Powerpoint content of the guest lecture of James Clauss (Creation from Green
mythology), 1 February 2016, Astro190
(ll.116-138)VerilyatthefirstChaoscametobe,butnextwide-bosomed
Earth,theever-surefoundationsofallthedeathlessoneswhoholdthe
peaksofsnowyOlympus,anddimTartarusinthedepthofthewide-pathed
Earth,andEros(Love),fairestamongthedeathlessgods,whounnervesthe
limbsandovercomesthemindandwisecounselsofallgodsandallmen
withinthem.FromChaoscameforthErebusandblackNight;butofNight
werebornAetherandDay,whomsheconceivedandbarefromunionin
lovewithErebus.AndEarthfirstbarestarryHeaven,equaltoherself,to
coverheroneveryside,andtobeanever-sureabiding-placeforthe
blessedgods.AndshebroughtforthlongHills,gracefulhauntsofthe
goddess-Nymphswhodwellamongsttheglensofthehills.Shebarealso
thefruitlessdeepwithhisragingswell,Pontus,withoutsweetunionof
love.ButafterwardsshelaywithHeavenandbaredeep-swirlingOceanus,
CoeusandCriusandHyperionandIapetus,TheiaandRhea,Themisand
Mnemosyneandgold-crownedPhoebeandlovelyTethys.Afterthemwas
bornCronosthewily,youngestandmostterribleofherchildren,andhe
hatedhislustysire.
[Cf.Genesis1:Godcreatesheavensandearth;separateslight(day)from
darkness(night);separationofwatersinskyandonearth;separationof
wateranddryland;creationofluminariesfordayandnight;creationof
maleandfemale.]
(ll.139-146)Andagain,shebaretheCyclopes,overbearinginspirit,
Brontes,andSteropesandstubborn-heartedArges,whogaveZeusthe
thunderandmadethethunderbolt:inallelsetheywerelikethegods,but
oneeyeonlywassetinthemidstoftheirfore-heads.Andtheywere
surnamedCyclopes(Orb-eyed)becauseoneorbedeyewassetintheir
foreheads.Strengthandmightandcraftwereintheirworks.
(ll.147-163)Andagain,threeothersonswerebornofEarthandHeaven,
greatanddoughtybeyondtelling,CottusandBriareosandGyes,
presumptuouschildren.Fromtheirshouldersspranganhundredarms,not
tobeapproached,andeachhadfiftyheadsuponhisshouldersontheir
stronglimbs,andirresistiblewasthestubbornstrengththatwasintheir
greatforms.ForofallthechildrenthatwerebornofEarthandHeaven,
thesewerethemostterrible,andtheywerehatedbytheirownfatherfrom
thefirst.
AndheusedtohidethemallawayinasecretplaceofEarthsosoonas
eachwasborn,andwouldnotsufferthemtocomeupintothelight:and
Heavenrejoicedinhisevildoing.ButvastEarthgroanedwithin,being
straitened,andshemadetheelementofgreyflintandshapedagreat
sickle,andtoldherplantoherdearsons.Andshespoke,cheeringthem,
whileshewasvexedinherdearheart:
(ll.164-166)`Mychildren,gottenofasinfulfather,ifyouwillobeyme,we
shouldpunishthevileoutrageofyourfather;forhefirstthoughtofdoing
shamefulthings.'
(ll.167-169)Soshesaid;butfearseizedthemall,andnoneofthemuttered
aword.ButgreatCronosthewilytookcourageandansweredhisdear
mother:
(ll.170-172)`Mother,Iwillundertaketodothisdeed,forIreverencenot
ourfatherofevilname,forhefirstthoughtofdoingshamefulthings.'
(ll.173-175)Sohesaid:andvastEarthrejoicedgreatlyinspirit,andsetand
hidhiminanambush,andputinhishandsajaggedsickle,andrevealedto
himthewholeplot.
(ll.176-206)AndHeavencame,bringingonnightandlongingforlove,and
helayaboutEarthspreadinghimselffulluponher.
Thenthesonfromhisambushstretchedforthhislefthandandinhisright
tookthegreatlongsicklewithjaggedteeth,andswiftlyloppedoffhisown
father'smembersandcastthemawaytofallbehindhim.Andnotvainly
didtheyfallfromhishand;forallthebloodydropsthatgushedforthEarth
received,andastheseasonsmovedroundshebarethestrongErinyesand
thegreatGiantswithgleamingarmour,holdinglongspearsintheirhands
andtheNymphswhomtheycallMeliaeallovertheboundlessearth.
