Hesiod’s Incorporative Poetics in the Theogony and the Contradictions of Prometheus

Hesiod and the Theogony’s protagonist, Zeus, are engaged in parallel programs. They both assimilate and co-opt competing, preexisting forces and material in order to reorganize their respective worlds—theogonic poetry and cosmos. Hesiod’s poetics of incorporation are especially apparent in the story of Prometheus (507–616), where Hesiod synthesizes different strands of Prometheus’ mythic tradition. Seeming contradictions in the narrative are actually signs of Hesiod’s reworking of the story, meant to be perceptible to an audience. Likewise, Zeus’ politics of co-option brings rivals safely into his regime, culminating in his literal incorporation of Metis.