Prometheus
Though long engraved into history, the ancient world of Greece still remains present throughout the cradle of humanity in several ways. It's rich contributions in literature, drama and art have shaped even modern civilizations. Through the characters in the Greek myths, morals and standards that remain to dominate society are presented to us. These figures in mythology appeared as gods, goddesses, heroes, and even mortals, who teach not just through their triumphs but also through their less honorable moments. One of the most noble of these characters, was Prometheus. Prometheus was a Titan (or elder god) who could often see into the future. He first enters mythological tales when he aided Zeus in the struggle to claim the throne of King of the Gods. Several later stories portray Prometheus' character as intelligent, philanthropic, and non compliant when faced with injustices.
The great hero Hercules was brave and strong, but there was something he lacked. It is carefully noted along with his story that he was weak in the area of intelligence, his major disadvantage. This is a quality Prometheus possessed. Prometheus is labeled throughout mythology as being very wise. In some stories he is called the wisest in the universe. This is a feature not many other figures in mythology possessed. It was due to his wisdom that his family survived the great flood and humans received many of their advantages.
Prometheus is depicted as helping humans throughout Greek mythology. In one story, he consoles Io, a young girl punished due to Hera's jealousy, during her time of pain and confusion. In this story he directs her to a more promising future. There is also strong emphasis on his assisting the human race as a whole. It was Prometheus who made mankind the superior race. He gave man both the superior protection, fire, and superior form, upright like the gods.
Zeus was angered when Prometheus gave man so many advantages, and also because he would not reveal whom the future told would dethrone him. Forgetting the debt he owed Prometheus for all he had helped him with in the past, he decided to torture Prometheus until he revealed the information he knew. Prometheus was bound to the rocky peak on Caucasus, wrapped in unbreakable chains, unable to sleep or relax. Everyday an eagle came down and tore at his flesh.
Allusions to the Greek Myth of Prometheus allow insightful readers to withhold a better understanding of the story of Prometheus. First, from the poem “Prometheus” by Marin Sorescu we were given a piece that has far more meaning to the text then is depicted. “Whoever said I was chained” (Sorescu 1). Said the mighty Prometheus, which I believe portrays how free Prometheus feels due to the eagle’s presence and how itself has the freedom to soar in the sky and be free with itself. Next, from D'aulaires’ Book Of Greek Myths we read through a number of passages that gave us more understanding as to how Prometheus cares for his creations, the humans. “Prometheus could not bear to see his people suffer and he decided to steal fire, though he knew
Before he went on his endeavor to start a new society, Prometheus used to live in a society that worshipped collectivism and the mindset that being as your peers is crucial. Prometheus even quoted himself, "We strive to be like all of our brothers men, for all men must be alike." Although this was a value instilled in Prometheus since he began living in the Home of the Infants, he still felt the drive to be independent. Even though Prometheus had this drive of independence, he still refused to start his society and tried to allow his intelligence to be bound again. Prometheus offered his invention to the world council, who reacted poorly to his invention. One of the
Themistocles, an Athenian statesman, general, politician and naval tactician. He was crucial to the Greek’s victory in the Persian Wars, and was one of the central persons that lead to Greece’s survival. (Burn, 2016) (Cartwright, 2016) His contribution towards Greece was more than that of any other individual, however, there are others that had a significance throughout the Persian wars.
Prometheus takes the human side in the negotiation because he sympathizes with their ongoing struggle for survival and also intends to make the world a better place. Prometheus realized that it was his duty to aid the humans when he “found them living in caves, and in holes of the Earth, shivering with cold because there was no fire…” (Baldwin et al. 1). Prometheus empathizes with the humans’ struggle for survival as they do not have fire or any of the techniques needed to survive. This follows the theme of someone of a higher status wanting to give the same opportunities that he/she had to someone of a lower
The myth of Prometheus is one that revolves heavily around the pursuit of knowledge and the consequences that can follow it. Prometheus as a mythological figure pursues the knowledge of Zeus’ secret of fire and shares it with mankind, only to face grave consequences. This theme is also prevalent in other works of literature such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, and John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost. These selected titles of work demonstrate the main characters’ Promethean pursuits of knowledge through conveying their motives and demonstrating the familial and authoritative consequences of obtaining too much knowledge.
Prometheus was instructed by the other Gods to craft humanity out of clay. Once he did so, he became attached to his creations. Against the wishes of the other Gods, Prometheus taught mankind all of the arts, such as the use of fire, acquaintance with architecture, astronomy, mathematics, the art of writing, the treatment of domestic animals, navigation, medicine, the art of prophecy, working in metal, and all the other arts. Zeus, the leader of the Gods, tried to punish Prometheus for his teachings by taking fire away from man. Prometheus again defied Zeus by stealing back the fire and returning it to man. In another instance of Prometheus defiance, mankind was angry that they were forced to give all of the good cuts of meat to the Gods as offerings. In order to please his creation, Prometheus tricked Zeus by misleading him into choosing the least desirable parts of a cow as his offering and thus leaving the most desirable cuts to mankind for consumption. Prometheus was pleased with his deception, but it enraged Zeus. In order to punish him, Zeus ordered that Prometheus be chained to a rock in the pit of Tartarus and for an eagle to eat out his liver daily and allow Prometheus's liver to regenerate each night.
