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Question for Discussion 1 – Hesiod’s Theogony

Hesiod, who along with Homer, is credited with writing some of the earliest Greek poetry (c. 8th century BCE). His Theogony or “Birth of the Gods” is the story of the Greek gods. Its origins are oral in nature – stories told by poets – and it only was written down centuries later. The oral nature of the poetry thus means that it included many layers in its telling, making it both rich and succinct. You may find the need to look up (or google) some of the names or terms – and you will find your understanding deepen when you do so.

As a historian, we can explore this document in a number of ways. First, we can readwhat it says about the cosmology (origin and development of the universe) of the early Greeks. Second, we can examine what the roles of various gods were and how they acted out. Third, we can look at the warfare that the gods employed and think further on what it might have meant for the Greeks of the day. Fourth, we can look at how the gods’ social relationships played out and what that might have said about the Greek people. Fifth, we can examine how gender works in the poem and extrapolate what this might have meant for actual Greek men or women.

For this discussion, follow up on one of the suggestions above OR choose some other aspect in the poem that you find intriguing.

For your main post, write 3-4 paragraphs about this, and add a last paragraph on whether you see any connections with our own world today. (If you don’t see similarities, you can always point out contrasts.)Use your textbook for background context of the Greek world and civilization, and you must include quotations from Theogony as evidence backing up your argument. I would suggest at least one quote per paragraph, although two or three (especially when short) is perfectly acceptable.

Finally, you will need to respond to at least 4 of your classmates’ main posts. Your comments of about 2-3 sentences should extend their discussion. If you find something interesting mentioned by your classmate, don’t hesitate to take them up on the discussion!