A Greek Myth to be Known and Retold
PROMETHEUS
Below is a Myth which has fascinated many an artist, poet, writer, novelist, and, of course... we, the worldly lovers of Culture, Art, and good reading. This is a unique concept which has eternally been present in all forms of human existence. The concept and polemic question of Man's origin. We all wonder at one time or another during our lives where we truly come from. From whence have we originated. This, of course, also leads automatically and implicitly to the question of God, Nature, a Deity. The Greeks were no exception to the same concept and questions. But theirs, as all other explanatory myths created by their brilliant culture and minds, is a unique narration woven skillfully with the talent only they had for Myths. The Greek Way explains Man's -- AND Woman's -- creation in a very ppeculiar and interesting manner. As often or almost always, they used PERSONIFICATION as the Literary Technique for their version of Man's origin. Here is a version taken from cyberspace, which I hope will give you a glimpse at the Greek mind with regards to our eternal questions, and which I hope you will enjoy. -jzr-
Greek Mythology
The Creation of Man by Prometheus
Prometheus and Epimetheus were spared imprisonment in Tartarus because they had not fought with their fellow Titans during the war with the Olympians. They were given the task of creating man. Prometheus shaped man out of mud, and Athena breathed life into his clay figure. Prometheus had assigned Epimetheus the task of giving the creatures of the earth their various qualities, such as swiftness, cunning, strength, fur, wings. Unfortunately, by the time he got to man Epimetheus had given all the good qualities out and there were none left for man. So Prometheus decided to make man stand upright as the gods did and to give them fire. Prometheus loved man more than the Olympians, who had banished most of his family to Tartarus. So when Zeus decreed that man must present a portion of each animal they clarified to the gods Prometheus decided to trick Zeus. He created two piles to offer Zeus. In one pile, Prometheus arranged the edible parts of an ox in a hide and disguised them with a covering of entrails. In the other, he placed the bones, which he covered with fat. Zeus, asked to choose between the two, took the fat and was very angry when he discovered that it covered a pile of bones. Thereafter, only fat and bones were sacrificed to the gods; the good meat was kept for mortals. Since the powerful god had given his word, Zeus himself had to accept that as his share for future sacrifices. In his anger over the trick he took fire away from man. However, Prometheus lit a torch from the sun and brought it back again to man. Zeus was enraged that man again had fire. He decided to inflict a terrible punishment on both man and Prometheus. To punish man, Zeus had Hephaestus create a mortal of stunning beauty. The gods gave the mortal many gifts of wealth. He then had Hermes give the mortal a deceptive heart and a lying tongue. This creation was Pandora, the first woman. A final gift was a jar which Pandora was forbidden to open. Thus, completed Zeus sent Pandora down to Epimetheus who was staying amongst the men. Prometheus had warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus but, Pandora's beauty was too great and he allowed her to stay. Eventually, Pandora's curiosity about the jar she was forbidden to open became too great. She opened the jar and out flew all sorts of previously unexistent evils, sorrows, plagues, and misfortunes, all of which came down on Man from that day on. However, the bottom of the jar held one good thing left for mankind -- Hope.
When Zeus had punished men by having given them women (from Pandora descended all women afterwards), he turned his attention to the "Arch-sinner" himself -- Prometheus. It was true that Zeus owed Prometheus much for having aided him in conquering the Titans, but he forgot this debt with Prometheus quickly. Zeus was angry at Prometheus for three things: for being tricked in the sacrifices, for having stolen the forbidden fire for man, and for refusing to tell Zeus which of Zeus' children would one day dethrone him (as was foretold). Zeus had his servants, Force and Violence, seize Prometheus, take him to the Caucasus Mountains, and chain him to a rock with unbreakable adamantine chains.
To a high-piercing, headlong rock
In adamantine chains that none can break,
Forever shall the intolerable present grind you down.
And he who will release you is not born.
Such fruit you reap for your man-loving ways.
A god yourself, you did not dread God's anger,
But gave to mortals honor not their due. (... what they do not deserve.)
And therefore you must guard this joyless rock --
No rest, no sleep, no moment's respite. (... no rest, not even for a moment.)
Groans shall your speech be, lamentation your only words.
Here on Mount Caucasus, Prometheus was tormented day and night by a giant eagle tearing at his liver. By day, the eagle would come down to the cliff and devour Prometheus' liver, and by night the liver would regenerate, only to have it destroyed the following day again. The reason for inflicting this torture was not only to punish Prometheus, but also to force Prometheus to reveal the secret so important to the supreme ruler of the Olympian gods. Zeus knew very well that FATE, who makes all things happen and become a reality, had decreed that a son would some day be born to him who would dethrone him and drive the gods from his home in heaven, but only Prometheus knew who the mother of that child would be. (These are prominent facts in the myth.)
But nothing persuaded prometheus to break down.
Nothing was able to achieve Zeus' desires and whims. Prometheus' body was bound
to the Caucasus, but his Spirit and Mind were FREE! He refused to submit to
tyranny, cruelty, abuse, and greed. Prometheus also knew that he had always
served Zeus well, and that he had done right in feeling compassion and Love for
mankind (the mortals) in their helplessness and frailty. His suffering was
utterly unjust, and he would NOT give in to brutal power, no matter at what cost!
Prometheus declared to Hermes (Messenger of the gods):
There is no force which can compel me to speech.
So let Zeus hurl his blazing bolts,
And with the white wings of the snow,
With thunder and with earthquake,
Confound the world.
None of all this will bend my will.
The torment and the suffering lasted for generations. Eventually, though, he was released in a rather obscure and odd manner. Chiron the Centaur, after having been fatally but unintentionally wounded by Heracles (Hercules) in a battle against the other evil Centaurs, agreed to die for Prometheus by taking his place. Prometheus had been previously urged by Hermes to give in to Zeus, but Prometheus had answered him that he would never do so. but Chiron, though immortal himself, was willing to die for Prometheus. Thus it happened that Hercules came to the Caucasus with Chiron along, and he slew the giant eagle violently and freed Prometheus from his chains. Zeus was in agreement with this, but why he suddenly changed his mind we will never know. One fact is certain, though -- Prometheus never broke in spirit, nor mind. As a result, Prometheus has always stood for a symbol of unbreakable Truth and Justice. For unrelinquishing bravery in the face of the ruling and cruel Powerful who inflict suffering on the rest of mankind. His name has been associated throughout the centuries and milleniums as that of the GREAT REBEL AGAINST INJUSTICE AND THE CRUEL AUTHORITY OF TYRANNICAL POWER.
