Hesiods Theogony And Genesis Essay - 1390 Words

Since the time of great antiquity and the Neolithic Revolution, humans across various parts of the globe have imagined and reimagined stories that aimed to explain the general idea of beginning. Humans have attempted to describe the beginning of the universe and its relationship to the gods; this is achieved primarily by the creation of origin stories and myths. Many of these stories and myths feature the prevailing stereotype that gods are omnipotent – Latin roots: omnis (all) and possum (able to); literally translated as able to [do] all things – and are equipped with extraordinary physical/mental strengths. This perception is intensively explored in Hesiod’s Theogony and The Genesis. Both illustrate the â€Å"beginning† from two different†¦show more content†¦Before the instigation of all the battles, Zeus â€Å"freed his uncles from their dreadful bonds,/ The sons of Heaven; his father, foolishly,/ Had bound them. They remembered gratitude/ A nd gave him thunder and the blazing bolt/ And lighting, which, before, vast Earth had hid† (Hesiod, 39). Military campaigns are hardly won without establishing alliances; similarly, Zeus knew that it is unwise and arguably impossible for him to fight the Titans, who are outnumbering him, using only his own hands. Therefore, freeing his uncles remains imperative for the victory of his war. It was as if he was obliged to do so, further emphasizing the fact that Zeus would not have been able to obtain his never-ending power alone. Not only Zeus that is contradicting the prevailing stereotype, but also other gods and goddesses (e.g. Gaia, Kottos, Gyes, and Briareus). When Ouranos and Gaia bore three sons, their sons were â€Å"insolent children, each with a hundred arms/ On his shoulders, darting about, untouchable,/ And each had fifty heads, standing upon/ His shoulders, over the crowded mass of arms† (Hesiod, 28). The reproduction process among gods are analogous to those of humans; reproducing is simple and cannot choose how their sons and daughters would come out like. Ouranos, the Heaven, in this case, did not appreciate the birth of his three sons – indicated by his â€Å"enjoyment [of his] wickedness† – andShow MoreRelatedComparing The Prometheus And Genesis1530 Words   |  7 Pagesmyth and the consequent chapters of Genesis, it is quite clear that how one views each piece is subject to their previous knowledge. Today, it is much easier to read Prometheus objectively. It would generally be safe to assume that no one in proximity is a worshipper of Zeus. Reading Genesis is fairly different. Everyone in North America, and most other parts of the world, have at least a very general idea of what Genesis says, or is believed to say. In this essay, the understanding of differencesRead MoreGreek Mythology : A Polytheistic Text And The Book Of Genesis1270 Words   |  6 Pagesto command. 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