The Creation
The Creation
Theogony, a Greek word meaning birth of the gods, is the title of a poem that seeks to answer some important questions for the Greeks, questions many other peoples have asked and continue to ask. How did the universe come to be? What is the role of the divine with respect to the earth? Are any gods most deserving of our reverence? Hesiod provided answers to these questions in a story of the creation of the divine order and the transition of rule to Zeus and the gods of Olympus.
In Hesiod's account the early characters may be difficult for us to conceive, references to the birth of Earth, Night, Tartaros, their plotting and carrying out the overthrow of harsh gods. These sound more like human activities, and not the geological and meteorological explanations we are used to when discussing natural phenomena. Did Hesiod really believe in a creation in such personal terms? When he talks about Gaia or Ge--Earth--does he mean a person or the planet? The answer is "both." He, and other Greeks, believed that the natural world was inhabited by divinities. The valleys, rivers, mountains, the earth itself, were occupied by spirits which had their birth at the time of the creation. This belief is called animism, from Latin anima, which means soul or spirit. The belief that such natural features as valleys, lakes, and groves were endowed with a living soul inspired great reverence and respect for these places. When we stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon and take in the expansiveness of it, we feel a sense of wonder that the Greeks would have shared. But while we might be thinking of all the years and all the gallons of water it took to wash all that dirt to the Gulf of Baja California, the Greek would be thinking of the spirit of the place, in a way similar to the Native American reverence for earth and sky. So the poet, and many of his contemporaries, saw these divine spirits in personal terms.
Notice how all of creation is genetically related. From Chasm are born Earth and Sky, and several other divinities, who make up part of the natural order. And from these gods others are descended. How does the idea of the birth of a god compare with the Judeo-Christian view of the origin of God? What does the Old Testament account of the creation say about the birth of God?
Before he begins his account of creation, Hesiod introduces his work with a prayer that the Muses, daughters of Memory, will guide his work. He identifies these Muses with Mt. Helicon, a mountain in the vicinity of Ascra, his home. They were the ones to hand him a staff of laurel, which is the token of his authority as poet. Hesiod certainly learned alot about making poetry from contemporary poets. He must have heard them reciting their verses as a boy, and become familiar with many of their techniques. And the Muses had some things to say about poets who made up accounts that were not inspired, not blessed by them. These imposters, or as they call them, "Hillbillies and bellies," lacked refinement in their art and were willing to sing whatever would please an audience and earn them a living, or a meal at least. But one who has the blessing of the Muses performs his poetry well. And it is a performance, not just a composition, that he has in mind when he prays to the Muses. As daughters of Memory, they can help him to have a ready memory so that he can perform without lapses or mental blocks. Just as improvisational musicians require familiarity and fluency with their style of music in order to produce a seamless solo, the oral poet needed to be fluent and consistent in order to hold his audience.
Hesiod's anger at other poets suggests also that he sees a distinction between pleasing an audience and offering them something which is important. But he was successful himself. So much so, in fact, that he was regarded by many ancients as the equal of Homer, and by some, as earlier and superior.
Zeus is the god most revered by Hesiod, but he was not always the ruling god of the universe. Who came before? Under what circumstances did they hand over their authority? How did Zeus come to power? How did he differ from his predecessors in taking up the rule?
Briefly describe Hesiod's account of creation in the Theogony. What are the main divisions of his narrative? What is the structure of this work? What seem to be his principles of organization? (It is certainly more than a shopping list of names of gods, goddesses, and lesser divinities.) What is the nature of Chaos (Chasm, Void)?
Besides the gods and goddesses, what events are described?
What gods belong to the generation of Sky (Ouranos, Heaven)? What are their dominions and spheres of influence?
What is the role of Earth (also known as Gaia or Ge)? What does this suggest about the place of matriarchy in early Greece?
What gods belong to the generation of Kronos (Cronus)? To what important group of gods does Kronos belong? Under what circumstances were they born? How does Kronos come to rule the universe?
What gods belong to the generation of Zeus? How does Zeus come to rule the universe? Is his method of deposing Kronos different from Kronos' treatment of Sky?
How secure is Zeus' rule? On what is his power based? Are there hints of instability? opposing forces?
Is there a culmination or capstone to the process of creation?
What is the role of mortals or human beings in the poem?
What is the role of heroes in the poem and what is their relationship to the immortals?
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Revised: June 22, 2000