Prometheus is the son of the titan Iapetus and the goddess Themis from the oceanis Klymene. The image of this titan is one of the precious creations of Greek mythology. Prometheus became the embodiment of courage and perseverance, proud stubbornness and resistance to the old order, love for freedom and people. It belongs to the most ancient and eternally living symbols of the struggle for the progress and happiness of mankind. Few of the mythical heroes have received as much attention as Prometheus. For more than two and a half thousand years, he continues to live in the works of poets and thinkers from Hesiod and Aeschylus to Calderon, Goethe, Byron, Shelley, and in the XX century. - A. Zhida and Kazantzakis. Naturally, everyone interpreted this image in their own way and in accordance with their time. However, the main features of this image, unchanged in any image, have become "the common heritage of mankind."
For the first time Prometheus appeared on the arena of mythical events when Zeus rebelled against his father, the titan Kronos. The Titans defended the old order established by Kronos, but Prometheus sided with Zeus, as he strove for a new, more just order. He helped Zeus with advice and participation in battles and even convinced the Earth goddess Gaia to join him. When, after ten years of stubborn struggle, Zeus won the victory with the help of Promstey, he was in no hurry to reward his ally. But Prometheus did not pay attention to it. He departed from Zeus only when he headed for a tough, brutal strengthening of his power. Openly Prometheus parted with the autocrat even later, when Zeus planned to exterminate the helpless earthly race. Prometheus loved people and, moreover, always sympathized with the weak. He decided to save people, even if it would incur the wrath of the almighty god on him.
However, in order to save people, it was necessary that they be willing and able to help themselves. Therefore, Prometheus breathed hope into them and gave them a mighty weapon. He stole fire from the sacred hearth on Olympus (according to another version, from the furnace of the god Hephaestus in Mount Mosichl on the island of Lemnos) and brought it as a gift to people. Familiarity with fire helped them to better understand 'life, they realized that fire is not only a threat, but also a help. People ceased to depend on the whims of nature, began to eat better, became stronger physically and mentally. But that was not all. Prometheus taught them to melt metals in fire and make tools, taught crafts, count, write and read. He tamed a wild bull for people and put a yoke on it so that farmers could use it to cultivate fields. Prometheus harnessed a horse to the cart and made him obey the man, he built the first ship. Finally, he introduced people to medicine and the treatment of the sick and taught them to live happily once they were born.
Thus, Prometheus became a true "creator of man", at least in the sense that he brought him out of his natural primitive state and raised him to be a rational being. This Zeus could not stand. For the numerous services rendered to the human race, he sentenced Prometheus to severe punishment. By order of Zeus, his loyal servants, Strength and Power, seized Prometheus and took him to the end of the world, and there the god Hephaestus had to chain Prometheus to a high rock.
Prometheus was defeated, but not defeated: he did not despair. He knew that the tyranny of Zeus would not last forever. Since Prometheus inherited the gift of providence from his mother, he knew when and how Zeus would be overthrown, he knew how the supreme god could avoid this. When the news of this reached Zeus, he immediately sent the god Hermes to Prometheus to find out about everything. But Prometheus refused to deal with Zeus and his ambassador: “I hate all of you, oh gods! I will not exchange my torment for slavish service to a tyrant! " When Hermes brought this answer, Zeus, with one stroke of lightning, threw down the rock with the chained Promstey into the depths of Tartarus.
However, only the first part of the tragedy of Prometheus ends with this fall. Zeus threw him into eternal prison not in order to destroy and thereby save him from torment (he could not do this, since the titans are immortal). He wanted to break the stubbornness of Prometheus. When nothing came of it, Zeus again raised Prometheus to the light in order to subject him to new torments.
For many years Prometheus was chained to a rock at the top of the Caucasus. In the summer he suffered from the scorching heat of the sun, in the winter - from the freezing frost. And every morning, by the order of Zeus, a huge eagle flew to him and pecked his liver with its sharp beak, and overnight the torn liver grew back. But even these torments did not break Prometheus. He remained the same proud and did not repent of his help to people.
