The creation of man is a common theme in the world’s religions, both past and present, and Greek mythology is no exception. In Ancient Greece though, there were two relatively famous stories about the creation of mankind.

The most famous story of the coming of man, is linked to the story of the second generation Titan, Prometheus; this is a story from the Bibliotheca (attributed to Apollodorus), as well as other ancient sources, including Ovid.

In this telling, the two Titan brothers, Prometheus and Epimetheus, having been spared punishment after the Titanomachy, were given the task by Zeus of bringing forth a new race of man, in order that the gods of Mount Olympus would have worshipers. This the two Titans did by moulding water and earth (clay) into people before life was breathed into them. From that day forth Prometheus would be known as the benefactor of man; for it was Prometheus who taught man to sacrifice to the gods in a way that would ensure man was not left without. It was also Prometheus who would steal the secret of fire from Zeus, so that again, man would never be without warmth and light.

Interestingly the story of man being created from earth also appears in the Old Testament, and the Qur’an, as well as in Egyptian and Chinese mythology.

The tale of Prometheus and the creation of man though is just one story from Greek mythology, and one of the most famous Greek writers from antiquity, Hesiod, doesn’t mention it. Hesiod instead writes of the creation of man in “Works and Days”. In this work, Hesiod tells of five generations, or ages of man.

The First generation of man were brought forth by Cronus, the leader of the Titans, in what was known as the Golden Age. Here man walked freely amongst the gods, and did not toil. Man would live to a great age, but would not display the attributes associated with old age. This generation, known as the golden race, were eventually buried beneath the earth, and taking the term golden race literally, created the seams of gold found beneath the earth’s surface.

The time of Cronus passed and the Olympian rose to supreme power. Thus it was that the second generation of man, known as the silver race, was created by Zeus. Again a long-lived race, but the majority of the lives of the silver race was spent as children undertaking childish activity. When they came into adulthood they would sin, and live but for a short time as adults before dying. Zeus brought this generation to an end when the silver race refused to pay tribute to the gods. Again this generation was buried bringing forth the veins of silver.

A third generation was then created, and was known as the Bronze Age. This generation was militaristic and argumentative, and in the end brought about their own downfall with their ways. Zeus observed mankind and sent forth a great flood from which only Deucalion and Pyrrha would survive. The whole generation would pass from the surface of the earth to dwell in Hades.

According to Hesiod, the fourth generation was the best of all the generations and was known as the Heroic Age, and was brought forth when Deucalion threw rocks onto Mother Earth. This was the generation of the heroes and demi-gods beloved of tales from Greek mythology. Eventually though, even this generation would die out, and they too would reside in the realm of Hades, although they were blessed to live for eternity in Elysium.

This then brought forth the fifth and therefore current generation of man. This generation is the one that suffered with the opening of Pandora’s Box, and now toils to live and strife is rife throughout the world, but elements of goodness and hope still remain.

The two versions of the creation of man in Greek mythology can possibly be reconciled by reading some of Plato’s work. In Protagoras, Plato writes that rather than create man and beast, Prometheus and Epimetheus were given the task of equipping them, after they had been created by the gods. Thus it was that claws, fur and characteristics were given to the animals, man though was overlooked by Epimetheus, and so it was left to Prometheus to steal gifts and technology from the gods to equip them.

Plato, in the Symposium, also tells of how mankind came to look how they do today; Plato attributes the story to Aristophanes. In the Symposium, mankind was originally created as a single sex being, with four arms, four legs, male and female genitalia, and a head with two faces. Mankind at this point was extremely strong, and Zeus saw them even as a threat to him and his kin. Mankind though also made the sacrifices so beloved of the gods, and so instead of killing mankind, Zeus split them into two, creating man and woman. There after each half would seek out their opposing half, until they were happily unified once again.

Stories from Greek mythology, such as the creation of mankind, were used to explain the world in which people found themselves. Indeed Hesiod’s version provides an explanation for a number of different features, and not just the presence of mankind.