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Works and Days

Around 700 BC a Greek poem titled Works and Days was written by the early Greek poet Hesoid.

In Works and Days, justice and hard work is put in perspective. Addressing his brother, the poet uses myths to explain why men must act justly and work hard. He speaks of Prometheus who stole fire to give to humankind. He mentions Pandora and her opening of the box that was given to Epimetheus as a gift. The five Ages of Man is spoken of. There are the Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic and Iron Ages. It also uses a fable of a hawk and a nightingale in analogy. The rest follows with practical advice given from the poet to his brother and shows the wisdom obtained by a cautious and conservative farmer who finds life to be as it should.

Nyx is only mentioned once in the beginning of this poem in reference to one of her daughters, the goddess of strife and discord.

"So, after all, there was not one kind of Strife (Eris) alone, but all over the earth there are two. As for the one, a man would praise her when he came to understand her; but the other is blameworthy: and they are wholly different in nature. For one fosters evil war and battle, being cruel: her no man loves; but perforce, through the will of the deathless gods, men pay harsh Strife her honor due. But the other is the elder daughter of dark Night (Nyx), and the son of Cronos who sits above and dwells in the aether, set her in the roots of the earth: and she is far kinder to men. She stirs up even the shiftless to toil; for a man grows eager to work when he considers his neighbor, a rich man who hastens to plough and plant and put his house in good order; and neighbor vies with his neighbor as he hurries after wealth. This Strife (Eris) is wholesome for men."

Book sources:
Hesoid. Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica (Loeb Classical Library #57). English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Loeb Classical Library; Rev Ed edition. 1914.

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