All That Glitters Is Not Gold: The Role of Animals in the Golden Age through Greek Texts

Abstract

The preserved accounts of the myth of the Golden Race or Age—also known as the reign of Cronus—in the Greek world typically depict a time in the distant past when humanity lived in an ideal manner. In these texts, humans are portrayed as free from concerns related to death, labor, or sustenance thanks to the favor of the gods. However, what about the animals? In general, modern studies somewhat extend this ‘Edenic’ way of life to them as well, considering vegetarianism and a harmonious relationship between humans and animals as key features of the Golden Age. Acloseranalysis of the animals, their roles, and the relationships they establish with humans in each of the Greek versions of the myth will reveal that their significance varies considerably. This paper will show that animals actually play a secondary role within the general framework of Golden Age narratives. At the same time, it will provide insight into the various attitudes held towards animals in Ancient Greece, as the accounts of the Golden Age also offer a faithful reflection of the societies in which they were composed.