Ages of Man facts for kids
The Ages of Man is an ancient Greek myth that tells the story of how the world and humans have changed over time. This myth divides history into five different periods. In the earliest times, humans lived happily and were very close to the gods. But as time went on, the gods left the world, and humans began to live with more pain and unhappiness. The Greek poet Hesiod was the first to write down this myth about 2,700 years ago.
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The Golden Age: A Time of Peace
The Golden Age was the very first period. During this time, humans and gods lived together in perfect peace. There was no fighting or sadness. The philosopher Plato even said that good demons (spirits) were also around, helping people. Everyone was ruled by the powerful god Kronos. This age was like a perfect dream.
The Silver Age: A Time of Trouble
Next came the Silver Age. In this period, humans lived for a very long time as children, sometimes for a hundred years! But once they grew up, they became very difficult. They would fight with each other and refused to worship Zeus, who was Kronos's son and the new king of the gods. Because of their disobedience, Zeus became angry and ended this age by destroying them all.
The Bronze Age: A Time of War
The Bronze Age was a time of constant conflict. The humans in this age were strong and warlike. They spent all their time fighting each other in terrible wars. They even made their tools and weapons out of bronze. Sadly, because they were always fighting, they eventually destroyed themselves in their own battles.
The Heroic Age: A Time of Heroes
The Heroic Age was a special time when demigods and great heroes lived among regular humans. Famous figures like Perseus, Heracles, and the Argonauts (who sailed with Jason) were alive during this period. These heroes performed amazing feats and went on incredible adventures. This age came to an end after the famous Trojan War, a huge conflict between the Greeks and the city of Troy.
The Iron Age: A Time of Misery
The final period is the Iron Age. This is the age when the poet Hesiod himself lived, and it was considered to be still going on much later. In this age, the gods and other magical beings left humans completely. As a result, humans forgot their virtues, like kindness and honesty. They lived in great sadness and misery. It was a much harder time for everyone.
Mythological Ages and History
Sometimes, people try to connect these mythological ages to real historical timelines. For example, some have suggested that the Golden Age might have been around 1710 to 1674 BC. The Silver Age could have been from 1674 to 1628 BC, and the Bronze Age from 1628 to 1472 BC. The Heroic Age is sometimes placed between 1460 and 1103 BC. The Iron Age, as mentioned, was believed to be ongoing for a very long time, even into the fourth century AD.
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In Spanish: Edades del hombre para niños
