Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-5wvtr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T18:22:57.792Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hesiod and his world*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2013

Paul Millett
Paul Millett
Affiliation:
Downing College, Cambridge
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Recent interest in Hesiod has tended to concentrate on three broad aspects of his poems: their language, structure and myth. By contrast, their value as historical documents has been persistently underrated. This is a striking omission, as by general consent we have in the Works & Days a written source, giving detailed information about life in the early archaic period, for which virtually no other documentary evidence exists. Yet by comparison with the repeated and painstaking investigation of Homer as history, or even the poetry of Solon, Hesiod has been largely ignored.

Although it would be unrealistic to pretend that historians have never shown any interest in the Works & Days (see section VI), the use they have made of the poem has generally been either perfunctory and descriptive, or selective and focussing on isolated points. Typical of the former category is the treatment of Hesiod in the textbook on geometric Greece by Coldstream (1977). In his introduction, Coldstream warns the reader that the evidence for the ninth and eighth centuries is predominantly archaeological, but he does add a qualification (18): ‘On the other hand, Hesiod's Works & Days offers an authentic picture of a farmer's life in Boeotia at the close of the eighth century’, and in a later chapter (313): ‘The hard life of a geometric farmer is vividly described by the poet Hesiod.’

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society (Second Series) , Volume 30 , 1984 , pp. 84 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s). Published online by Cambridge University Press 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

What follows is an extended version of a paper read to the Cambridge Philological Society on 26 April 1984. I am grateful to the members present for its kindly if not uncritical reception, and in particular to Prof. M. I. Finley for his subsequent comments. I am also indebted to the editors of the Proceedings for allowing me the space to develop my views. All passages in Greek are translated in the hope that this will make the study more easily accessible to non-specialists. For the same reason, detailed argumentation is relegated to the footnotes. By gathering all references to secondary literature in a separate section following the footnotes, I have tried to provide a select bibliography of recent work on Hesiod.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Adkins, A. W. H. (1972), Moral values and political behaviour in ancient GreeceGoogle Scholar
Austin, M. M. & Vidal-Naquet, P. (1977), Economic and social history of ancient Greece: an introductionGoogle Scholar
Baykov, A. (1946), The development of the Soviet economic systemGoogle Scholar
Beloch, K. J. (1924), Griechische Geschichte I pt. 1Google Scholar
Beye, C. R. (1972), ‘The rhythm of Hesiod's Works & Days’, HSCP 76 23–43Google Scholar
Bravo, B. (1974), ‘Une lettre sur plomb de Berezan’: colonisation et modes de contact dans le Pont’, Dialogues d'histoire ancienne 1 111–87CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bravo, B. (1977), ‘Remarques sur les assises sociales, les formes d'organisation et le terminologie du commerce maritime grec à l'époque archaïque’, Dialogues d'histoire ancienne 3 1–59CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bravo, B. (1983), ‘Le commerce des céréales chez les Grecs de l'époque archaïque’. Trade and Famine in Classical Antiquity, Garnsey, P. & Whittaker, C. R. (eds.) 17–29Google Scholar
Burn, A. R. (1936), The World of Hesiod ed. 2Google Scholar
Campbell, J. K. (1964), Honour, Family and PatronageGoogle Scholar
Carrière, J. C. (1979), ‘Existe-t-il, dans la société homérique, des rapports de dépendence?’, Terre et paysans dépendants dans les sociétés antiques, Welskopf, E. C. (ed.) 122–7Google Scholar
Cartledge, P. A. (1983). ‘“Trade and Politics” revisited: archaic Greece’, Trade in the ancient economy, Garnsey, P., Hopkins, K. & Whittaker, C. R. (eds.) 1–15Google Scholar
Coldstream, J. N. (1977), Geometric GreeceGoogle Scholar
Darling, M. (1947), The Punjab peasant in prosperity and debtGoogle Scholar
