ancient Greeks historical records about the gods may have gone unnoticed. Hesiod and Homer’s epics still hold a great amount of value, as scholars learn a large amount of information from different parts of Greek culture. Not only do these two poets shed light on certain gods, they help to outline several Greek customs that were important to the society and over all well being of life in ancient Greece.