In his Works and Days Hesiod describes the different races which had followed each other since the bginning of humanity. Originally, he says, there was a ‘golden race’ at the time when Cronus was still ruling in heaven. People in those days lived free from worries and safe from grief and distress. They remained eternally young, and spent their time in banquets and festivals. When the time came for them to die, they went peacefully to sleep. They had no need to work; every good thing came to them spontaneously. The soil needed no labour to produce large crops, and men lived in peace in the countryside. This race vanished from the earth in the reign of Zeus, but they still remain as good spirits, protectors of mankind and distributors of wealth… (Grimal, 1990)
All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king. J.R.R. Tolkien« Back to Glossary Index