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The Best of Hesiod’s Theogony & Works and Days.

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What follows is a description of the gods and men as they appear in Hesiod alone, using his own language rather than that of later Greeks or Romans.

The Major Generations of Gods

The Titans: offspring of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia). The six male Titans are Ocean, Koios, Kreios, Hyperion, Iapetos, and Kronos. The six female Titanesses are Theia, Rhea, Themis, Memory (Mnemosyne), Phoebe, and Tethys. The Titans battle the offspring of Kronos and Rhea in the Titanomachy or Titan-battle. The Titans fight from Mount Othrys while the other side fights from Mount Olympus. When after ten years they are defeated by Zeus and his allies, including the hundred-handers, the Titans are imprisoned in Tartaros.

The Olympians: blessed gods and goddesses who possess Mount Olympus (Olympos), dwelling and making merry there in their halls. Given the Theogony and the Works and Days alone, it is hard to establish with precision the identity of the Olympians. Nevertheless, Hesiod, whether explicitly or implicitly, associates many gods and goddesses with Olympus. Among them are Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Poseidon, Leto, Hephaestus, Athena, Hermes, Aphrodite, the Muses, the Graces (Charites), Desire (Eros), Longing (Himeros), Heracles and his wife, Hebe, and Styx with her children. The Olympians (more specifically, the offspring of Kronos and Rhea and their allies) battle the Titans in the Titanomachy or Titan-battle. They fight from Mount Olympus while the Titans fight from Mount Othrys.[i]

Immortal Gods and Goddesses

Amphitrite: see Nereus and Poseidon.

Aphrodite: born from the white foam (aphros) that bubbles up around Sky’s fallen genitals when Kronos cuts them off and they fall into the sea; one of the Olympians (see the Olympians above). Her companions are Desire (Eros) and Longing (Himeros). With Ares, she gives birth to Fear, Terror, and Harmony. With Anchises, she gives birth to Aeneas. Aphrodite urges others to join together in love. In the Works and Days, she pours grace around Pandora’s head, as well as painful longing and limb-gnawing cares.

Apollo: son of Zeus and Leto (daughter of Koios and Phoebe); one of the Olympians (see the Olympians). Along with his twin sister Artemis, he is, according to Hesiod, one of the most desirable children among all those who dwell in the sky. Poet-singers and lyre players are inspired by Apollo and the Muses. Hesiod explains that Apollo plays a role in boys becoming men.

Ares: son of Zeus and Hera. With Aphrodite, he fathers Fear, Terror, and Harmony. Hesiod explains that the bronze race of men are devoted to war, the groan-causing works of Ares.

Artemis: see Apollo.

Athena (Athēnē or Athene): daughter of Zeus and Metis (Wise Counsel); one of the Olympians (see the Olympians). After putting Metis in his stomach, Zeus independently gives birth to Athena from his own head. Later, he has Athena dress Pandora, wreathe her head, and teach her to weave—the work, Hesiod declares, appropriate for women.

Atlas: son of Iapetos and Klymene; father of the Pleiades. Standing at the limits of earth, Atlas tirelessly holds up the sky with his hands and head.

Chaos: without parents, Chaos appears first in the beginning. Chaos produces Darkness (Erebos) and Night (Nyx). Hesiod indicates that Chaos is below the earth. During the Titanomachy, Chaos is engulfed with heat as hot as the sun. Scholars believe that Chaos represents more of a gap or expanse rather than disorder. Consequently, many identify Chaos with the chasm that stretches between Earth and Tartaros.

Circe (Kirkē): the daughter of Sun (Helios) and Perseis. With the mortal man Odysseus, she gives birth to Agrios, Latinos, and Telegonos.

Calypso (Kalupsō or Kalypso): the daughter of Ocean (Okeanos) and Tethys. With Odysseus, she gives birth to Nausithoos and Nausinoos.

Cyclopes (Kuklōpes or Kyklōpes; the singular is Kuklōps or Cyclops as in the Cyclops Polyphemus in Homer’s Odyssey) the single-eyed sons of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia). Their names are Thunder (Brontēs), Lightning-flash (Steropēs), and Bright (Argēs). The three Cyclopes give lightning and the thunderbolt to Zeus.

Darkness (Erebos): see Chaos and Night (Nyx).

Day (Hēmera): see Night (Nyx).

