In Hesiod’s Theogony Zeus is not a just God to his people in the way that he punishes everyone for the acts that only one man committed, rather than just punishing a single individual. For example, Zeus is an extremely vengeful God and this is displayed at the Trick at Mecone as well as in the creation of Pandora. At the Trick at Mecone when Prometheus deceives Zeus by placing a pile of ox beef disguised in intestines and a pile of bones disguised in shiny fat for Zeus to choose from so the Gods and the mortals can negotiate the sacrifice that will be given (Hesiod, Theogony, 540-543), Zeus becomes angry at Prometheus for his trickery and not only punishes Prometheus for deceiving him but “wouldn’t give the power of weariless fire to the
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In addition, when Prometheus steals fire back for the benefit of the mortals Zeus once again becomes angry at those who did not commit the act and “straight off he gave them trouble to pay for the fire” (Hesiod, Theogony, 572). …show more content…
He wanted the mortal men to pay for accepting the gift of fire back so he put women on earth as a curse. He wanted women to be deceiving towards men in order to bring them trouble, so he had “The famous Lame God plastered up some clay To look like a shy virgin” (Hesiod, Theogony, 574). Zeus made her “irresistible to men” in order to make all men become or want to become involved with such a wonderful sight. This exemplifies how vengeful Zeus is because he knew that men would not be able to resist women and would now have to reap unpleasant consequences he put in place that one would never want to face. He knew that if men got married and sought out separation from his spouse that they would come to “deadly old age without any son to support him” (Hesiod, Theogony, 608-609). Zeus knew how egregious of a consequence this was since women could not inherit the assets, only a son. He knew that this would mean after a man’s death, his distant relatives would decide what would happen to his estates and assets and no man ever wanted that. Zeus also made sure that if a man married a good compatible wife they would live a constant struggle and if they married an abusive type that he would live “with pain in his heart all down the line, Pain in spirit and mind, [an] incurable evil” (Hesiod, Theogony, 615-616). This overall displays the unjust, vengeful nature of Zeus to his people because he has put the most horrendous curse on all men,
In addition, when Prometheus steals fire back for the benefit of the mortals Zeus once again becomes angry at those who did not commit the act and “straight off he gave them trouble to pay for the fire” (Hesiod, Theogony, 572). …show more content…
He wanted the mortal men to pay for accepting the gift of fire back so he put women on earth as a curse. He wanted women to be deceiving towards men in order to bring them trouble, so he had “The famous Lame God plastered up some clay To look like a shy virgin” (Hesiod, Theogony, 574). Zeus made her “irresistible to men” in order to make all men become or want to become involved with such a wonderful sight. This exemplifies how vengeful Zeus is because he knew that men would not be able to resist women and would now have to reap unpleasant consequences he put in place that one would never want to face. He knew that if men got married and sought out separation from his spouse that they would come to “deadly old age without any son to support him” (Hesiod, Theogony, 608-609). Zeus knew how egregious of a consequence this was since women could not inherit the assets, only a son. He knew that this would mean after a man’s death, his distant relatives would decide what would happen to his estates and assets and no man ever wanted that. Zeus also made sure that if a man married a good compatible wife they would live a constant struggle and if they married an abusive type that he would live “with pain in his heart all down the line, Pain in spirit and mind, [an] incurable evil” (Hesiod, Theogony, 615-616). This overall displays the unjust, vengeful nature of Zeus to his people because he has put the most horrendous curse on all men,