Works and Days

“Works and Days” is a didactic poem by Hesiod dating to approximately the eighth century BCE. Hesiod begins the poem with the traditional invocation to the muses, but he deviates slightly from this tradition by including personal information; the poem is an explanation of a dispute between Hesiod and his brother Perses over a family inheritance. The poem’s thematic concerns, which Hesiod explores by arguing how harmful his brother’s actions are not only to himself but to the community, include the value of labor among human societies; labor and defining what is just; the interconnectedness of humans, gods, and the natural world; truth versus lies; and divine justice.

Poet Biography

Hesiod was born in Boeotia in central Greece. His father immigrated to Greece from Cyme, a major city in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). Scholars believe that Hesiod may have first been a rhapsodist—someone who recites poetry professionally—thereby learning the tools of the trade before making a name for himself with didactic poetry. Although Hesiod isn’t as influential long-term as Homer, with whom he is often linked, Hesiod was considered a skilled and popular poet in Antiquity. Dating is contested, but the two are typically believed to have been active in the eighth century BCE.