Prepared by Linda R. WilliamsReference: Mythology- Myths, Legends, & Fantasies

Prepared by Linda R. WilliamsReference: Mythology- Myths, Legends, & Fantasies

Who was Prometheus?Who was Prometheus?

The Titan god of Fire and ForethoughtThe son of a sea nymph, Clymene and Titan IapetusBrother to the Titan EpimethusMarried to Hesione (daughter of Titan Oceanus) Prometheus means “looking forward” and Epimethus means “looking back.

The Titan god of Fire and ForethoughtThe son of a sea nymph, Clymene and Titan IapetusBrother to the Titan EpimethusMarried to Hesione (daughter of Titan Oceanus) Prometheus means “looking forward” and Epimethus means “looking back.

The Rise of HumansThe Rise of Humans In the Biblical Creation story, God created humans

as his crowning achievement.

In Greek myth, Prometheus created humans by shaping lumps of clay into small figures resembling the gods. Athena admired these figures and breathed on them, giving them life. Zeus disliked the creatures, but he could not uncreate them. He did, however, confine them to the earth and denied them immortality. Prometheus felt sorry for humans.

The gods of Olympus wanted humans to worship them with animal sacrifices, the meat and not the bones.

In the Biblical Creation story, God created humans as his crowning achievement.

In Greek myth, Prometheus created humans by shaping lumps of clay into small figures resembling the gods. Athena admired these figures and breathed on them, giving them life. Zeus disliked the creatures, but he could not uncreate them. He did, however, confine them to the earth and denied them immortality. Prometheus felt sorry for humans.

The gods of Olympus wanted humans to worship them with animal sacrifices, the meat and not the bones.

Blood sacrifice was one of the most powerful rituals of the ancient Greeks.

Meat was a luxury, so large animals, like sheep, cows, pigs and goats, were usually slaughtered in honor of the gods.

In family or state festivals, chosen animals would be prepared, led to an altar in procession, then ceremonially killed in front of festival participants. A small portion of meat was burned on the altar, for the gods. Humans shared the rest.

Prometheus the trickster! Prometheus was

chosen to cut up an animal for sacrifice so that Zeus could choose which half he preferred to decide once and for all just which portions went to the gods and which to the hungry people.

He defied the gods to help humans, tricking Zeus to establish a sacred ritual of sacrifice which favored humans and made them forever separate from gods.

Atlas and Prometheus, c. 550 BCE

What did Prometheus do?What did Prometheus do? He piled up the edible meat and made it look unappealing by placing animal skin and stomach on top. He then

covered the inedible bones with a thick layer of animal fat so that it looked ready for a feast. Zeus falling for Prometheus’ clever plan choose the pile of bones and animal fat for sacrifice to the gods and humankind got to keep the meat.

Feeling sorry for humans, Prometheus had to…….Determine how sacrifices were to be made to the godsCreated creatures/humans

He piled up the edible meat and made it look unappealing by placing animal skin and stomach on top. He then

covered the inedible bones with a thick layer of animal fat so that it looked ready for a feast. Zeus falling for Prometheus’ clever plan choose the pile of bones and animal fat for sacrifice to the gods and humankind got to keep the meat.

Feeling sorry for humans, Prometheus had to…….Determine how sacrifices were to be made to the godsCreated creatures/humans

The Theft of FireThe Theft of FireAngered by Prometheus’ act, Zeus denied

humans fire. They could not warm themselves, work metals or cook their food.

Prometheus climbed Mount Olympus in secret and stole fire from the gods and traveled every place where humans lived giving them the gift of fire.

Angered by Prometheus’ act, Zeus denied humans fire. They could not warm themselves, work metals or cook their food.

Prometheus climbed Mount Olympus in secret and stole fire from the gods and traveled every place where humans lived giving them the gift of fire.

Zeus’ RevengeZeus’ Revenge Furious Zeus ordered

Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create a beautiful woman out of clay. The gods endowed her with many talents; Aphrodite gave her beauty, Apollo music, Hermes persuasion, and so forth. Hence her name: Pandora, "all-gifted".

Furious Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create a beautiful woman out of clay. The gods endowed her with many talents; Aphrodite gave her beauty, Apollo music, Hermes persuasion, and so forth. Hence her name: Pandora, "all-gifted".

A Gift From The GodsA Gift From The GodsZeus presents Pandora with a large box

closed and sealed. He instructs her not to open it. He then calls upon Hermes to deliver Pandora as a gift from the gods to the titan Epimetheus.

Prometheus the smarter of the two, warns his brother to be wary of any gift coming from Zeus. Epimetheus saw how beautiful Pandora was and decided to marry her.