Death (Thanatos): see Sleep (Hypnos).

Demeter: daughter of Kronos and Rhea; one of the Olympians (see the Olympians). With Zeus, Demeter gives birth to Persephone (whom Zeus gives in marriage to Hades). With the hero Iasion, she gives birth to Ploutos (Wealth), the god who makes men rich and happy with prosperity. In the Works and Days, Demeter loves the man who works, providing grain to quiet a man’s hunger.

Desire (Eros): without parents, Desire appears third in the beginning, just after Earth. The most beautiful of the gods, Desire loosens limbs and conquers the minds and wise counsel of every god and every human being. Side by side with Longing (Himeros), he allies himself with Aphrodite, urging all things together in love toward new generation. Eros is often given as Love in many translations.

Dikē (Justice): see Justice.

Dionysus (Dionusos or Dionysos): son of Zeus and Semele. Dionysus takes Ariadne, whom Zeus makes immortal, as his wife. He is called “much-cheering” because of his association with wine.

Doom (Moros): son of Night (Nyx). Doom is a human being’s fate or destiny, his appointed doom.

Earth (Gaia): without parents, Earth appears second in the beginning just after Chaos. She is the abode of all the immortals who hold the peak of snowy Olympus and who live in gloomy Tartaros. Alone, Earth gives birth to Sky (Ouranos), the mountains, the nymphs, and the sea. With her son and husband, Sky, she gives birth to the Titans, the three Cyclopes (the ones who eventually give lightening and the thunderbolt to Zeus), and the three hundred-handers. Earth is behind the plan that pits her son Kronos against Sky, leading to Sky’s downfall. Later on, Earth and Sky help Rhea and her son Zeus overthrow Kronos. Finally, with Tartaros, Earth gives birth to Typhoeus, presenting Zeus with his greatest challenge (though Zeus defeats him).

Echidna: daughter of Phorkys (son of Sea and Earth) and Keto (daughter of Sea and Earth). Half nymph and half serpent, she lives beneath the earth in glorious mansions and feeds on raw flesh. With Typhon, Echidna gives birth to Geryones’ dog, Orthos, and to Hades’ dog, Kerberos, and to the water serpents of Lerna, the Hydra, sent by Hera against Heracles. She also gives birth to Chimaera, the fire-breathing creature with three heads (that of a lion, a goat, and a serpent). Bellerophon and Pegasus eventually kill Chimaera.

Epimetheus (Afterthought): son of Iapetos and Klymene. Contrary to his brother Prometheus’ advice never to receive a gift from Zeus, and failing to consider the dire consequences of his act, Epimetheus accepts Pandora, the first woman, for mankind.

Eris (Strife): see Strife.

Eros (Desire): see Desire.

Fates (Moirai from the singular Moira): the three daughters of Night or the three daughters of Zeus and Themis (Wise Counsel)—depending on the story recounted by Hesiod. Klotho is the spinner, Lachesis is the apportioner, and Atropos is the inflexible one. The Fates apportion good and evil to human beings.

Furies (Erinyes): born from the bloody drops that fall to Earth when Kronos cuts off Sky’s genitals. The Furies make the gods and men pay for wrongdoing, bringing retribution. They assisted at the birth of Oath (Horkos), whom Strife (Eris) brought into the world to trouble those who have sworn falsely.

Gaia (Earth): see Earth.

Gorgons: the three daughters of Phorkys (son of Sea and Earth) and Keto (daughter of Sea and Earth). They live beyond Ocean toward the edge of all and nightfall. Two are immortal and ageless: Sthenno and Euryale. One is mortal: Medusa, who lays in love with Poseidon in a flower-filled meadow. Consequently, when Perseus slays her by decapitation, Chrysaor and Pegasus leap out from her neck. Pegasus dwells in Zeus’ house, carrying thunder and lightning to him.

Graces (Charites): three daughters of Zeus and Eurynome, called Adornment (Aglaia), Merriment (Euphrosyne), and delightful Abundance (Thalia). Desire that loosens limbs drips from their eyes as they look on, and beautiful is the glance beneath their brows. With Persuasion (Peithō), they adorn Pandora with golden necklaces.

Hades: son of Kronos and Rhea. Hades (Aidoneus) dwells in a moldy house beneath the earth with a pitiless, merciless heart. He is the lord of those rotting beneath the earth. With the permission of Zeus, who “gave her to him,” he takes Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, down to his house in the underworld.

