Golden Age

In classical mythology, the earliest period of human life, when human beings lived without labour and sorrow. This was followed by silver and bronze ages, the age of heroes, and the iron age of labour and strife. The term has since been applied to great periods of literature in national cultures: the late Republican and Augustan ages in Rome and the 17th century in France and Spain.

The Greek poet Hesiod describes the deteriorating conditions of humanity, starting during the reign of the god Cronus, in his poem Works and Days. In Roman belief, the reign of Saturn was the equivalent period.

Golden Age

Ballet by Shostakovich; see Age of Gold, The.