Final answer:
Ovid's sequence of the ages of humankind includes the Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, Heroic Age, and Iron Age, reflecting a progression from harmony to moral decay over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct sequence of the ages of humankind according to Ovid consists of five distinct periods. These ages, also known as the Ages of Man, are laid out in Ovid's narrative poem 'Metamorphoses', particularly in the first book where he provides an account of the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar.
The Golden Age: A time of harmony and abundance, without the need for labor or laws.
The Silver Age: Humans experienced the four seasons and had to work for a living, but society remained peaceful.
The Bronze Age: A period of violence and avarice, but humanity did not yet commit impiety.
The Heroic Age: A nobler period featuring mighty heroes engaged in significant events like the Trojan War.
The Iron Age: The present and final age where moral decay is prevalent and humans toil amidst strife and wretchedness.
These are the symbolic epochs that depict the moral degradation of man over time.