Comparing Hesiod's Theogony And The Homeric Hymn

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In Hesiod’s Theogony and the Homeric hymns, we see various mothers many of which are gods. Throughout these texts there is a repeated behavior displayed by mothers; by analyzing them and their behavior one can determine what the role of a mother consists of in these texts. The actions of Gaia, the earth, her daughter Rhea, and the goddess Demeter display some of the key characteristics that make up the role of a mother in these ancient texts.

When reviewing examples of mothers in the text it is evident that part of the mother’s role is to have children to care for. “Gaia now first gave birth to starry Ouranos, her match in size to encompass all of her, and be the firm seat of all the blessed gods.” (126-128) Gaia is the first example of a mother seen in the …show more content…

She demonstrates common traits of mothers in this text that outline the role of a mother. Primarily Gaia expresses the need to birth children as one of the key roles for a mother in this text. The need to bear children is specifically expressed when Gaia has her children shoved back into her womb by their father Ouranos and groans in pain “Ouranos, with joy in his wicked work, hid it in Gaia’s womb and did not let it return to the light. Huge Gaia groaned within herself” (157-159) The groaning pain described in the text represents the need for a mother to give birth and have children to care for and protect. The pain of the childless mother is seen again when Demeter, the mother of Persephone, looses her daughter to Hades “Against her will he seized her and on his golden chariot carried her away as she wailed; and she raised a shrill cry, calling upon her father Kronides, the highest and the best.” (19-21) In more detail we see how a mother suffers when she is denied her children as Demeter searches for her stolen daughter “For nine

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