Final answer:
Hesiod's 'Ages of Man' in 'Works and Days' is a creation/origin myth used for moral education in ancient Greek society, reflecting the decline of moral virtue through successive ages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of myth demonstrated by Hesiod's Ages of Man in Works and Days is essentially a creation/origin myth. It served as a tool for encoding social values, explaining the human condition, and providing a moral framework for ancient Greeks. Hesiod's work presents a series of ages (Golden, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, and Iron), each representing a decline in moral virtue and the conditions of life, foreshadowing the approach of a more pragmatic and less mythical era in Greek thought.
The educational system of the Greeks extensively incorporated myths, as they were holding the interest of generations with tales of adventure, along with sex and violence. These myths served as moral exemplars for Greeks to follow virtue (arête), accept fate, and prepare for the next life. Hesiod's ages particularly reflected cultural shifts and the human struggle against morality and the natural world.