Question 1
A few instances where Mycenaean show their respect for female gods include a scenario where Zeus, a god, marries his sister who later becomes the goddess of childbirth and marriage. Another female, Hestia, is made the mother of the home and taught humans how to build houses (Linda 61). Lastly, Demeter became the goddess of grain and taught humans how to plant corn.
Question 2
According to Greeks, human development was classified into five stages. For instance, the Golden Age. The golden age is the only age that was under the reign of Cronus. The humans of this age were made out the earth through the hands of Prometheus and lived among the gods. At this age, peace was paramount (Dove 10).
The Silver Age. This age fell under the reign of Zeus, who was the successor and son of Cronus. Zeus created. These humans out of ash tree. In this age, men live for one century under the dominion of their mothers.
The third age is the Bronze Age. The men in this age were rough and tough as war was their way of life. Both their homes and arms were forged of bronze. This age, however, came to an end due to the Deucalion flood. The Heroic Age followed. This age was unique in that it did not correspond with any metal. Through the activities of Pyrrha and Deucalion, the humans here were made from stones. The humans of this age went to Elysium upon their deaths (Dove 10).
Lastly was the Iron age. The humans here lived under misery. Children disrespected their folks, the welcoming arms of host and guest were forgotten, and brothers fought against each other. Going by the Ages of man, Hesiod believed that the first four ages were the best because there were no evil deeds such as greed and brothers turning against brothers.
Question 3
Like Heracles, most heroes go to the underworld to prove their power over even death so that the people who follow them may have full confidence in them (Hildegard 356). This is a show of might and ability to conquer.
Works Cited
Dove, Mary. The Perfect Age Of Man's Life. Cambridge [Cambridgeshire]: Cambridge University Press, 1986. Print.
Sussman, Linda S. "The birth of the gods: sexuality, conflict and cosmic structure in Hesiod's Theogony." Ramus 7.1 (1978): 61.
Utz, Hildegard. "The Labors of Hercules and other works by Vincenzo de'Rossi." The Art Bulletin 53.3 (1971): 344-366.
