Regarding Hesiod's advice on farming and an overall work ethic, I could not help but think of Horace's praise for the hard working ant in Satire I.1.33-39:
Granted, the context here is different in that it compares the ant's use of a respectable but balanced larder to men who hoard their wealth beyond their need. But the concept of hard work to prepare for hard times certainly reflects the premise that Hesiod presents to his lazy brother, Perses. Furthermore, the tale of the ages of man expands upon what comes of unappreciated and abused wealth as the ages pass from Golden, to Silver, and so on, growing increasingly violent and increasingly removed from the wealth of goods given to them by the gods and earth.
As for the return to two popular myths, that of Pandora and Prometheus, here are a few modern uses of the names:
"E'en so the ant (for no bad pattern she),
That tiny type of giant industry,
Drags grain by grain, and adds it to the sum
Of her full heap, foreseeing cold to come:
Yet she, when winter turns the year to chill,
Stirs not an inch beyond her mounded hill,
But lives upon her savings"
(Taken from John Conington's translation)
Granted, the context here is different in that it compares the ant's use of a respectable but balanced larder to men who hoard their wealth beyond their need. But the concept of hard work to prepare for hard times certainly reflects the premise that Hesiod presents to his lazy brother, Perses. Furthermore, the tale of the ages of man expands upon what comes of unappreciated and abused wealth as the ages pass from Golden, to Silver, and so on, growing increasingly violent and increasingly removed from the wealth of goods given to them by the gods and earth.
As for the return to two popular myths, that of Pandora and Prometheus, here are a few modern uses of the names:
Prometheus - and Bob (also about an alien - a theme with Classical adoptions of myth? - but this time introducing various technologies to a cave man), upcoming sci-fi movie.
PS: The Penelopiad is now read! The review may be longer in coming than I expected, because it was chock full of juicy details that I want to research properly.
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