# Hesiod

## Biography

Hesiod, an ancient Greek poet, flourished around 700 BCE, making him a near contemporary of Homer. Often regarded as the father of Greek didactic poetry, he was born in Boeotia, a region in central Greece. His father had journeyed from Cyme in Asia Minor to settle in Ascra, a small hamlet near Thespiae, a place Hesiod famously described as harsh and unpleasant. Early in his life, Hesiod worked as a shepherd and farmer near Mount Helicon, where he claimed divine inspiration from the Muses to pursue poetry.

His two most notable surviving epic poems are "Theogony" and "Works and Days." "Theogony" systematically chronicles the origins of the Greek gods, their genealogies, and the rise of Zeus to power. "Works and Days," addressed to his brother Perses, serves as a moral and practical guide, emphasizing the virtues of hard work, justice, and proper agricultural practices. It also includes the well-known myths of Pandora's Box and the Five Ages of Man, alongside autobiographical elements concerning a dispute over inheritance. Hesiod is distinguished as one of the first Western poets to imbue his work with a distinct personal voice.

## Books

- [Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns, and Homerica](https://samolit.com/books/96662)