 Large-scale natural events also play an important role in Plato and Aristotle's presentation of human affairs.  In the Statesman, Plato adopts the traditional Greek story of a golden age and a subsequent decline, written down by Hesiod in Works and Days.  Hesiod tells the story of five races of men: the golden race (Lines 109–120), the silver race (121–139), the bronze race (140–155), the demi-gods (156–169b), and the iron race (170–201).  The golden race is the best of all, and the present race, the iron race, is the worst.  According to Plato's story, the ages described by Hesiod correspond to parts of a cycle during which the earth rotates first in one direction and then in another.  While the  earth moves in the first direction, the gods oversee the affairs of mankind.   As a herdsman looks after his flock, the gods tend to the needs of human beings.   Because they are under the perfect care of the gods, humans do not need to govern themselves (Statesman, 271e-272a).  Plato suggests that the golden age, the era of the golden race, occurred during such a period. When the earth changes course, a period of chaos ensues, which corresponds to the end of the golden age.  Finally, when the earth moves in the second direction, people are left on their own, which explains the other ages described by Hesiod.  In the Laws, Plato does not return to this elaborate myth, but endorses the view that “the human race has been repeatedly annihilated by floods and plagues and many other causes, so that only a fraction of it survived” (Laws, 677a). Aristotle also entertains the possibility of periodic flooding (Meteorology, 352a29–32) and suggests that myths may contain the remnants of the wisdom of destroyed civilizations (Metaphysics, 1074b9–13). 