de Ste Croix, G. E. M. (1981), The class struggle in the ancient Greek worldGoogle Scholar
Detienne, M. (1963), Crise agraire et attitude religieuse chez HésiodeGoogle Scholar
Dobb, M. (1966), Soviet economic development since 1917Google Scholar
Donlan, W. F. (1968), Agathos-kakos: a study of social attitudes in archaic GreeceGoogle Scholar
Donlan, W. F. (1973), ‘The tradition of anti-aristocratic thought in early Greek poetry’, Historia 22 145–54Google Scholar
Donlan, W. F. (1980), The aristocratic ideal in ancient GreeceGoogle Scholar
Dover, K. J. (1968), Aristophanes, CloudsGoogle Scholar
Drews, R. (1983), Basileus: the evidence for kingship in geometric GreeceCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, G. P. (1971), The language of Hesiod in its traditional contextGoogle Scholar
Ehrenberg, V. (1951), The people of Aristophanes, a sociology of Attic comedy ed. 2Google Scholar
Eisenberger, H. (1982), ‘War Hesiod ein Rhapsode?’, Gymnasium 89 57–66Google Scholar
Engels, F. (1894), ‘The peasant question in France and Germany’, Marx, K. & Engels, F., Selected Works (1968) 623–40Google Scholar
Evelyn-White, H. G. (1914), Hesiod, the Homeric Hymns and HomericaGoogle Scholar
Finley, M. I. (1965), ‘La servitude pour dettes’, Revue historique de droit français et étranger, 43 159–84;Google Scholar
translated as (and cited from) ‘Debt-bondage and the problem of slavery’, Economy and society in ancient Greece, Shaw, B. D. & Saller, R. P. (eds.) 150–66Google Scholar
Finley, M. I. (1977), The World of Odysseus ed. 2Google Scholar
Finnegan, R. (1977), Oral PoetryGoogle Scholar
Firth, R. & Yamey, B. S. (1964), Capital, saving and credit in peasant societiesGoogle Scholar
Fontenrose, J. (1974), ‘Work, justice, and Hesiod's five ages’, CP 69 1–16Google Scholar
Fondation Hardt (1962), Hésiode et son influence (Entretiens sur l'antiquité classique VII)Google Scholar
Foster, G. M. (1965), ‘Peasant society and the image of the limited good’, American anthropologist 67 293–315; reprinted in (and cited from) Potter, Diaz & Foster (1967) 300-23CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foster, G. M. (1967), ‘The dyadic contract: a model for the social structure of a Mexican peasant village’, Potter, , Diaz, & Foster, (1967) 213–30Google Scholar
Frazer, R. M. (1983), The poems of HesiodGoogle Scholar
Gagarin, M. (1973), 'Dike in the Works & Days, CP 68 81–94Google Scholar
Gagarin, M. (1974), ‘Hesiod's dispute with Perses’, TA PhA 104 103–11Google Scholar
Garnsey, P. (1975–1976), ‘Peasants in ancient Roman society’, Journal of peasant studies 3 221–35CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gordon, B. (1975), Economic analysis before Adam SmithCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffith, M. (1983), ‘Personality in Hesiod’, Classical Antiquity 2 37–65CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hasebroek, J. (1931), Griechische Wirtschafts- und Gesellschaftsgeschichte bis zur PerserzeitGoogle Scholar
Havelock, E. A. (1966), ‘Thoughtful Hesiod’, YCS 20 61–72Google Scholar
Heitland, W. E. (1921), AgricolaGoogle Scholar
Hilton, R. H. (1975), The English peasantry in the Later Middle AgesGoogle Scholar
Howe, T. P. (1958), ‘Linear B and Hesiod's breadwinners’, TA PhA 89 44–65Google Scholar
Humphreys, S. C. (1970), ‘Economy and society in classical Athens’ Annali della scuola normale superiore di Pisa, 39 1–26; reprinted in (and cited from) Anthropology and the Greeks (1978) 136–58Google Scholar
Jameson, M. H. (1977–1978), ‘Agriculture and slavery in classical Athens’, Classical Journal 72 122–45Google Scholar
Janko, R. (1982), Homer, Hesiod and the HymnsGoogle Scholar
Jensen, M. S. (1966), ‘Tradition and individuality in Hesiod's Works and Days’, C&M 21 1–27Google Scholar
Kirk, G. S. (1960), ‘Objective dating criteria in Homer’, MH 17 189–205;Google Scholar
reprinted in The language and background of Homer, Kirk, G. S. (ed.) 174–90Google Scholar
Korver, J. (1934), De terminologie van het crediet-wezen en het GriekschGoogle Scholar
Kumaniecki, K. (1963), ‘The structure of Hesiod's Works and Days’, BICS 10 79–96Google Scholar
Lacey, W. K. (1968), The family in classical GreeceGoogle Scholar
Lefkowitz, M. R. (1981), The lives of the Greek poetsGoogle Scholar
Le Roy Ladurie, E. (1975), Montaillou, village occitan de 1294 à 1324; translated as (and cited from) Montaillou, Cathars and Catholics in a French village 1294–1324 (1978)Google Scholar
