The term Golden age stems from Greek mythology and Roman poets. It refers to a time in the beginnings of humanity which was perceived as an ideal state, or utopia, when mankind was pure and immortal. In literary works, the Golden Age usually ends with a devastating event, which brings about the Fall of Man (see Ages of Man). An analogous idea can be found in the religious and philosophical traditions of the Far East. Similar beliefs, which are in most aspects comparable to that in the Golden Age existed also in the Middle East. Some Utopianist beliefs, both political and religious, hold that the Golden Age will return. The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... Essentially, original sin is the doctrine, shared in one form or another by most Christian churches, that the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden changed or damaged human nature, such that all human beings since then are innately predisposed to sin, and are powerless to overcome... The Ages of Man are the stages of human existence on the Earth according to Classical mythology. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

History

Both in Europe as well as in the Middle East, the idea of a Golden Age is part of a mythical interpretation of history, which divides history into several consequent ages (or, predominantly in the Middle East) into empires or historical epochs). The Golden Age (in India the Satya Yuga) is perceived to have been the first and best age, followed by the Silver Age and so on. The last and worst age is the present one in which the decay of civilisation reaches its nadir. This perception of history is therefore the direct opposite of the progress ideal. The theory of historical ages is the mythical expression of a philosophy of history marked by cultural pessimism, which perceives historical development primarily as the necessary and natural decay of culture and civilisation. A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Cultural pessimism is a significant presence in the general outlook of many historical cultures: things are going to the dogs, the Golden age is in the past, and the current generation is fit only for dumbing down and cultural careerism. ...

Greek and Roman antiquity

The myth of ages first appears in Europe in the writings of Hesiod in the late 8th and early 7th century BC. In his work Works and Days Hesiod describes the age of the Golden Race of Mortals in which the god Cronus (father of Zeus) reigned. In this age, Hesiod writes, mankind lived in absolute peace, carefree like the gods because they never aged and death was a falling asleep. The main characteristic of this age according to Hesiod was that the earth produced food in abundance, so that agriculture was rendered superfluous. This characteristic also defines almost all later versions of the myth. Hesiod (Hesiodos, ), the early Greek poet and rhapsode, presumably lived around 700 BCE. Historians have debated the priority of Hesiod or of Homer, and some authors have even brought them together in an imagined poetic contest. ... In Greek mythology, Cronus (Ancient Greek Κρόνος—of obscure etymology, perhaps related to horned), also called Cronos or Kronos, was the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans, divine descendants of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the sky. ... Statue of Zeus Phidias created the 12-m (40-ft) tall statue of Zeus at Olympia about 435 BC. The statue was perhaps the most famous sculpture in ancient Greece, imagined here in a 16th-century engraving. ...

The Orphic school, a religious movement from Thrace which spread to Greece in the 6th century BC, held similar beliefs, including the denomination of the ages with metals. Some Orphics identified the Golden Age with the era of the god Phanes, who was regent over the Olympus before Cronus. In the 5th century BC, the philosopher Empedocles emphasised the idea of original peacefulness, innocence and harmony in all of nature, including human society. Orphism or Orphicism is a secret religious movement in the classical Greek world. ... Thrace (Romanian Tracia or Thrachia, Greek Θράκη, Thrákē, Bulgarian Тракия, Trakija, Turkish Trakya; Latin: Thracia or Threcia) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... Phanes is a Greek deity, hatched from the World-Egg by Kronos and Ananke, and is the primeval deity of procreation and the generation of new life. ... This article refers to a mountain in Greece. ... Empedocles of Agrigentum Empedocles (c. ...

Mythology

In classical mythology, the Golden Age took place during the reign of Cronus. Peace and harmony prevailed during this age. Humans did not grow old, but died peacefully. Spring was eternal and people were fed on acorns from a great oak as well as wild fruits and honey that dripped from the trees. The spirits of those men who died were known as Aimones and were guides for the later ancient Greeks (who considered themselves to live in the later Iron Age.) Classical mythology usually refers to the religious legends and practices of classical antiquity: Greek mythology; Roman mythology; Greek religion; and Roman religion. ... In Greek mythology, Cronus (Ancient Greek Κρόνος—of obscure etymology, perhaps related to horned), also called Cronos or Kronos, was the leader and the youngest of the first generation of Titans, divine descendants of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the sky. ... Ancient Greece is the period of Greek history spanning much of the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins and lasting for close to a millennium, until the rise of Christianity. ... Iron Age Axe found on Gotland This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age, for the mythological Iron Age see Iron Age (mythology). ...

This race eventually died out when Prometheus (a Titan) gave the secret of fire to men. Zeus punished men, allowing Pandora to open her box which unleashed all evil in the mortal world. In Greek mythology, Prometheus, or Prometheas (Ancient Greek, Προμηθεύς, forethought) is the Titan chiefly honored for stealing fire from the gods in the stalk of a fennel plant and giving it to mortals for their use. ... Statue of Zeus Phidias created the 12-m (40-ft) tall statue of Zeus at Olympia about 435 BC. The statue was perhaps the most famous sculpture in ancient Greece, imagined here in a 16th-century engraving. ... Making of Pandora This article is about the Greek mythological figure. ... Pandoras Box is the box entrusted to the mythological figures Epimetheus and his wife Pandora. ...

Within sequences or cycles of eras, the golden age stands alongside the silver age and the iron age, and conditions can improve or decline according to one's conception of mythic progression. A silver age is a name often given to a particular period within a history, typically as a lesser and later successor to a golden age, the metal silver generally being less valuable than gold. ... In mythology, the Iron Age is the age following the golden, silver and bronze ages and characterized by a general degeneration of talent and virtue, and of literary excellence. ... // The word mythology (Greek: μυθολογία, from μυθος mythos, a story or legend, and λογος logos, an account or speech) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use supernatural events or characters to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. ...

Christianity

In Christian tradition, the Golden Age is identified with Eden. It is considered to return during the reign of Christ which will never end. See also millennialism. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ whom they believe is the saviour of the world. ... The various meanings of Eden: Garden of Eden Eden programming language Garden of Eden pattern, a term used in cellular automata Eden is the name of a film. ... This page is about the title. ... Millennialism (or chiliasm), from millennium, which literally means thousand years, is primarily a belief expressed in some Christian denominations, and literature, that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth where Christ will reign prior to the final judgment and future eternal state, primarily derived from the book...

Other traditions

In Tolkien's mythology, the Golden Age can be identifed with the Years of the Trees, when Valar and Eldar lived in Valinor, lighted by the Two Trees and the stars. J. R. R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (January 3, 1892 – September 2, 1973) was the author of The Hobbit and its sequel The Lord of the Rings. ... A map of Aman, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda In J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth legendarium, the Years of the Trees are one of the three great time-periods of Arda. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens fantasy universe, Middle-earth, the Valar are the Powers of Arda who live on the Western continent of Aman. ... Eldar Djangirov a jazz pianist. ... A fan-created map of Aman and Valinor. ... The Two Trees of Valinor in the fictional universe of J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle-earth are Telperion and Laurelin, the Silver Tree and the Gold that brought light to the Land of the Valar in ancient times. ...

In the fictional Transformers universe, a Golden Age is a time of peace for the inhabitants of the planet Cybertron. It is often noted by Cybertron's golden surface and not it's regular metallic colour. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Transformers series. ... Cybertron from the original cartoon series Cybertron is the home world of the Autobots and Decepticons in the assorted stories in the fictional Transformers Universe. ...

See also

• Ages of Man
• Eden
• Utopia
• Merrie England
• Millenialism
• Satya Yuga