"First a golden lineage of mortal men | made the immortals who have the Olympian abodes. | They were in the days of Kronos, when he reigned in heaven; | they lived like gods, without worries in their hearts, | far & safe from pain & misery, nor sad | old age came, but always equally strong in legs & arms, | at banquets they rejoiced, far from all evils; | they died as if overcome by sleep, & all sorts of goods | he was there for them; its fruit gave the fertile land | without work, rich & abundant, & they, happy, | in peace, they shared the fruits of their labor among infinite goods, | rich in herds, dear to the blessed gods. (Hesiod)"