The Creation(s) of Mankind

Creation of the Earth The violence/strife of the creation of the land The violence/strife of the creation of the land Ouranos’ cruelty Ouranos’ cruelty Cronus’ patricide Cronus’ patricide Titan/Olympian war Titan/Olympian war Olympian / Giant war Olympian / Giant war ALL WERE NECESSARY ALL WERE NECESSARY

Creation of the Earth Land had to be pacified Land had to be pacified Man could NOT strive against the gods/Giants/Titans… Man could NOT strive against the gods/Giants/Titans… Land had to be “made ready” for habitation by humans Land had to be “made ready” for habitation by humans

Creation of Mankind: Stories Differ Prometheus & Epimetheus Prometheus & Epimetheus Epimetheus (afterthought) gave all “good” traits to animals first Epimetheus (afterthought) gave all “good” traits to animals first Flight, claws, strength, courage, cunning… Flight, claws, strength, courage, cunning… Prometheus (forethought) took over Prometheus (forethought) took over Fashioned man in the gods’ image Fashioned man in the gods’ image Gave man FIRE Gave man FIRE

Creation of Mankind: Stories Differ 5 Ages of Man 5 Ages of Man Gold (1) Gold (1) Lived like Gods Lived like Gods Land grew crops “of itself” Land grew crops “of itself” Flocks abundant Flocks abundant After death became “pure spirits” After death became “pure spirits”

Creation of Mankind: Stories Differ 5 Ages of Man 5 Ages of Man Silver (2) Silver (2) “very inferior” to Gold “very inferior” to Gold Little intelligence Little intelligence Spirits did NOT live on after death Spirits did NOT live on after death

Creation of Mankind: Stories Differ 5 Ages of Man 5 Ages of Man Bronze (Brass?) (3) Bronze (Brass?) (3) Terrible men Terrible men Violent Violent “lovers of war” “lovers of war” Completely destroyed by their own hands Completely destroyed by their own hands

Creation of Mankind: Stories Differ 5 Ages of Man 5 Ages of Man “Heroic” (4) “Heroic” (4) “godlike heroes” “godlike heroes” Fought glorious wars Fought glorious wars Great adventures Great adventures After death – “isles of the blessed” After death – “isles of the blessed” ONLY age to “improve” upon the previous age ONLY age to “improve” upon the previous age

Creation of Mankind: Stories Differ 5 Ages of Man 5 Ages of Man Iron (5) Iron (5) Current age Current age Evil times Evil times Grows worse as generations pass Grows worse as generations pass Eventually, will grow so evil Zeus will destroy them Eventually, will grow so evil Zeus will destroy them

Creation of Women Prometheus Prometheus Only men created Only men created Certainly through the “golden age” Certainly through the “golden age” P. tricked Zeus P. tricked Zeus Man gets the “best part” of animal sacrifice Man gets the “best part” of animal sacrifice Zeus’ revenge: Zeus’ revenge: Pandora Pandora

Pandora (2 stories) “great evil” “great evil” Given gifts of all the gods Given gifts of all the gods “Given” to man (to torment?) “Given” to man (to torment?) All women descended from P. All women descended from P. Evil race, “evil to men, in their nature to do evil” Evil race, “evil to men, in their nature to do evil” HARSH HARSH

Pandora (2 stories) NOT evil NOT evil Curious Curious Given box into which each god put something harmful Given box into which each god put something harmful Given to Epimetheus, who accepts despite Prometheus’ warning Given to Epimetheus, who accepts despite Prometheus’ warning Pandora opens box, unleashes plague/suffering/evil upon the world Pandora opens box, unleashes plague/suffering/evil upon the world Hope remains Hope remains

Prometheus Punished by Zeus Punished by Zeus DESPITE Prometheus’ role in the Titan war DESPITE Prometheus’ role in the Titan war Chained to a rock, eagle eats his liver DAILY Chained to a rock, eagle eats his liver DAILY Prometheus’ secret Prometheus’ secret Hermes sent to “pry” secret from P. Hermes sent to “pry” secret from P. NOPE NOPE

Prometheus Prometheus refuses to tell Prometheus refuses to tell Zeus eventually relents Zeus eventually relents Chiron allowed to die for him? Chiron allowed to die for him? Hercules slays the eagle & saves P.? Hercules slays the eagle & saves P.? Prometheus was NOT the one who caved Prometheus was NOT the one who caved

Flood Story Prometheus’ story Prometheus’ story Man is either Bronze / Iron age Man is either Bronze / Iron age Fire necessary for both Fire necessary for both ANOTHER creation story ANOTHER creation story

Flood Story Zeus angry (recurring theme) Zeus angry (recurring theme) Wickedness of man Wickedness of man Sends flood with Poseidon’s help Sends flood with Poseidon’s help Covers all the earth EXCEPT for top of Mt. Parnassus Covers all the earth EXCEPT for top of Mt. Parnassus

Flood Story 2 survivors 2 survivors Deucalion (Prometheus’ son) Deucalion (Prometheus’ son) Pyrrha (Epimetheus’ and Pandora’s daughter Pyrrha (Epimetheus’ and Pandora’s daughter Prepared by Prometheus, survive in a chest w/provisions Prepared by Prometheus, survive in a chest w/provisions Pious, faithful worshipers of the gods (gods okay with survival) Pious, faithful worshipers of the gods (gods okay with survival)

Flood Story Deucalion & Pyrrha Deucalion & Pyrrha “Stone people” “Stone people” Hard, enduring race Hard, enduring race Pious, faithful worshipers of the gods (gods okay with survival) Pious, faithful worshipers of the gods (gods okay with survival)