Lopreato, J. (1965), ‘How would you like to be a peasant?’, Human Organization 24 298–307; reprinted in (and cited from) Potter, Diaz & Foster (1967) 419-37CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lord, A. B. (1960), The singer of talesGoogle Scholar
Luce, J. V. (1978), ‘The polis in Homer and Hesiod’, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 78(C) 1–15Google Scholar
Mauss, M. (1950), Essai sur le don; translated as (and cited from) The gift, forms and functions of exchange in archaic societies (1954)Google Scholar
Mele, A. (1979), Il commercio greco arcaico, prexis ed emporieCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mossé, C. (1973), ‘Le statut des paysans en Attique au IVe siècle’, Problèmes de la terre en Grèce ancienne, Finley, M. I. (ed.) 179–86Google Scholar
Murray, G. (1897), A history of ancient Greek literatureGoogle Scholar
Murray, O. (1980), Early GreeceGoogle Scholar
Nagy, G. (1979), The best of the AchaeansGoogle Scholar
Nagy, G. (1982), ‘Hesiod’, Ancient Greek authors, Luce, T. J. (ed.) 43–73Google Scholar
Nussbaum, G. (1960), ‘Labour and status in the Works & Days’, CQ 10 186–96CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paley, F. A. (1861), The epics of HesiodGoogle Scholar
Parry, M. (1971), The making of Homeric verse. The collected papers of Milman Parry, Parry, A. (ed.)Google Scholar
Polanyi, K. (1960), ‘On the comparative treatment of economic institutions in antiquity, with illustrations from Athens, Mycenae and Alalakh’, City invincible, Kraeling, C. H. & Adams, R. M. (eds.) 238–60Google Scholar
Potter, J. M., Diaz, M. N. & Foster, G. M. (1967), Peasant society, a readerGoogle Scholar
Redfield, R. (1953), The primitive world and its transformationGoogle Scholar
Redfield, R. (1956), Peasant society and its cultureGoogle Scholar
Renehan, R. (1980), ‘Progress in Hesiod’ (review of West (1978)), CP 75 339–58Google Scholar
Sahlins, M. (1965), ‘On the sociology of primitive exchange’, The relevance of models for social anthropology, Banton, M. (ed.); reprinted in (and cited from) Sahlins, M., Stone age economics (1974)Google Scholar
Schumpeter, P. (1954), A history of economic analysisGoogle Scholar
Scodel, R. (1980), ‘Hesiod redivivus’, GRBS 21 301–20Google Scholar
Shanin, T. (1971), Peasants and peasant societyGoogle Scholar
Sinclair, T. A. (1932), Hesiod, Works & DaysGoogle Scholar
Skinner, G. W. (1964), ‘Marketing and social structure in rural China pt. 1’, Journal of Asian studies 24; reprinted in (and cited from) Potter, Diaz & Foster (1967) 63-98CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snodgrass, A. M. (1971), The dark age of GreeceGoogle Scholar
Solmsen, F. (1963), ‘The “Days”; of the Works and Days’, TA PhA 94 293–320Google Scholar
Solmsen, F. (1980), review of West (1978), Gnomon 52 209–21Google Scholar
Spahn, P. (1980), ‘Oikos und polis’, Historische Zeitung 231 529–64CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Starr, C. G. (1977), The economic and social growth of early Greece 800–500 B.C.Google Scholar
Thorner, D. (1971), ‘Peasant economy as a category in economic history’ Shanin (1971) 202–18Google Scholar
Trever, A. A. (1924), ‘The age of Hesiod: a study in economic history’, CP 19 157–68Google Scholar
Wade-Gery, H. T. (1958), ‘Hesiod’, Essays in Greek History 1–16Google Scholar
Walcot, P. (1961), ‘The composition of the Works & Days’, REG 74 1–19CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walcot, P. (1966), Hesiod and the Near EastGoogle Scholar
Walcot, P. (1967), ‘The specialisation of labour in early Greek society’ REG 80 60–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walcot, P. (1970), Greek peasants ancient and modernGoogle Scholar
Wallace, P. W. (1974), ‘Hesiod and the valley of the muses’, GRBS 15 5–24Google Scholar
Wege der Forschung (1966), Hesiod, Heitsch, E. (ed.)Google Scholar
West, M. L. (1966), Hesiod, TheogonyGoogle Scholar
West, M. L. (1978), Hesiod, Works & DaysGoogle Scholar
West, M. L. (1981), ‘Is the “Works and Days” an oral poem?’, I poemi epici rapsodici non omerici e la tradizione orale, Brillante, C., Cantilena, M., Pavese, C. O. (eds.) 53–73Google Scholar
Ed. Will, (1957), ‘Aux origines du régime foncier grec’, REA 59 5–50Google Scholar
Will, Ernest (1965), ‘Hésiode: crise agraire ou recul de l'aristocratie?’, REG 78 542–56CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolf, E. R. (1966), PeasantsGoogle Scholar