Concept of The Ages Before The Twentieth Century

The Five Ages of Men [c 700 BC]
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Definition: [Astrological Ages] In the Ancient Greek creation story there were five ages of man. These five ages ares sometimes confused with the Astrological Age or "Platonic" Month concepts, but they are not the same thing.

Are the Ages of Men the same as 'Platonic' Months? The Ages of Man have now come to be confused with the concept of the 'Platonic' Months. This is because Plato in The Republic after giving the numerology of child birth, in his description of the Perfect Number then goes on, in paragraph 547, to discuss how society would function if this numerology is forgotten. Once this happens, Plato states that the Guardians - the rulers of society - will no longer be able to distinguish between the various classes of men, the gold, silver, bronze and iron men, who make up society. This will bring about strife. Plato notes that his four classes of men are like Hesiod's [see below], but it is fairly clear from the text that Plato has moved on to a new subject - strife between classes in society - and did not intend any connection to be made between his numerology and the classes of men.

The Races of Men and the Ancient Greek Creation Story: The Ages of Men concept is not Plato's, belonging instead to the Ancient Greek creation story. It comes down to us in its oldest form in the Works and Days of Hesiod [c 700 BC].