Hesiod’s Theogony has transcended generations, delivering to vast audiences the traditional stories of the Greek gods as well as ancient Greek conceptions of the world. One particularly well known aspect of the Theogony, the section that tells the tale of Prometheus, is unique in that it has little intrinsic worth; its value is in its ability to enhance other stories and conceptions. Across the globe, people know well the story of the one who deceived Zeus and stole fire for man, but few recognize its role in Hesiod’s work as a whole. The story of Prometheus serves two primary purposes for Hesiod and his audience. First, it solidifies Zeus’s position as king of the gods, providing one of the first characterizations of his temperament, and second, it serves as a mode of explanation for those evils in the world which plague mankind.
Prometheus was a figure in Greek mythology who created the conflict between mankind and the God’s. Prometheus one day decided to steal fire from the sun and give it to the people for their advantage. Mankind then had the ability to create tools and weapons. Prometheus was then punished by the God’s and was chained to a rock where he was visited by an eagle that ate from his liver. His liver would regenerate daily so that he never died. Prometheus also supposedly created and animated mankind from clay. He is often referred to as the “plasticator since he created man from clay.” These two myths were combined to suggest that Prometheus stole the fire and fashioned mankind from clay.
The creation of man was only through the will of the gods. As a result of the war between the Titans and Zeus, Hesiod, a prominent writer of the seventh century, catalogues the origins of divine beings and mankind through a history of the events in his poem Theogony.
To find out what Prometheus’ “sin” was, it is necessary to know more about the main character and the society around him.
We don't have any exact dates for Hesiod, but it seems that his poetic activity dates from around the last third of the 8th century BC. We find his versions of the Prometheus myth in two of his works: the Theogony at lines 521-616, and the Works and Days, at lines 42-89. The Theogony in general discusses the origin and genealogies of the gods and the events that led to the establishment of Zeus as their king. The Works and Days is quite varied in content but overall could be described as giving advice for living a life of honest industry. In the Theogony the story of Prometheus comes as a narrative interlude and aims at explaining the origins of certain institutions ...
The Greek name Prometheus means “forward thinking” or “foresight”; he is able to see the future. One can infer
It is in our human nature to generate new ideas, explore new possibilities and even push the boundaries of science in an attempt to make new discoveries. Prometheus, the creator of humanity is most well known for stealing fire from Zeus in order to help humans develop into a more intellectually advanced society. Prometheus loved humans so much that he was willing to suffer eternally so that they could have a better life on Earth. This shows that Prometheus was morally just in his decision to disobey Zeus because he only wanted to help the human race in their evolution into a more stable and advanced society. In my opinion, the main theme in the Prometheus myth is that scientific progress and discovery are good as long as the intentions behind
Prometheus, the Titan of Greek mythology, was considered to be the most important Titan ever in all the myths. He helped the human race tremendously in his efforts to sustain an easier lifestyle. Mankind had great respect for him because of his advantages and gifts or abilities he gave them. Also, his battle against Zeus as a result of his love for man was very much appreciated. Prometheus was one of the most interesting Greek mythology figures in his time. He was a very kind, loving, generous, and courteous god to mankind. This can be seen through many events in his life including a particular myth that the reader will acknowledge in this research paper.
Zeus then decided it is time to punish Prometheus because the suffering of men was not enough and Prometheus had to be taught a lesson. Zeus sent his allies Strength and Force to capture and contain Prometheus where they chained him to the highest peak of the Caucasus mountains, I don’t really know what significance these mountains had or why Zeus would decide that is the place to contain Prometheus as he was a titan and titans were known to be very large and giant like, But when Zeus again pitted Vulcan against his friend Prometheus, Vulcan chained him down so he couldn’t move not even a hand or foot. I think that still Prometheus would have forgiven his friend because he knew that Zeus being the tyrant he was being was once again forcing him to do it. I think his torture on the side of the mountain would have been one of the worst things in Greek myth, he hung there as an eagle tore him apart day after day tearing his body apart and eating his liver, he would regenerate every day and the liver grew back just to have it torn out again the next day. This is brutal and all through this he never said he was sorry never cried out for mercy he stood by his beliefs that what he did was the right thing and so he just hung there for years. I think one of the best details of this story is that Prometheus knew something that Zeus wanted to know about a prophecy that the goddess Thetis would