Hekate (Hecate): daughter of Perses and Asteria. Highly esteemed by Zeus, she has the power to benefit or harm men in whatever they do. When a man calls upon and sacrifices to her, if she wishes, she may grant him the happiness of prosperity.

Hera (Hēra): daughter of Kronos and Rhea; sister-wife of Zeus; one of the Olympians (see the Olympians). Golden-sandaled Hera sends the Hydra of Lerna against Heracles. She also raises the Nemean lion in the hills of Nemea. Because of her anger at Zeus for independently giving birth to Athena from his own head, she independently gives birth to the smith god Hephaestus. With Zeus, she gives birth to Hebe, Ares, and Eileithyia, who aids women in childbirth.

Heracles (Hēraklēs or Herakles): the son of Zeus and Alkmēnē (Alcmene). After completing a series of challenging, groan-causing tasks—including slaughtering the Lernaean Hydra sent by Hera against him, and killing the Nemean lion—Heracles takes Hebe as his wife and settles on Mount Olympus. There he lives with the gods, happy forever, unharmed and ageless.

Hephaestus (Hēphaistos or Hephaistos): son of Hera; husband of the Grace Aglaia (in Homer’s Iliad, Charis is his wife; in the Odyssey, his wife is Aphrodite). Following Zeus’ designs, Hephaestus, the god with two disabled feet, forms Pandora, the first woman, out of earth and water. He gives her voice and beauty. He also makes and decorates with many wild creatures the beautiful crown that Athena uses to crown Pandora’s head.

Hermes: son of Zeus and Maia. Hermes is the herald or messenger of the gods. At the command of Zeus, Hermes gives Pandora, the first woman, a shameless, cunning, and thievish character. With Hekate, he is good luck for increasing the livestock of men.

Hestia: see Kronos or Rhea.

Hubris (needless Violence): see Justice (Dikē).

Hundred-handers: sons of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia). Their names are Kottos, Briareos, and Gyges. The fifty-headed hundred-handers help Zeus defeat the Titans in the Titanomachy. Briareos is Poseidon’s son-in-law since the god gave him his daughter Kymopoleia in marriage.

Hyperion: son of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia); brother-husband of Theia; a Titan. With Theia, he fathers Sun (Helios), Moon (Selēnē), and Dawn (Ēōs).

Iapetos: son of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia); a Titan. With Klymene, Iapetos fathers Menoitios, Atlas, Epimetheus (Afterthought), and Prometheus (Forethought).

Iris: daughter of Thaumas (son of Sea and Earth) and Elektra (daughter of Ocean and Tethys). When the gods wish to swear an oath, Iris fetches the water from the river Styx in a golden jug so that the gods may first pour out a libation with Styx’s water.

Leto: see Apollo.

Justice (Dikē): daughter of Zeus and Themis; sister of Peace (Eirēnē). The antithesis of needless Violence (Hubris), Justice is the personification of that which is right and customary. She brings Peace (Eirēnē) to those individuals and cities that remain faithful to her, blessing them with abundance, while she brings countless misfortunes to those who cast her aside. The gods who hold Olympus highly regard Justice.

Kēr: daughter of Night (Nyx). The goddess of death—and so, doom or fate.

Kronos: son of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia); brother-husband of Rhea; youngest of the Titans. Inspired by his mother, Kronos leads the rebellion against his father by lopping off Sky’s genitals, earning himself and his siblings the name “Titans” or “the ones who stretch out.” He is the one whose counsels are crooked. With Rhea, he fathers many of the Olympian gods, including Demeter, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus. With her, he also fathers Hades and Hestia. Eventually, his own son Zeus battles against and defeats him and the other Titans in the Titanomachy. As a result, they are imprisoned in Tartaros. According to some Hesiod manuscripts, the golden race exists when Kronos is king in the sky—though some scholars believe this is “most likely a very late interpolation.”

Maia: the daughter of Atlas; bed-partner of Zeus. With Zeus, she gives birth to Hermes.

Medusa: see Gorgons.

Memory (Mnemosyne): daughter of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia); a Titaness. With Zeus, she gives birth to the nine Muses.

Metis (Mētis) (Wise Counsel): daughter of Ocean (Okeanos) and Tethys; first bed-partner of Zeus. When she was about to give birth to Athena, Zeus tricked Metis by putting her (Metis) inside his stomach, later giving birth to Athena from his own head.

