Hesiod's Theogony: An In-Depth Guide

Hesiod's poems - the Theogony and Works & Days - give us the foundations of Greek Mythology. This video is an in-depth guide to the Theogony and Works & Days. Topics include: the foundations of Greek Mythology, why you should read Hesiod before Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, who invented Greek mythology, the Succession Myth, the Myth of Prometheus, the Myth of Pandora, the Myth of the Ages of Man, Hesiod's thoughts on Economics & Philosophy, and a very funny ancient superstition! Read the classics with me 📚 Lectures cover historical context, key passages, philosophical ideas, and cultural influence. 00:00 Foundations of Greek Mythology 01:09 The perfect pre-read for Homer's Iliad 01:29 SECTION I: About Hesiod & The Poems 01:55 Was Hesiod a real person? 02:17 Why are the Greek Myths still important? 03:38 Should you read Hesiod or Homer first? 04:20 Who invented the Greek Myths? 05:37 How were the Greek Myths Written? 06:30 Which translation should you read of Hesiod? 06:46 What is Dactylic Hexameter? 07:10 SECTION II: Theogony 08:44 The Succession Myth 16:17 Themes from the Succession Myth 23:31 Zeus' 7 Wives 25:17 Themes from Zeus' Marriages 27:06 SECTION III: Works & Days 27:36 Myths of Prometheus and Pandora 37:34 Myth of the Ages of Man 48:30 Early Economics & Philosophy 53:03 Best Practices in Agriculture 53:19 Ancient Greek Superstitions Translation: M.L. West Publisher: Oxford World Classics If you’re self-studying the Great Books, Greek mythology, Ancient Greece, or Hesiod, this video is designed as a guided reading you can return to alongside the text.