Human and Divine

 

Mythology is a vital part of Ancient Greece. For years, this rich and complex tale has been passed down orally among generations. Hesiod is the first poet who put an order in this complex mythology. In his poem Theogony, the Greek poet offers an account of the world's creation in a lengthy 1,028-versed lyric describing the creation of the universe and battles amongst Greek deities (Solmsen, 2019; Wasson, 2017). In this literature, Hesiod does not only narrate the genealogy of the gods but as well as their flaws, vices and betrayals.

Like humans, Greek deities are imperfect and flawed. They are sensitive, emotional and immoral--capable of committing murder, adultery, betrayal and even incest. In Uranus, Cronus and Zeus' succession story, Hesiod showcased these human characteristics.

In Theogony, Uranus is described as a primordial god. His subsequent union with his mother Gaea resulted in the birth of the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Hecatoncheires. Despite his familial connection with his children, Uranus loathed his offspring and imprisoned them in the underworld. Angered, Gaea persuaded her son Cronus and his Titan brothers to castrate their father. With the help of his siblings, Cronus disposed of Uranus and ruled the cosmos until the mythological Golden Age (www.theoi.com, n.d.).

“For of all the children that were born of Earth and Heaven, these were the most terrible, and they were hated by their own father from the first. And he used to hide them all away in a secret place of Earth so soon as each was born, and would not suffer them to come up into the light: and Heaven rejoiced in his evil-doing.” (147) 

However, like his father, Cronus also became corrupted with power. To avoid a prophecy from transpiring, Cronus devoured all of his children in hopes to retain control over the universe. Fortunately, Cronus wife Rhea managed to save their youngest Zeus by hiding him on the island of Crete. The young god grew to hate his father and led the Olympians in a ten-year war against the Titans. Zeus managed to defeat Cronus—driving him and the other Titans into Tartarus in the underworld (Cartwright, 2021).

With Uranus, Cronus and Zeus continuous tale of greed, murder, tyranny and betrayal, Hesiod showcased how gods can reflect the worse human qualities. The Greek poet illustrated how the thirst for power can blind one to commit unspeakable deeds.  Such narratives present similarities with the current politics—with parents and siblings fighting over positions of power. In the Philippines, this familiar tale can be depicted in the lives of the Binay siblings. Last 2019, the two of the youngest siblings of the most powerful political dynasties locked in a fight in the country’s business capital (Cabalza, 2019). Though the cause of the disagreement remains arguable, it shows how stories of ancient times remain relevant in the present society, due to familiar human traits that gods portray in these tales.

Regardless of their flaws, the Greek gods also present some notable traits. Prometheus unselfishness is a prime example. Because of his love for humanity, Prometheus underwent Zeus harsh punishment and endured years of suffering to allow his creations to flourish. His selfless acts mirror humans’ remarkable qualities of human sacrifice for the greater good. 

Unlike their Christian counterpart, Greek gods and goddesses are far more multifaceted. The gods’ appeal is accentuated by their recognizable human flaws and strengths. Ancient Greek Gods have been proven to love, lust, and hate, and be shallow and petty.  Such common mortal characteristics make these gods remarkable and likeable, which enables them to transcend through modern times due to their capacity to reflect human nature and (mis)judgement.

REFERENCES

Cabalza, D. (2019, April 1). A tale of 2 siblings: Binay vs Binay. INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1101726/a-tale-of-2-siblings-binay-vs-binay.

Cartwright, M. (2021, February 22). Zeus. Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.ancient.eu/zeus/.

Hesiod, Theogony. Hesiod, Theogony- Theoi Classical Texts Library. https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html?fbclid=IwAR36jUqQETWwWQfXL9dh2hX28Q4HUmrzvVKXBqkM87jD2w80pjDHsCHeyko.

Kronos. CRONUS (Kronos) - Greek Titan God of Time, King of the Titans (Roman Saturn). https://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanKronos.html.

Solmsen, F. (2019, October 18). Hesiod. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hesiod. 

Wasson, D. (2017, December 19). Theogony. Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.ancient.eu/Theogony/