I don't get what's so great about this book. Coming off of the Iliad and Odyssey this seems way worse. It's not bad, however, just... fine.
The succession myths were good, but a lot of it was just lines of succession and children. I know that was important in the time it was written in, and I know what it tried to do was important, and all that, but standing on its own legs I feel underwhelmed. It's almost like it's better used as a reference than as literature.
Why is this considered such a great piece of literature?
Zachary Myers
>Why is this considered such a great piece of literature? Is it?
Brody Garcia
>Why is this considered such a great piece of literature? It isn't ya stupid dumb head
Andrew Long
Well Hesiod is considered the second greatest pre-classical Greek poet, and the Theogony and Works and Days are considered his two greatest works.
Isaiah Nelson
It is a great work for reference, but I do believe that Works and Days is head and shoulders better. It will still not be Homer, but it is better than the Theogony. Still, when taking the catalogue of ships into account, you can see how some of the listing is part of the tradition. Plus, the usual complaint about translation.
Xavier Hernandez
Just a humble peasant's attempt to make sense of the toil in his life, such is life for the man of iron. Finish Work & Days, puts things into perspective, great foil to Homer's scale and grandeur, because it looks at where the common man stands coming off the Age of Heroes described in Homeric poetry.
James James
>the second greatest pre-classical Greek poet Intredasting. Out of how many surviving poets?
Connor Davis
>Hesiod is considered the second greatest pre-classical Greek poet >there are literally only two pre-classical Greek poets with works that have survived really made me think
Gabriel Mitchell
Yeah, but we have surviving commentaries from times when there were more extant works, and they point to that general view.
Well two now, but he's been considered that great when there were way more. That's the reason he's one of the two surviving ones.
Carson Adams
Theogony is basically 2deep, once you realize each god means something and the fact that X god being the son of Y god has potential interesting implications it all becomes clearer, except for the fact that we don't really know that much about the gods themselves and most of the meaning is probably lost. Works and Days is a masterpiece even if you don't have an extensive prior knowledge on greek myths and you should definitely read that tho.
Josiah Bailey
I personally find Works and Days just as dreadful as Theogony. I've never understood why everyone thinks its good. Perhaps I just read a shitty translation.
Austin Cooper
>once you realize each god means something and the fact that X god being the son of Y god has potential interesting implications it all becomes clearer I'd hardly describe that as "2deep", it's a pretty basic idea.
Mason Lopez
Most people don't get it and end up hating Hesiod for just making a "shitty list of gods".
Levi Russell
Some of it's good, but some of it's just a shitty list of gods. Having to read of 30 names of some water nymphs doesn't engage me. Odds are they were smaller, local gods. The whole "X child of Y" idea doesn't really apply to them more than "Oh they're the children of the sea so their water beings woooooo"
Mason Barnes
ITT: butthurt Typhoeus worshippers >it was HIS turn!! uhmmm......no, honeybuns; Zeus Aegiduchos won the Cyclops vote >b-but he's a serial rapist ........no sweetie
Tyler Kelly
you did read it in Ancient Greek right?
Charles Campbell
I didn't read it, I had it orated to me in ancient Greek to the rhythmic beat of a stick, while drinking mulled wine.
Honestly don't understand people who think they can READ oral works and think they get the full effect.
Austin Morales
not what I mean at all; I was asking if you were the orator. You really think you think you can understand these works without memorizing all the stock epithets and reiterations then traveling across the country side improvising on the narrative whenever you hap upon a crowd. Zeus save you, oikos
Angel Rivera
you read them out loud to yourself, you fukn moron
Carter Reyes
>he's been considered that great when there were way more Great in what way? The beauty of his writing? Personally I'd be surprised if I had the same tastes as a Greek dude from 2500 years ago, even before we get to the >translations meme. On the other hand, the Iliad is pretty legit, but Hesiod could easily have been celebrated for other reasons which don't translate so well to our language and cultural context.
Joshua Barnes
I'm not sure on what grounds, but it's no doubt that the ancient world held Homer first, and Hesiod second, as the greatest poets. For example, just like Homer inspired a Homeric style, Hesiod inspired a Hesiodic style. Even Virgil describes himself sort of like a Roman Hesiod.
I'm working my way through Works and Days now, and I have to say it's much better. There's a better flow, more interesting motifs, and the general word choice is more poetic I feel.