Mnemosyne (Memory): see Memory.

Muses: nine daughters of Memory (Mnemosyne) and Zeus. Called by the Muses to be a poet-singer, Hesiod presents them as living variously on Mounts Helikon and Olympus, where they are neighbors to the Graces (Charites) and Longing (Himeros). Their names are Kleio (Glorying), Euterpe (Delighting Well), Thaleia (Blooming), Melpomene (Singing), Terpsichore (Delighting in Dance), Erato (Lovely), Polymnia (Many Hymning), Ourania (Heavenly), and Kalliope (Beautiful Voiced). Singing and dancing, the Muses entertain the gods, glorifying each one in turn. As for men, they inspire kings to confer peace through straight judgments and poets to bring healing and diversion by means of the songs they sing about heroes.

Nereus: son of Sea (Pontos), called the Old Man. With Doris (daughter of Ocean), Nereus fathers the Nereids (some fifty daughters), including Thetis (Achilles’ mother) and Amphitrite (Poseidon’s wife).

Night (Nyx or Nux): daughter of Chaos. One of the earliest goddesses, she is mother of many divine beings. With her brother Darkness (Erebos), she gives birth to Day (Hēmera) and the bright upper Air (Aether). She lives in the same house as Day, though they never see each other. Otherwise, Night is the mother of Death (Thanatos), Sleep (Hypnos), and Dreams (Oneiroi), the three Fates (Moirai) and the ruthless Destinies (Kēres), as well as Strife (Eris) and Nemesis, among others.

Ocean (Okeanos): son of Sky and Earth; brother-husband of Tethys; the oldest of the Titans. He is the great river that surrounds the world. With Tethys, the Ocean fathers thousands of rivers, including the Nile, Meander, and Scamander, and, most significantly, the river Styx. With Tethys, he also fathers many daughters, including Peithō (Persuasion), Dione (whom Homer gives as the mother of Aphrodite), Europa, Metis (Wise Counsel), Asia, Calypso (who plays a significant role in Homer’s Odyssey), and Tychē (Chance or Fortune). Ocean should not be confused with Sea (Pontos), the father of Nereus (the Old Man).

Ouranos (Uranus) (Sky or Heaven): see Sky.

Peace (Eirēnē): see Justice (Dikē).

Pegasus: see Gorgons.

Persephone: daughter of Zeus and Demeter; wife of Hades. With her father’s permission, Hades takes Persephone to be his wife and to live in the underworld.

Ploutos (Plutus) (Wealth): see Demeter.

Pontos (Pontus) (Sea): see Sea.

Poseidon: son of Kronos and Rhea; husband of Amphitrite; one of the Olympians (see the Olympians). Poseidon is the “Earth-shaker.” With Amphitrite, he fathers the sea god Triton. Poseidon lays in love with Medusa in a flower-filled meadow—thus he fathers Chrysaor and Pegasus. He encircles Tartaros with a bronze wall and gates. In the Works and Days, he is responsible for a ship’s safety at sea, and, with Hekate, for the size of a fisherman’s haul of fish. The hundred-hander Briareos, who married his daughter Kymopoleia, is his son-in-law.

Prometheus (Forethought): son of Iapetos and Klymene. A trickster, Prometheus twice attempts to outwit Zeus—once, when the gods are apportioning the sacrifice at Mekone; the other time by stealing fire for human beings contrary to Zeus’ will. As a result, Zeus punishes mankind with the delivery of Pandora, the first woman, and Prometheus with imprisonment and ongoing torture in the form of an eagle daily eating his liver, which regenerates each night. Heracles ultimately frees him.

Rhea: daughter of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia); sister-wife of Kronos; a Titaness. With Kronos, she gives birth to many of the Olympian gods, including Demeter, Hera, Poseidon, and Zeus. With him, she also gives birth to Hades and Hestia. Rhea conspires with Earth and Sky to punish and overthrow Kronos when he swallows his children. With their help, Zeus vanquishes his father.

Sea (Pontos or Pontus): son of Earth. Sea fathers Nereus (the Old Man). Sea should not be confused with Ocean (Okeanos).