Andsosoonashehadcutoffthememberswithflintandcastthemfrom
thelandintothesurgingsea,theyweresweptawayoverthemainalong
time:andawhitefoamspreadaroundthemfromtheimmortalflesh,and
inittheregrewamaiden.FirstshedrewnearholyCythera,andfromthere,
afterwards,shecametosea-girtCyprus,andcameforthanawfuland
lovelygoddess,andgrassgrewupaboutherbeneathhershapelyfeet.Her
godsandmencallAphrodite,andthefoam-borngoddessandrichcrownedCytherea,becauseshegrewamidthefoam,andCythereabecause
shereachedCythera,andCyprogenesbecauseshewasborninbillowy
Cyprus,andPhilommedesbecausesprangfromthemembers.Andwithher
wentEros,andcomelyDesirefollowedheratherbirthatthefirstandas
shewentintotheassemblyofthegods.Thishonourshehasfromthe
beginning,andthisistheportionallottedtoheramongstmenandundying
gods,--thewhisperingsofmaidensandsmilesanddeceitswithsweet
delightandloveandgraciousness.
(ll.453-491)ButRheawassubjectinlovetoCronosandbaresplendid
children,Hestia,Demeter,andgold-shodHeraandstrongHades,pitilessin
heart,whodwellsundertheearth,andtheloud-crashingEarth-Shaker,and
wiseZeus,fatherofgodsandmen,bywhosethunderthewideearthis
shaken.ThesegreatCronosswallowedaseachcameforthfromthewomb
tohismother'skneeswiththisintent,thatnootheroftheproudsonsof
Heavenshouldholdthekinglyofficeamongstthedeathlessgods.Forhe
learnedfromEarthandstarryHeaventhathewasdestinedtobe
overcomebyhisownson,strongthoughhewas,throughthecontriving
ofgreatZeus.Thereforehekeptnoblindoutlook,butwatchedand
swalloweddownhischildren:andunceasinggriefseizedRhea.Butwhen
shewasabouttobearZeus,thefatherofgodsandmen,thenshebesought
herowndearparents,EarthandstarryHeaven,todevisesomeplanwith
herthatthebirthofherdearchildmightbeconcealed,andthat
retributionmightovertakegreat,craftyCronosforhisownfatherand
alsoforthechildrenwhomhehadswalloweddown.
Andtheyreadilyheardandobeyedtheirdeardaughter,andtoldherall
thatwasdestinedtohappentouchingCronosthekingandhisstoutheartedson.SotheysenthertoLyctus,totherichlandofCrete,whenshe
wasreadytobeargreatZeus,theyoungestofherchildren.Himdidvast
EarthreceivefromRheainwideCretetonourishandtobringup.Thither
cameEarthcarryinghimswiftlythroughtheblacknighttoLyctusfirst,and
tookhiminherarmsandhidhiminaremotecavebeneaththesecret
placesoftheholyearthonthick-woodedMountAegeum;buttothe
mightilyrulingsonofHeaven,theearlierkingofthegods,shegavea
greatstonewrappedinswaddlingclothes.Thenhetookitinhishands
andthrustitdownintohisbelly:wretch!heknewnotinhisheartthatin
placeofthestonehissonwasleftbehind,unconqueredanduntroubled,
andthathewassoontoovercomehimbyforceandmightanddrivehim
fromhishonours,himselftoreignoverthedeathlessgods.
(ll.492-506)Afterthat,thestrengthandgloriouslimbsoftheprince
increasedquickly,andastheyearsrolledon,greatCronosthewilywas
beguiledbythedeepsuggestionsofEarth,andbroughtupagainhis
offspring,vanquishedbytheartsandmightofhisownson,andhe
vomitedupfirstthestonewhichhehadswallowedlast.AndZeussetit
fastinthewide-pathedearthatgoodlyPythoundertheglensofParnassus,
tobeasignthenceforthandamarveltomortalmen.Andhesetfreefrom
theirdeadlybondsthebrothersofhisfather,sonsofHeavenwhomhis
fatherinhisfoolishnesshadbound.Andtheyrememberedtobegrateful
tohimforhiskindness,andgavehimthunderandtheglowing
thunderboltandlightening:forbeforethat,hugeEarthhadhiddenthese.
Inthemhetrustsandrulesovermortalsandimmortals.
