The Influence On The Greek Society: The Poems Of Homer And Hesiod
Not much is known about the ancient Greek poets Homer and Hesiod, but their literature greatly influenced Greek religion and the portrayal of the gods. The need to understand our place and purpose in the world is the impetus driving Homer, Hesiod, and all philosophers. They both contributed to organizing the relations of the gods using existing poetry and legends, however, they had very different opinions about ideals that people should value and the structure of society. Homer and Hesiod were critical to the development of Greek religion and how people envisioned the gods. All mythology was passed from generation to generation through oral story before Homer wrote these legends down. While they never interacted with each other, the collective poetry of these philosophers organized the relationships between gods and heroes into a genealogy. The description of the gods’ appearance in the legends is a very important aspect used to help individualize each god. These physical descriptions unified the way people envisioned the gods.
In their literature, Homer and Hesiod depict the mannerisms and personalities of the gods through interactions with each other and regular mortals. They also define the duties and powers of a god in their respective realm to highlight their character traits. Analysis of the works of these philosophers shows that the ideals prominent in their poetry were a product of the societal norms during their lifetimes. This connection to the on goings of life during that time is what made these poems so influential. The common person could find great significance in the morals of the tales because they reassured people of their purpose in society and provided a perception of what a respectable life is and how to live one.
While Homer and Hesiod’s poems influenced and were influenced by ancient Greek culture in similar ways, their ideals differed vastly. It is unknown whether the two were ever living at the same time, but it is speculated that Hesiod’s lifetime occurred about one hundred to fifty years after Homer’s. This inference is based upon the ideological differences of the two philosophers. Homer’s view of the world expressed in his poems was based upon the monarchical government and strict societal classes that defined the structure of society during that time period. Nobility were warriors of great honor; therefore, honor was the key ideal of Homer. He believed the honor came from moderation. Achilles was a fearless warrior who followed a code of respect to preserve his reputation, ensuring he is remembered by his community even after death. However, Achilles had great hubris and could not control his pride, leading him to make rash decisions that eventually lead to his downfall.
He could not find the balance needed to achieve the excellence of a true Homeric hero. Hesiod is thought to have lived later than Homer because of his democratic ideals. Commoners began to produce excess goods and were able to trade directly with each other, effectively removing the need for a monarch to provide structure and direction. Hesiod believed in justice and morality. He criticized Homer’s gods for their egotistical and immoral actions, as well as nobility for their injustices. Hesiod viewed honest work as the way that a man of any status can gain virtue. This is exemplified by Work and Days, Hesiod’s practical guide to an honorable life was directed at the general population. This demonstrates the power of the common person during this time due to the rise of democracy. Hesiod’s literature further empowered the common man and expedited the development of democracy.
Homer and Hesiod were pivotal in the progression of ancient Greece. They both influenced the ideals and goals of Greek society. They lived during different times, had opposing views on the way life should be lived, and what constituted honor, but together they constructed a uniform view of the gods for the entire community.
