The Ages of Man

June 3, 2013
GIMP
17" x 6" (appx. 43 x 15 cm)

The Greco-Roman Ages of Man are the four (sometimes five) eras of mankind's history. As one goes from the golden, to the silver, to the bronze, and to the iron age (the present day), the human condition progressively worsens.

During the Golden Age, all was harmonious. Mankind was good and noble, innocent and perfect.
During the Silver Age, mankind stopped worshiping the gods, which caused Zeus/Jupiter to destroy them.
During the Bronze Age, mankind became hardened and prone to warfare.
During the Iron Age, which extends into the present day, mankind no longer feels shame at wrongdoing. Truth and loyalty have all but disappeared, and "there will be no help against evil."

_{According to Hesiod, the Greek, there was a Heroic Age between the Bronze and Iron Ages, where the great heroes like Heracles and Odysseus went on grand and epic adventures. Ovid, the Roman, omitted this fifth age, as did I.}

Credits to Wikipedia, Ages of Man.

This was designed to be a tetraptych, or an artwork with four parts. Each part is a finished piece on its own, but the full effect is only apparent when all parts are placed together.

Gold | Silver | Bronze | Iron

_{*EveLivesey Queen and Silver Lady | *Solanaceae85 Silver Woman Stock | ~lostandtaken Eight Colored Grunge Textures | =redwolf518stock Celtic Grunge Texture Pack | MorgueFile Venice Carnevale | CG Textures Arches, Ivy, Peacock Texture, and Plaque Ornament | my own resources | Typeface is Metamorphous}

Comments and constructive critiques are welcome!