(ll.507-543)NowIapetustooktowifetheneat-ankledmadClymene,
daughterofOcean,andwentupwithherintoonebed.Andshebarehima
stout-heartedson,Atlas:alsoshebareverygloriousMenoetiusandclever
Prometheus,fullofvariouswiles,andscatter-brainedEpimetheuswho
fromthefirstwasamischieftomenwhoeatbread;foritwashewho
firsttookofZeusthewoman,themaidenwhomhehadformed.But
Menoetiuswasoutrageous,andfar-seeingZeusstruckhimwithalurid
thunderboltandsenthimdowntoErebusbecauseofhismadpresumption
andexceedingpride.AndAtlasthroughhardconstraintupholdsthewide
heavenwithunwearyingheadandarms,standingatthebordersofthe
earthbeforetheclear-voicedHesperides;forthislotwiseZeusassignedto
him.Andready-wittedPrometheusheboundwithinextricablebonds,
cruelchains,anddroveashaftthroughhismiddle,andsetonhimalong-
wingedeagle,whichusedtoeathisimmortalliver;butbynighttheliver
grewasmuchagaineverywayasthelong-wingedbirddevouredinthe
wholeday.
ThatbirdHeracles,thevaliantsonofshapely-ankledAlcmene,slew;and
deliveredthesonofIapetusfromthecruelplague,andreleasedhimfrom
hisaffliction--notwithoutthewillofOlympianZeuswhoreignsonhigh,
thatthegloryofHeraclestheTheban-bornmightbeyetgreaterthanitwas
beforeovertheplenteousearth.This,then,heregarded,andhonouredhis
famousson;thoughhewasangry,heceasedfromthewrathwhichhehad
beforebecausePrometheusmatchedhimselfinwitwiththealmightyson
ofCronos.ForwhenthegodsandmortalmenhadadisputeatMecone,
eventhenPrometheuswasforwardtocutupagreatoxandsetportions
beforethem,tryingtobefoolthemindofZeus.Beforetherestheset
fleshandinnerpartsthickwithfatuponthehide,coveringthemwithan
oxpaunch;butforZeusheputthewhitebonesdressedupwithcunning
artandcoveredwithshiningfat.Thenthefatherofmenandofgodssaid
tohim:
(ll.559-560)`SonofIapetus,cleveraboveall!So,sir,youhavenotyet
forgottenyourcunningarts!'
(ll.561-584)SospakeZeusinanger,whosewisdomiseverlasting;andfrom
thattimehewasalwaysmindfulofthetrick,andwouldnotgivethepower
ofunwearyingfiretotheMelian(21)raceofmortalmenwholiveonthe
earth.ButthenoblesonofIapetusoutwittedhimandstolethefar-seen
gleamofunwearyingfireinahollowfennelstalk.AndZeuswhothunders
onhighwasstunginspirit,andhisdearheartwasangeredwhenhesaw
amongstmenthefar-seenrayoffire.
Forthwithhemadeanevilthingformenasthepriceoffire;forthevery
famousLimpingGodformedofearththelikenessofashymaidenasthe
sonofCronoswilled.Andthegoddessbright-eyedAthenegirdedand
clothedherwithsilveryraiment,anddownfromherheadshespreadwith
herhandsabroideredveil,awondertosee;andshe,PallasAthene,put
aboutherheadlovelygarlands,flowersofnew-grownherbs.Alsosheput
uponherheadacrownofgoldwhichtheveryfamousLimpingGodmade
himselfandworkedwithhisownhandsasafavourtoZeushisfather.Onit
wasmuchcuriouswork,wonderfultosee;forofthemanycreatures
whichthelandandsearearup,heputmostuponit,wonderfulthings,
likelivingbeingswithvoices:andgreatbeautyshoneoutfromit.
(ll.585-589)Butwhenhehadmadethebeautifuleviltobethepriceforthe
blessing,hebroughtherout,delightinginthefinerywhichthebright-eyed
daughterofamightyfatherhadgivenher,totheplacewheretheother
godsandmenwere.Andwondertookholdofthedeathlessgodsand
mortalmenwhentheysawthatwhichwassheerguile,nottobewithstood
bymen.
(ll.590-612)Forfromheristheraceofwomenandfemalekind:ofheris
thedeadlyraceandtribeofwomenwholiveamongstmortalmentotheir
greattrouble,nohelpmeetsinhatefulpoverty,butonlyinwealth.Andas
inthatchedhivesbeesfeedthedroneswhosenatureistodomischief--by
dayandthroughoutthedayuntilthesungoesdownthebeesarebusyand
laythewhitecombs,whilethedronesstayathomeinthecoveredskeps
andreapthetoilofothersintotheirownbellies--evensoZeuswho
thundersonhighmadewomentobeaneviltomortalmen,withanature
todoevil.Andhegavethemasecondeviltobethepriceforthegood
theyhad:whoeveravoidsmarriageandthesorrowsthatwomencause,
andwillnotwed,reachesdeadlyoldagewithoutanyonetotendhis
years,andthoughheatleasthasnolackoflivelihoodwhilehelives,yet,
whenheisdead,hiskinsfolkdividehispossessionsamongstthem.Andas
forthemanwhochoosesthelotofmarriageandtakesagoodwifesuited
tohismind,evilcontinuallycontendswithgood;forwhoeverhappensto
havemischievouschildren,livesalwayswithunceasinggriefinhisspiritand
heartwithinhim;andthisevilcannotbehealed.
