The Similarties Of Hesiod And Homer

Question 1

How is Homer and Hesiod depiction of the gods similar in terms of form externally ?

Answer 1

Homer:
- Iliad book 5 Diomedes stabs Aphrodite through the hand and ichor seeps from the wound- none the less human in description
- book 1 Hempaestus serves the gods cups of wine and they retire to house at the end of the book
- the world they inhabit is clearly human

Hesiod:
- Zeus eyes frequently mentioned whilst also having a head from which Athene sprung from.
- clothes: ‘fair flesh veiled in white robes’- confirms the gods as anthropomorphic

Both inhabit a notably human environment in their appearance and cosmetic surroundings

Question 2

How are Homer and Hesiod gods similar internally ?

Answer 2

Hesiod works and days:
- Zeus desire for vengeance against Prometheus for stolen fire
- Hera desire for revenge in book 4 Iliad against Hector- she is willing to see three towns of Argos, Sparta and Mycenae all sacked just to see Troy destroyed

Human behaviours are a prescribed element to both description

Question 3

How are the gods in Homer and Hesiod also similar in their domestic arrangement ?

Answer 3

Familial units

Hesiod
- theogony: presents a family tree of all the gods with the parents of Death being Night and Darkness

Homer:
- Iliad 4: Hera and Zeus argue in their tense relationship
- book 14: she seduces him to distract him from the battle

Although neither are ideal in their description it’s undeniable that there are similarities

Question 4

How are the gods similar in their demands for sacrifice ?

Answer 4

Hesiod theogony
- provides an aetiological justification for sacrifice in the story of Prometheus who tricks Zeus into choosing the least edible parts
- Works and Days: encourages frequent ‘libations and burnt offerings’ at night and day

Homer
- Odyssey 5: Hermes missed the smell of Knesia the smell of sacrifice as he flies to Calypso’s island
- Iliad book 4: Zeus contemplates saving Troy as his altar never lack sacrifice or libation and Apollo in

Question 5

How do both Homer and Hesiod borrow from earlier mythology ?

Answer 5

Homer
- Iliad 5: Aphrodites complaints to Zeus are similar to that of Ishtars complaints is to An fate being ejected by Gilgamesh

Hesiod Theogony
- borrows from the Sumerian Humarbi myth where Kumarbi swallows the gentians of his father Anu before being overthrown by Tashub

They both absorb cultural and mythological ideas from Anatolia
Although it is unlikely to be knowingly copied both create frameworks that are reminiscent of earlier mythological tradition

Question 6

How are Homer and Hesiod similar in their gods intervention in human affairs ?

Answer 6

Homer
- gods actively support their favoured humans
- Apollo brings a plague down upon the Greeks in favor to Chryses
- Odyssey: Athena repeatedly helps Odysseus when fighting along side him dressed as Mentor

Hesiod
- benefits are more indirect and intervention is less obvious
- praying to Zeus included ‘sons who resemble their fathers’