These three classics of Greek literature -- often called extended poems
-- helped bridge the oral and written traditions of Greek civilization.
Like his contemporary, Homer, Hesiod artfully relates the struggles and
triumphs of the gods as he offers moral and practical advice for
earthbound mortals.
A poetic treatise on agriculture and farming, Works and Days also
presents instructions for daily life and social behavior. Theogony, on
the other hand, concerns the origins of the gods, from the battle
between the Titans to the ultimate triumph of Zeus. The Shield of
Heracles holds further adventure, recounting one of the legendary
hero's epic battles.
This scrupulously accurate and readable translation is essential for
students of Greek mythology and literature.