Prometheus Pandora’s Box

Text editing: Margaret McGlin Cover and interior design: Efthimis Dimoulas

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Produced in Greece

Prometheus Pandora’s Box

I LOVE MYTHOLOGY

UNDER THE AEGIS OF

ΑGYRApublications

Illustrations: Akis Melachris

Text: Anastasia D. Makri

Translated from Greek into English Dr Ioannis Georganas

Archaeologist

Prometheus

Prometheus was the son of the Titans1, Iapetus and Themis2. His name in Greek means “wise” and “foresighted.” When

the gods decided to take all humans and animals out of the caves, where they used to live, they asked

Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus3 to provide all creatures with the skills they would need to survive and protect them-selves. Epimetheus, however, persuad-ed his brother to let him single-handedly name all beings and distribute the neces-sary skills. He told Prometheus that after this he could then inspect them all and make sure everything was done properly.

Epimetheus started with the animals. To some of them he gave speed, to others strength and sharp claws, to others thick fur, while to others he gave wings so that they could fly high.

The last to be dealt with were the humans. Actually, Epimetheus almost forgot about them. When the time came to give skills and powers to them, Epimetheus felt that he had already wasted too much on all the other creatures. So he only gave humans a little hair and soft, sensitive nails.

Prometheus, seeing that his brother had left the humans weak and powerless, decided to help them. So he gave them something really precious: intelligence. Of all the living beings, humans were the smartest. Nevertheless, they still suffered.

They did not have the necessary skills to cope with several prob-lems, such as the cold weather or the savage animals that threat-ened their lives. Then Prometheus, who really cared for humans, made the big decision to steal the sacred fire from Hephaestus’ workshop and offer it to them. He also showed humans how to make weapons and tools, and he taught them how to use them in order to make their lives better. In addition, he taught them about the arts and sciences.

When Zeus heard that Prometheus had stolen the fire, without taking into consideration him or the other gods, he became furious.

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