Ages of Man
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- This article is about mythology. For the Grammy winning album, see Ages of Man (album)
The Ages of Man are the stages of human existence on the Earth according to Classical mythology.
In his Works and Days, the Boeotian poet Hesiod described Five Ages of Man:
- The Golden Age - This took place during the reign of Cronus. Peace and harmony prevailed during this age. Humans did not grow old, but died peacefully. Spring was eternal and people were fed on acorns from a great oak as well as wild fruits and honey that dripped from the trees. This race eventually died out.
- The Silver Age - These people lived for one hundred years as children without growing up, then they suddenly aged and died. Zeus destroyed these people because of their impiety.
- The Bronze Age - These humans were fierce and warlike and their tools and implements were made of bronze. They destroyed one another in wars.
- The Heroic Age - In this period lived noble demigods and heroes. This race of humans died and went to Elysium.
- The Iron Age - This is the current age where humans bicker and fight, and have to struggle to eke out their existence. Zeus will someday destroy this race of humans.
In Metamorphoses, Ovid followed a similar tradition, translated into Roman terms. Ovid described Four Ages of Man: Golden, Silver, Brazen, and Iron.
In the Book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a statue made of the four metals which is interpreted by Daniel. Whether this story derives from a common literary tradition with that of the classical accounts is uncertain.
These mythological ages are sometimes associated with historical timelines. In particular, the Bronze Age and Iron Age are well known eras in archaeology, which may have some relation to the mythology.