Works and Days as a Transitional Text
Works and Days as a Transitional Text

Summary/Abstract: Hesiod’s Works and Days shows a number of peculiarities. Both the Winter segment and the Nautilia contain doublets; significant narrative details are omitted in both the myths; there are internal contradictions; the poem hints at material that is not developed, such as Pandora’s deceptive speech and bird-omens. This paper suggests that the poem is a transitional text that establishes a definitive version of a poem previously performed with extensive variation. Such a version required compromises if it was to convey the poet’s thought without being open to misunderstanding and still be performable in one sitting.

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