The Story of Prometheus

From Greek MythologyNEB Grade XI Optional English Note | Unit 1 | Lesson 1| Summary of the Story of Prometheus

Study Note - Unit 1

Summary

Prometheus is one of the Titan gods. He took the risk of stealing fire from heaven in order to give it to shivering human beings on earth. Consequently, he suffered for his action. He is the symbol of loyalty,  rebellion, sacrifice, and generosity.  

Coronus and Zeus were father and son but they fought a bloody war of ten years. The father was defeated by the son. The two titans named Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus fought on the side of Zeus.

Prometheus was very wise. After war, Zeus gave the brothers some rewards. Zeus allowed Prometheus and Epimetheus to populate the earth with creatures and humans. Epimetheus foolishly gave all the good qualities to the creatures. Prometheus helped his brother to complete the task of creation and considered ways to make humans superiors.

The Goddess of Wisdom Athena was born out of the head of Zeus. She taught Prometheus mathematics, navigation, astronomy, architecture, medicine and many other arts. That’s how he became smart. He created humans using clay and water. Athena breathed a living into them. Prometheus made humans stand like the gods. He passed onto them the useful arts taught him by Athena.

Prometheus was unhappy because humans sacrificed the best parts of animals to the gods. He tricked Zeus to choose the pile of offerings. Zeus chose the pile of fat and bones. From then, humans got tasty parts of animals and Zeus the useless portions. Being angry with Prometheus, Zeus took fire away from the humans.

Prometheus was helpless and watched the humans to shiver in the cold and try to eat their food raw. He met Athena for help. She revealed to him backstairs entrance to Olympus, from where he could steal fire. Risking his life for humans, he was able to bring fire to the earth.

Zeus came to know that the humans cooked their food and kept them warm around their fires. Forgetting all that Prometheus had done for him, he arrested Prometheus. He called the three ferocious giants from the Underworld. They took Prometheus to the highest peak of Mount Caucasus and was bound to the rock with the unbreakable chains. He was tormented day and night by a giant eagle tearing at his lever.

Prometheus endured the excruciating pain. Zeus promised him that he would set him free if he revealed the identity of his potential usurper. Prometheus’s morals were uncompromising. He refused to Zeus’s proposition in spite of threat, torture and tyranny.

Zeus admired Prometheus for sticking to his ideals. He told Prometheus he could go free if two conditions were met. The first condition was that an immortal must give up his life for Prometheus. The other one was that a mortal would have to kill the eagle and unchain him. Chiron, a wise and immortal mentor of many Greek heroes, died for Prometheus and Hercules, the world’s greatest hero killed the ferocious eagle with his bow and arrows to free Prometheus.

Zeus realized his fault and foolishness. He invited Prometheus to Mount Olympus and to live there. He rejoined the place at home of the gods. He was given a ring in which a piece of the Caucasus rock was set as the symbol of his painful connection with the mountain. Ever since humans have worn rings in honor of the Titan in gratitude for pain he endured on their behalf.

Exploring the Text

1. Who was Zeus?

Zeus was the king of the gods in ancient Greek mythology, ruling from Mount Olympus. He was the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and storms, known for his immense power and authority over both gods and humans.

2. Who was Cronus?

Cronus was a Titan in Greek mythology and the father of Zeus.

3. Who fought in a bloody war for ten years?

Cronus and Zeus fought in a bloody war for ten years.

4. Who won the war between Coronus and Zeus?

Zeus and the Olympians won the war.

5. Who fought on the side of Zeus in the war?

Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus fought on the side of Zeus in the war.

6. What rewards did Zeus give to Prometheus and Epimetheus after the war?

After the war, Zeus allowed Prometheus and Epimetheus to populate the earth with creatures and humans as a reward.

7. What useful arts did Athena teach Prometheus?

Athena taught Prometheus mathematics, navigation, astronomy, architecture, medicine, and many other arts.

8. How did Prometheus create humans?

Prometheus created humans using clay and water. Athena breathed life into them.

9. Why was Prometheus unhappy?

Prometheus was unhappy because humans, who were weak and suffered, had to sacrifice the best portions of their food to the gods.

10. How did Prometheus trick Zeus?

Prometheus tricked Zeus into selecting the pile of offerings with the bones and fat, while he gave humans the nourishing meat and left the worthless remains for the gods.

11. What happened to Prometheus after he brought fire to the humans?

After bringing fire to the humans, Zeus arrested Prometheus and bound him to a rock on the highest peak of Mount Caucasus.

12. What were the two conditions for Prometheus to be set free by Zeus?

The two conditions for Prometheus to be set free by Zeus were: an immortal must give up their life for Prometheus, and a mortal would have to kill the eagle and unchain him.

13. Who died for Prometheus to meet Zeus's first condition?

Chiron, a wise and immortal mentor of many Greek heroes, died for Prometheus to meet Zeus's first condition.

14. What did Hercules do to meet Zeus's second condition?

Hercules killed the ferocious eagle with his bow and arrows to free Prometheus and meet Zeus's second condition.

15. Why did Zeus invite Prometheus to Mount Olympus?

Zeus realized his fault and foolishness, so he invited Prometheus to Mount Olympus to live there.

16. What was the ring given to Prometheus a symbol of?

The ring was given to Prometheus as a symbol of his painful connection with the mountain, and ever since, humans have worn rings in honor of the Titan in gratitude for the pain he endured on their behalf.