Prometheus, whose name means "foresight", was one of the Titans, an offspring of the Titan Iapetus and the nymph Asia. While most of the Titans squabbled amongst each other and made a general nuisance of themselves, Prometheus interested himself in humans.

The ancient story of Prometheus has inspired others, as well. Here's the Prometheus Overture for you to listen to while you read on.

Actually, there are many stories that involve Prometheus, ranging from Iapetus's revolt against the gods, to Prometheus's role as midwife to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. In one story he is even the creator of mankind, together with Athena.

He was the first humanist, in effect the founder of the only belief system I might call my religion. (I know, other mythoi have their own version of Prometheus. Christianity came up with Jesus, but you'd never know it to listen to some of the so-called Christians.)

The international student union "Order of Prometheus" (Theta Omega Phi) is organized by and for engineering students, who see Prometheus as the first engineer. A chapter of this association has their home page right here in GeoCities.

Anyway, Prometheus found humans living in caves, miserable and cold. He walked among them, and taught them reading and writing, and how to build houses. He showed them the heavens, and he taught them mathematics. He then considered how nice the gods had it, up there on Mount Olympus, with the warmth of Apollo's chariot keeping them cozy.

Prometheus decided that humans deserved better. He went to Mount Olympus, and brought down a flaming brand that he lit on the chariot. He gave that to the humans, telling them to guard it well. It would be their tool to become like the gods themselves!

  • Pieter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
  • Prometheus Bound

When Zeus discovered what Prometheus had done, he was furious. In his rage he captured Prometheus, and ordered Hephaestus to chain him to the Caucasus mountains. Zeus comes there every day in the shape of an eagle. He tears open Prometheus's side, and eats out his liver. Prometheus suffers incredible agonies through this, but since he is an immortal son of the elder gods, there is no escape for him into death. His liver grows back by the time Zeus returns the next day, and the torment continues.

A genetic disorder of the liver called "celiac disease" is also known as "Prometheus disease". Thought you'd like to know. Current research suggests that it may be connected to an intolerance for gluten, a protein in wheat. Most people are getting good results in controlling celiac disease by limiting their gluten intake, though that is a lot harder than it sounds.

When Aescylus told this story 2500 years ago in Prometheus Bound, he decided to change the story. The other gods saw how Zeus was mistreating Prometheus. Some decided that Zeus was getting too powerful. Others thought that Prometheus didn't do anything wrong. But together they went to Zeus and forced him to let Prometheus go. Zeus relented, but since the rings which Hephaestus had made were unbreakable, Prometheus would forever wear a piece of the Caucasus mountains, allowing Zeus to claim that the Titan was still chained to his rock.

You can read a translation by Thoreau of Prometheus Bound.