(ll.613-616)SoitisnotpossibletodeceiveorgobeyondthewillofZeus;
fornoteventhesonofIapetus,kindlyPrometheus,escapedhisheavy
anger,butofnecessitystrongbandsconfinedhim,althoughheknewmany
awile.
HesiodWorksandDays(fulltextathttp://www.sacredtexts.com/cla/hesiod/works.htm)
(ll.42-53)Forthegodskeephiddenfrommenthemeansoflife.Elseyou
wouldeasilydoworkenoughinadaytosupplyyouforafullyeareven
withoutworking;soonwouldyouputawayyourrudderoverthesmoke,
andthefieldsworkedbyoxandsturdymulewouldruntowaste.But
Zeusintheangerofhishearthidit,becausePrometheusthecrafty
deceivedhim;thereforeheplannedsorrowandmischiefagainstmen.He
hidfire;butthatthenoblesonofIapetusstoleagainformenfromZeusthe
counsellorinahollowfennel-stalk,sothatZeuswhodelightsinthunderdid
notseeit.ButafterwardsZeuswhogathersthecloudssaidtohiminanger:
(ll.54-59)`SonofIapetus,surpassingallincunning,youaregladthatyou
haveoutwittedmeandstolenfire--agreatplaguetoyouyourselfandto
menthatshallbe.ButIwillgivemenasthepriceforfireanevilthingin
whichtheymayallbegladofheartwhiletheyembracetheirown
destruction.'
(ll.60-68)Sosaidthefatherofmenandgods,andlaughedaloud.Andhe
badefamousHephaestusmakehasteandmixearthwithwaterandtoput
initthevoiceandstrengthofhumankind,andfashionasweet,lovely
maiden-shape,liketotheimmortalgoddessesinface;andAthenetoteach
herneedleworkandtheweavingofthevariedweb;andgoldenAphrodite
toshedgraceuponherheadandcruellongingandcaresthatwearythe
limbs.AndhechargedHermestheguide,theSlayerofArgus,toputinhera
shamelessmindandadeceitfulnature.
(ll.69-82)Soheordered.AndtheyobeyedthelordZeusthesonofCronos.
ForthwiththefamousLameGodmouldedclayinthelikenessofamodest
maid,asthesonofCronospurposed.Andthegoddessbright-eyedAthene
girdedandclothedher,andthedivineGracesandqueenlyPersuasionput
necklacesofgolduponher,andtherich-hairedHourscrownedherhead
withspringflowers.AndPallasAthenebedeckedherformwithallmanners
offinery.AlsotheGuide,theSlayerofArgus,contrivedwithinherliesand
craftywordsandadeceitfulnatureatthewillofloudthunderingZeus,and
theHeraldofthegodsputspeechinher.Andhecalledthiswoman
Pandora,becausealltheywhodweltonOlympusgaveeachagift,a
plaguetomenwhoeatbread.
(ll.83-89)Butwhenhehadfinishedthesheer,hopelesssnare,theFather
sentgloriousArgus-Slayer,theswiftmessengerofthegods,totakeitto
Epimetheusasagift.AndEpimetheusdidnotthinkonwhatPrometheus
hadsaidtohim,biddinghimnevertakeagiftofOlympianZeus,butto
senditbackforfearitmightprovetobesomethingharmfultomen.But
hetookthegift,andafterwards,whentheevilthingwasalreadyhis,he
understood.
(ll.90-105)Forerethisthetribesofmenlivedonearthremoteandfree
fromillsandhardtoilandheavysicknesswhichbringtheFatesuponmen;
forinmiserymengrowoldquickly.Butthewomantookoffthegreatlidof
thejarwithherhandsandscatteredalltheseandherthoughtcaused
sorrowandmischieftomen.OnlyHoperemainedthereinanunbreakable
homewithinundertherimofthegreatjar,anddidnotflyoutatthedoor;
forerethat,thelidofthejarstoppedher,bythewillofAegis-holdingZeus
whogatherstheclouds.Buttherest,countlessplagues,wanderamongst
men;forearthisfullofevilsandtheseaisfull.Ofthemselvesdiseases
comeuponmencontinuallybydayandbynight,bringingmischiefto
mortalssilently;forwiseZeustookawayspeechfromthem.Soisthereno
waytoescapethewillofZeus.
[Cf.Genesis3SinofAdamandEve]