Shame (Aidōs) and proper Indignation (Nemesis): given the behavior of the iron race of men—impiety, jealously, rivalry, and injustice—Shame (Aidōs) and proper Indignation (Nemesis) abandon human beings and go to dwell among the gods on Olympus. Humans consequently suffer. Hesiod presents Nemesis as the daughter of Night (Nyx).

Sleep (Hypnos) and Death (Thanatos): the sons of Night (Nyx). Sleep is quiet and kind to men whereas Death has an iron heart and pitiless feelings. Hesiod reports that once Death takes a human being, he keeps him. The immortal gods hate Death.

Sun (Helios), Moon (Selēnē), and Dawn (Ēōs): see Hyperion, their Titan father.

Sky (Ouranos) (Uranus) (Heaven): son and husband of Earth (Gaia). With Earth, Sky fathers the Titans. Not wanting his offspring to see the light of day, he hides them away in Earth. This act leads Earth to conspire with her children to overthrow Sky by means of dismemberment. His youngest son Kronos cuts of Sky’s genitals when Sky is laying in love with Earth. Consequently, Sky loses power and rule to Kronos.

Strife (Eris): daughter of Night (Nyx). Alone, Strife engenders a large number of offspring, including Toil (Ponos), Hunger (Limos), and Pain (Algos), Quarrels (Neikea), Battles (Machai) and Murder (Phonos), and Bewilderment (Atē) and Oath (Horkos). In the Works and Days, Hesiod reveals that there are actually two kinds of strife, one promoting violent competition in terms of war and destruction and the other encouraging peaceful competition in terms of work and production.

Styx: daughter of Ocean (Okeanos) and Tethys. With Pallas, she gives birth to Jealousy (or Rivalry) (Zēlos), Victory (Nikē), Might (or Power) (Kratos), and Strength (or Force) (Bia). The latter two are always seated next to Zeus—this thanks to the fact that Styx remains faithful to Zeus during his battle with the Titans. Consequently, Zeus makes Styx the great oath of the gods (for which the immortals hate her). Styx dwells apart from the other gods.

Themis: daughter of Sky (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia); the second wife of Zeus; a Titaness. With Zeus, she gives birth to the Seasons (Horae), Good Order and Lawfulness (Eunomia), Justice (Dikē), and flourishing Peace (Eirēnē). With Zeus, she also gives birth to the three Fates (Moirai), who are called Klotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Elsewhere, Hesiod makes Night (Nyx) their mother.

Thetis: daughter of Nereus and Doris. With Peleus, she gives birth to the hero Achilles.

Typhoeus: son of Tartaros and Earth, the youngest child of Earth. Strong and untiring Typhoeus has a hundred snake heads growing from his shoulders. Fire flashes from their eyes, and terrible voices and sounds blare from their heads. Zeus fights and defeats him in a great battle, finally hurling him down to Tartaros. Rainy, driving, and destructive winds come from Typhoeus.

Zephyros (the West Wind), Boreas (the North Wind), and Notos (the South Wind): sons of Astraios and Dawn (Ēōs). They are a family of winds from the gods. Hesiod judges them a great advantage to human beings.

Zeus: son of Kronos and Rhea; brother-husband of Hera; one of the Olympians. The father of gods and men, and wielding lighting and the thunderbolt (given to him by the three Cyclopes), Zeus is the chief of the Olympian gods. King of the sky, Zeus conquers his father and the other Titans and apportions each god’s or goddess’ place and honors. Zeus also defeats Typhoeus to preserve his rule. As for men, Zeus either raises them high or lays them low. It is because of Zeus’ struggle with Prometheus that women come into existence from Pandora, and thus life is full of toil and hardship. Zeus fathers a large number of offspring, including Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena (born from his head), Dionysus, Eileithyia, the Fates (Moirai), Good Order and Lawfulness (Eunomia), the Graces (Charites), Heracles, Hebe, Hermes, Justice (Dikē), the Muses, Peace (Eirēnē), Persephone, and the Seasons (Horae).

For other gods and goddesses, whether mentioned in “The Cast of Gods and Men” or not, and their offspring, see the genealogical tables.

The Cast of Humans

Note: aside from Hesiod himself and his brother, Perses, humans do not play a central role in Hesiod’s poems. That said, the following are mentioned (often only briefly).

Achilles: son of Peleus and Thetis. He is the breaker of armed ranks.

Aeneas: son of Anchises and Aphrodite.

Anchises: with Aphrodite, he fathers Aeneas.

