Living in Greece Learn about Greek culture: Greek mythology does not categorize social forms by modes of production; its historical periodization is akin to the periodic table of elements or a price list for metal materials, divided into four ages: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron. Hesiod believed there was a brief Heroic Age between the Bronze and Iron ages, which could be considered the 3.5th age. The gods created four or five generations of humanity, only to become dissatisfied and destroy them as if they were counterfeit or substandard products. There is an unfortunate pattern here: the quality of humanity is inversely proportional to the development of metallurgical technology. However, the final generation of humanity was not destroyed; instead, they destroyed the gods.
The first generation of humanity (consisting only of men) lived in the Golden Age. At that time, Cronus (Zeus's father) ruled the world from the heavens. Spring was eternal, and food and fruit grew naturally, with milk and honey flowing freely. Humanity lived without worry, free from disease, aging, labor, or strife, living like the gods. Unlike the gods, however, they were mortal; death was merely a descent into a warm, gentle sleep. In the end, they all fell asleep, but their noble souls continued to wander the earth.
The second age was the Silver Age. The four seasons were already distinct, yet humanity (still only men) became foolish. Even after living at home for a hundred years, they lacked wisdom, and by the time they finally reached adulthood, their days were already numbered. They were emotionally developed but lacked reason, and strife had already emerged among them. They also failed to honor the gods, so Zeus sent them away to the dark underworld.
The third age was the Bronze Age. Humanity (it seems there were no women either) was strong and crude, disliking agriculture and preferring meat. Furthermore, equipped with bronze weapons, they turned on one another, and wars were constant. In the end, they too had to leave the world of light to reside permanently in the dark underworld.
After this, Zeus created the fourth (or 3.5th) generation of humanity, known as the Heroic Age or the Age of Demigods. Drawing lessons from history, Zeus utilized "genetically modified" eugenics, meaning he gave humans divine bloodlines, a task that kept him and his colleagues very busy both in and out of the bedroom. The heroes of Greek mythology were all born during this period. This generation was relatively just and noble, yet they still loved war. Some died beneath the seven gates of Thebes fighting for royal power, while countless others fought for ten years over the beautiful Helen, leaving rivers of blood in their wake. Finally, Zeus moved the survivors to the Isles of the Blessed in the Oceanus at the edge of the world, where sweet fruits were harvested three times a year, and life was free of care.
The final generation of humanity lives in the Iron Age. Perhaps the gods exhausted their patience and materials during the creation of humanity, as the humans of the Iron Age are the worst product. They are completely depraved, greedy, arrogant, and worship violence. They do not respect the heavens above, nor do they show compassion to living beings below. Children are unfilial, fathers are unkind, brothers kill one another, friends lack loyalty, swindlers prevail, and the righteous are wronged. Human life is filled with sin, and the gods continue to send new calamities. Astraea, the goddess of justice (and sister to the goddess of modesty), sorrowfully covered her face with her white robe and fled this world forever, transforming into the distant constellation of Virgo. There is only pain and despair on earth, and this life has continued to this day.