Zeus presents Pandora with a large box closed and sealed. He instructs her not to open it. He then calls upon Hermes to deliver Pandora as a gift from the gods to the titan Epimetheus.

Prometheus the smarter of the two, warns his brother to be wary of any gift coming from Zeus. Epimetheus saw how beautiful Pandora was and decided to marry her.

PANDORA’S BOX Previously the human race used to live completely free from evils and hard work and painful diseases. But the woman removed the great cover of the jar with her hands and scattered the evils within and for mortals devised sorrowful troubles.

Hope alone remained within there under the edge of the jar . . .Hesiod, Works and Days

For weeks Pandora resisted the box, but one day she broke the seal and opened it. Out flew all the diseases, sorrows and disasters that afflict humankind. Pandora tried to close the box but more and more troubles covered the earth. The only thing she could keep hold of was hope.

Pandora may be a more profound figure though.

Her name means “All gifts” – because all the gods gave her gifts? or because she brings all things, good and evil, to humans?

As in the Adam and Eve story, a woman brings evil to humans. But perhaps, as Joseph Campbell suggests, women, representing life processes, real birth, & real death, represent the real world, not “paradise.”

More Troubles for PrometheusMore Troubles for PrometheusZeus pleased by his punishment of

humankind now focused on Prometheus.Prometheus knew of the prophecy that

spoke of the goddess Thetis giving birth to a son that would overthrow his father, Zeus. Zeus knew of the prophecy but not the name of the goddess. Prometheus refused to name the goddess so Zeus decided to torture the secret out of Prometheus.

Zeus pleased by his punishment of humankind now focused on Prometheus.

Prometheus knew of the prophecy that spoke of the goddess Thetis giving birth to a son that would overthrow his father, Zeus. Zeus knew of the prophecy but not the name of the goddess. Prometheus refused to name the goddess so Zeus decided to torture the secret out of Prometheus.

Prometheus Bound Prometheus Bound

First Prometheus wascaptured and and hurled into Tartarus, buthe would not speak. Since he could not die,Zeus brought him out of Tartarus and hadhim chained to Mount Caucasus. Every daya huge vulture flew to the rock and peckedout his liver, and every night the fleshhealed again.

First Prometheus wascaptured and and hurled into Tartarus, buthe would not speak. Since he could not die,Zeus brought him out of Tartarus and hadhim chained to Mount Caucasus. Every daya huge vulture flew to the rock and peckedout his liver, and every night the fleshhealed again.

A Way OutA Way Out Human lifetimes came and went

and still Prometheus hung burning and bleeding by day and freezing by night. He knew that he would be free only if another of the immortals went down to the underworld, to

Hades’ realm of death, of their own free will or if he spoke the name of the goddess who would give birth to the son that would overthrow Zeus.

Human lifetimes came and went

and still Prometheus hung burning and bleeding by day and freezing by night. He knew that he would be free only if another of the immortals went down to the underworld, to

Hades’ realm of death, of their own free will or if he spoke the name of the goddess who would give birth to the son that would overthrow Zeus.

The End of Prometheus’ Suffering

The End of Prometheus’ Suffering

One day Heracles found his way to Mount Caucasus and shot thevulture. Also, while accomplishing his 12 labors Heracles accidentallyshot his friend Cheiron a centaur (half human, half horse) with apoison arrow leaving a wound that couod not heal. Cheiron beggedfor death and offered to go to underworld instead of Prometheus. Prometheus feeling pity for the centaur accepted his offer and thensaid the name “Thetis”. Immediately his chains fell from him and hewas free.

One day Heracles found his way to Mount Caucasus and shot thevulture. Also, while accomplishing his 12 labors Heracles accidentallyshot his friend Cheiron a centaur (half human, half horse) with apoison arrow leaving a wound that couod not heal. Cheiron beggedfor death and offered to go to underworld instead of Prometheus. Prometheus feeling pity for the centaur accepted his offer and thensaid the name “Thetis”. Immediately his chains fell from him and hewas free.

Peace AtlasPeace AtlasPrometheus was welcomed back to

Olympus on the condition that all hiscleverness was to be put to use for the

gods, not against them.

Zeus quickly arranged for Thetis to marry amortal man so that her son would surpassonly his mortal father and not endanger

the throne of the king of the gods.

Prometheus was welcomed back toOlympus on the condition that all his

cleverness was to be put to use for thegods, not against them.

Zeus quickly arranged for Thetis to marry amortal man so that her son would surpassonly his mortal father and not endanger

the throne of the king of the gods.