Theogony

Theogony 

• Genre: Poetry; Mythology; Classical Literature 
• Originally Published: Circa 700 BC 
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult 
• Structure/Length: Approximately 1022 lines; approximately 308 pages; approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes on audio  
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Theogony is a genealogical account of the origins of the gods of Greek mythology. It details the birth of the gods from Chaos and the subsequent lineages, leading up to the reign of Zeus as the king of the gods. The central conflict revolves around the succession of divine rulers and the establishment of Zeus’s power. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Descriptions of violence; themes of usurpation and revenge; references to sexual encounters

Hesiod, Author 

• Bio: One of the earliest and most significant of the ancient Greek poets; believed to have lived around the same time as Homer, circa the 8th or 7th century BC; key source of Greek mythology, agricultural practices, and early cosmogony 
• Other Works: Works and Days

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Kingship Theory: Chaos to Order
• Generational Succession: From Matriarchy to Patriarchy
• The Outsized Role of Tricksters

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the historical, literary, and mythological contexts of Hesiod’s poem.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Kingship Theory, Generational Succession, and Tricksters.