The connection of Pandora with the early archaic period in Works and Days

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Published: Jul 6, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.30729
Christina Anastasiadou
Abstract

This article explores the interpretation and contribution of the myth of Pandora to the understanding of the "Iron Age" as depicted in Hesiod's Works and Days. The author initially highlights the role of Myth in the development of philosophical reflection and Hesiod's significant contribution to the birth of philosophy. The study then correlates the figure of Pandora with the intellectual elements of the early archaic period, particularly focusing on how her creation from earth and water links her to the primordial Gaia. An interpretive link is established between Prometheus and Pandora, emphasizing the concept of "toil" and labor for the human species. Finally, the paper concludes by affirming Pandora's value as a pivotal presence in the formation of the Iron Age and, by extension, the human race itself, characterizing the period through the dual nature of Eris (strife) and the persistence of Hope.

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References
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