Hesiod s Version Of The Prometheus And Pandora - 1896 Words

Hesiod’s versions of the Prometheus/Pandora story and the book of Genesis’s story of Eve’s act of eating the forbidden fruit both introduce a female figure whose actions are connected with the seeming introduction of evil into the world. At first glance, it appears that the Genesis story is more compelling than Hesiod’s account at explaining the origin of evil because its monotheistic structure makes the logic behind the evils far more clear and straightforward than Hesiod’s logic. The act of disobedience by Eve seems fully her own fault while God (Yahweh) is faultless. However, Genesis is too simple because the story of Prometheus/Pandora is far more complex. The Hesiod story of Prometheus/Pandora is more compelling than Genesis because the conflict allowed disputes between the gods in its polytheistic worldview rather than one god making Hesiod more compelling at explaining the evils of the world. In order to make this argument, this paper consist of three parts. The first part will argue why Genesis is seen as the most compelling text due to its simplicity and logic. The second part will examine Hesiod’s Prometheus/Pandora story to prove that the complexity makes a logical statement of why the evils in the world came to be. The final part will be counter argument which states that Genesis might be more compelling at explaining the evils of the world because it demonstrates both divine and mortal choices. Genesis offers one God s divine dominance on creation, making GodShow MoreRelatedThe Role Of Hesiod s Theogony And Works2093 Words   |  9 Pagesdichotomy reveals itself with the conflicting versions of Prometheus and Pandora present in the two poems. In Works and Days, Hesiod attempts to expose Perses’s mistakes through the interaction of Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus. Hesiod relates himself to Prometheus and takes great effort to portray the immortal in a positive light. Epimetheus, who could be described as Perses’ surrogate, is a fool. He takes this further by emphasizing the agency Pandora possesses in Works Days compared to theRead MorePandoras Box: What the Myth Means Today1809 Words   |  8 PagesPandoras Box: What the Myth Means TodayIntroductionImagine a life with no pain, worries, or misery in which to speak all evils held secure by a sacred beast or mythological container. This is the life described in many fantasies of the days before man, wom an, and hardship. With any myth, however, unlocking and explaining the gift of knowledge and becoming aware seems to account for all evils that have been imparted upon humankind. This is a very similar beginning to the story of Adam and Eve inRead MoreThe Myths And Rituals At Mycenaean And Minoan Sites1792 Words   |  8 PagesSir Arthur Evans in the twentieth century, helped to explain many existing questions about Homer s epics and provided archaeological evidence for many of the mythological details about gods and heroes. Unfortunately, the evidence about myths and rituals at Mycenaean and Minoan sites is entirely monumental, as the Linear B script was used mainly to record inventories, although certain names of gods and heroes have been tentatively identified. Secondly, visual sources sometimes represent myths orRead MoreGreek Mythology s Influence On The Arts And Literature Of Western Civilization2652 Words   |  11 Pagestold for amusement, also found their way into Greek myth. Greek mythology originated as oral literature, or stories told out loud. The ancient Greeks told their myths over and over again before they were written down. There are thus many different versions of these ancient stories. Today the Greek myths are known primarily from written Greek literature such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. These classic epics—long, narrative poems praising heroic deeds—are said to have been written by the poet HomerRead MoreGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 PagesPoseidon  seems  poised  to  strike  with  his  trident,  which  today  is  missing.  The  statue  is  in  the  National   Archaeological  Museum  in  Athens,  Greece.   Nimatallah/Art  Resource,  NY   Greek  mythology  has  several  distinguishing  characteristics,  in  addition  to  its  multiple  versions.  The   Greek  gods  resembled  human  beings  in  their  form  and  in  their  emotions,  and  they  lived  in  a  society   that  resembled  human  society  in  its  levels  of  authority  and  power.  However,  a  crucial  difference   existed  between  gods  and  human  beings:  Humans  died