First, we need to look at Homer. Virtually nothing is known about Homer. It has been rumored that Homer was a woman, a group of writers, and also a blind man. Scholars tend to agree that he/she/they was/were Ionian and lived in the 9th or 8th century BC. It is believed that Homer composed his/her/their works, but never did write them to paper. Homer is said to be of the oral tradition, and thus inspired somebody to put his epic poems on paper. Ancient Greeks esteemed Homer’s epic poems as symbols of Hellenistic unity and heroism and as sources of moral and practical instruction.

Secondly, we must take a look at Hesiod. Hesiod has been called the father of Greek didactic poetry. Hesiod was a native of Boeotia, a district of central Greece. It is believed by scholars that he sta

rted as a rhapsodist ( professional reciter of poetry). It is through his days as a rhapsodist that he learned the techniques and vocabulary of the epic by memorizing and reciting heroic songs. Hesiod attributes his gifts of poetry to the Muses, said to have appeared to him while he was tending sheep. We know that his epics were highly regarded during his time because other bits of history have placed him at the funeral games of Amphidamas at Chalcis on the island of Euboea. Theogany is Hesiod’s epic about the creation of the Gods. Though this work owes several significant episodes to Middle Eastern models, the Uranus-Cronos-Zeus succession approximates the pattern of Greek tragic trilogy. Hesiod’s other work, Works and Days, is a bit more personal. It is said to be directed at his brother that took everything from the family, but it is also Hesiod’s message to men about how to conduct themselves properly. Hesiod’s name was so well known, that other author’s works got attributed to him. Examples of two such writings are Catalogues of Women and Shield of Heracles.

Hesiod’s influence can be seen in how we write our laws. If you take a look at Works and Days, then take a good look at our laws, you will see that they read very much alike. If not legal laws, definitely our moral la

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