82 THE MYTHS OF CREATION: THE GODS
THE AGE OF BRONZE
Father Zeus made another race of mortal humans, the third, of bronze and not
at all like the one of silver; terrible and mighty because of their spears of ash,
they pursued the painful and violent deeds of Ares. They did not eat bread at
all but were terrifying and had dauntless hearts of adamant. Great was their
might, and unconquerable hands grew upon their strong limbs out of their shoul-
ders. Of bronze were their arms, of bronze were their homes, and they worked
with bronze implements. Black iron there was not. When they had been de-
stroyed by their own hands, they went down into the dark house of chill Hades
without leaving a name. Black death seized them, although they were terrify-
ing, and they left the bright light of the sun.
THE AGE OF HEROES
But when the earth covered over this race too, again Zeus, the son of Cronus,
made still another, the fourth on the nourishing earth, valiant in war and more
just, a godlike race of heroic men, who are called demigods, and who preceded
our own race on the vast earth. Evil war and dread battle destroyed some of
them under seven-gated Thebes in the land of Cadmus as they battled for the
flocks of Oedipus; the end of death closed about others after they had been led
in ships over the great depths of the sea to Troy for the sake of Helen of the
beautiful hair. Some, father Zeus, the son of Cronus, sent to dwell at the ends
of the earth where he has them live their lives; these happy heroes inhabit the
Islands of the Blessed with carefree hearts by the deep swirling stream of Ocean.
For them the fruitful earth bears honey-sweet fruit that ripens three times a year.
Far from the immortals, Cronus rules as king over them; for the father of gods
and men released him from his bonds. Honor and glory attend these last in equal
measure.
THE AGE OF IRON
Far-seeing Zeus again made still another race who live on the nourishing earth.
Oh, would that I were not a man of the fifth generation but either had died
before or had been born later. Now indeed the race is of iron. For they never
cease from toil and woe by day, nor from being destroyed in the night. The
gods will give them difficult troubles, but good will be mingled with their
evils. Zeus will destroy this race of mortals too, whenever it comes to pass that
they are born with gray hair on their temples. And a father will not be in har-
mony with his children nor his children with him, nor guest with host, nor
friend with friend, and a brother will not be loved as formerly. As they grow
old quickly they will dishonor their parents, and they will find fault, blaming
them with harsh words and not knowing respect for the gods, since their right
is might. They will not sustain their aged parents in repayment for their up-
bringing. One will destroy the city of another. No esteem will exist for the one
who is true to an oath or just or good; rather mortals will praise the arrogance
and evil of the wicked. Justice will be might and shame will not exist. The evil
person will harm the better, speaking against him unjustly and he will swear
an oath besides. Envy, shrill and ugly and with evil delight, will attend all hu-
man beings in their woe. Then Aidos and Nemesis both^6 will forsake them and
go, their beautiful forms shrouded in white, from the wide earth to Olympus