Alkmēnē (Alcmene): the wife of Amphitryon. With Zeus, she gives birth to Heracles.

Bellerophon: see Echidna.

Geryones: son of Chrysaor and Kallirhoe. Heracles kills Geryones despite the fact that he is the mightiest of all mortal men. His dog is Orthos, born to Echidna.

Hesiod: son of a man and woman from Aeolian Kyme; brother of Perses; a man of the iron race of men (Hesiod mentions no creator of the iron race). Hesiod presents himself as a shepherd, farmer, and poet. He is traditionally given as the author of the Theogony and the Works and Days. For more, see Perses and “Basic Facts about Hesiod” in the Introduction.

Iasion: see Demeter.

Jason: son of Aeson, husband of Medea. With Medea, Jason fathers Medeios, whom Chiron rears according to Zeus’ plans. King Pelias assigns him groan-causing tasks.

Kadmos (Cadmus): founder of Thebes. Kadmos made Harmony his wife. With her, he fathers Ino and Semele, among other children. Some of the men of the heroic race battled for Oedipus’ sheep in the land of Kadmos before the walls of Thebes.

Kings: originating with and nourished by Zeus, a king’s job is to determine what is right by means of straight judgments. Accordingly, he resolves disputes—even great quarrels—with gentle words inspired by the Muses. Kings are wise and stand out among others, who respect them. Unfortunately, some kings are corrupt. These take payment for favorable though unjust results. Hesiod calls these “gift-greedy kings,” ones who harm Justice.

Medea: daughter of Aeetes and Idyia; wife of Jason. With Jason, she gives birth to Medeios, whom Chiron rears according to Zeus’ plans.

Memnon: son of Tithonos and Dawn (Ēōs). He is an Ethiopian king.

Odysseus: with Circe, Odysseus fathers Agrios, Latinos, and Telegonos, the rulers of the Tyrsenians. With Calypso, he fathers Nausithoos and Nausinoos. (In Homer’s Odyssey, he appears as Penelope’s husband and the father of Telemachus.)

Pandora: designed by Zeus, Pandora is crafted by Hephaestus from earth mixed with water. Many of the gods give her gifts, dressing and beautifying her. She is beautiful, so much so that Hesiod calls her the “utterly irresistible deception.” Epimetheus receives her contrary to his brother Prometheus’ advice. From Pandora come all other women. Also, thanks to Pandora’s opening of the great lid of the large wine-jar, various evils scatter among human beings—diseases, troubles and cares. Only Hope (Elpis) remains within.

Peleus: see Achilles and Thetis.

Perses: son of a man and woman from Aeolian Kyme; brother of Hesiod. Though we never hear from him, we know, according to Hesiod, that he has engaged in a dispute with his brother over the division of the family land and possessions. Hesiod calls him foolish and suggests he is lazy and full of thoughtless desires. Much of the advice of the Works and Days is addressed to Perses.

Perseus: see Gorgons.

Phaethon: son of Kephalos and Dawn (Ēōs). He is Aphrodite’s temple-keeper.

Races or kinds of men: the five races of men are the golden, silver, bronze, heroic, and iron. The first golden race lives a care-free life. The second silver race behaves like overgrown infants, excessively violent with one another. They refuse to honor the gods. Angry at them for their behavior, Zeus buries them in the earth. The third race is hardly better. Made of bronze, and doing everything in bronze, they go nameless down to Hades. Zeus tries again with the race of heroes, the demigods (half-gods). Many of these die in the Theban and Trojan wars, but others go on to live a care-free life in the Islands of the Blessed. Hesiod is part of the final iron race of men, among whom might is right and base men are honored, while good men are not and true justice is disregarded.

Semele: daughter of Kadmos and Harmony. With Zeus, she gives birth to Dionysus.

So ends Item 7, “The Cast of Gods and Men – A Quick Reference.” See you in Item 8, “Divine Relations – Genealogical Tables.”

Notes

[i] As they appear on the Parthenon frieze, the traditional “Twelve Olympians” differ from the list of gods and goddesses connected to Olympus in Hesiod’s works. They are Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Athena, Ares, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Demeter, Dionysus, Hephaestus, and Hermes. Aside from these, Hestia is sometimes included, as well as Hades (though he lives beneath the earth). See Walter Burkert, Greek Religion, trans. John Raffan (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1985), 124-170.