Meanwhile, much has changed in the world. Zeus strengthened his power so much that he could not fear for her anymore, so his rule became more moderate. He ceased to be a suspicious and vindictive tyrant, amnestied the titans and released them from the dark Tartarus. He even became affectionate with people and for the appropriate reward in the form of victims began to maintain order in human society. Only one thing worried Zeus: a secret that only Prometheus knew. Again he sent Hermes to him with an offer of pardon - in exchange for a secret. And again Prometheus refused. Then Zeus allowed the relatives and friends of Prometheus, including his wife Hesion and son Deucalion, to visit the convict. All in one voice assured Prometheus that the supreme bot had changed a lot for the better, that both the gods and people were happy with him. Then Prometheus agreed to recognize him - what is the point of persisting if there is no longer any reason for this. Only Prometheus did not want to: turn to the almighty ruler with a request for clemency.
For a long time Prometheus hoped that help would come from people - after all, it was for their sake that he endured so much suffering. From their hands, he agreed to accept help. And, indeed, one day a man appeared under the rock. It was the hero Hercules. Seeing the eagle flying to his daily feast, he immediately pierced it with an arrow. Then, with his heavy club, Hercules broke the shackles of Prometheus and pulled out a huge thorn from the rock, with which Prometheus was nailed to it. At the same moment, the messenger of Zeus - Hermes - appeared and, on behalf of the supreme god, promised Prometheus freedom if he would reveal the secret that did not give Zeus rest. “Well, tell Zeus, let him not marry Thetis, which he dreams of, since the son will surpass his father. Let him pass her off as a mortal, then there will be no danger from her son for any of the gods! "
So, Prometheus achieved freedom - with the help of man and reconciliation with Zeus. Prometheus did not give up his pride and his goals, although for this he had to endure so much suffering. And to complete the victory, Zeus summoned him to the host of the gods on Olympus.
However, Zeus swore that Prometheus would be chained to a rock forever. So that this oath was not broken, Prometheus had to wear a ring from his chains, into which a pebble from a Caucasian rock was set. Then, in honor of Prometheus, people began to wear rings with a stone and still wear them, although the origin of this custom has long been forgotten.
This is a succinct exposition of the myth of Prometheus, which we know from the tragedy of Aeschylus "Chained Prometheus" (about 470 century BC) and from fragments of "Prometheus being set free". However, the end of the myth is reconstructed from ancient materials, since the fragments that have come down to us do not give an exact idea of how Aeschylus resolved the resolution of the conflict between Prometheus and Zeus. It seems that he chose a compromise option adapted to the requirements of the times.
The first part of Aeschylus's "Promethean Trilogy" has not survived either, and we can only guess about it. In Hesiod's Theogony (VIII-VII centuries BC), this myth begins a little differently: the conflict between Prometheus and Zeus occurs when the gods, led by Zeus, gather in Sicyon (west of Corinth) to resolve the question of the order of sacrifices to the gods on the part of people. Prometheus then divided the carcass of the sacrificial bull into two parts and arranged the matter so that Zeus chose the worst part, and the best went to people. Then Zeus, in revenge, deprived people of fire, but Prometheus stole the fire on Olympus and gave it to people again, after which he was chained to a rock by Zeus's order ...
According to other widespread ideas, reflected in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Prometheus was the “creator of man” not only in a figurative, symbolic sense, but in the most immediate: even in the II century. BC. Baboon writes in the "Description of Hellas" that he saw in Phocis hardened lumps of clay, smelling of human skin - these are, they say, the remnants of the material from which Prometheus created man.
What is the meaning of this myth? Like any work of this kind, the legend carries an inexhaustible content. In line with our topic, we have to emphasize that people have intuitively felt for a long time that culture was born as a result of some gift from heaven. Natural creatures have found a completely different life. She could not be born from purely natural conditions. There has been some kind of turn in the existence of people.
Another touch expressed in the myth. Culture is not at all a cloudless acquisition of man. Her birth also carries with it a kind of retribution, payment for the acquisition. The myth also emphasizes that the unfolding of culture is associated with a certain drama. Culture promises people not only goodness, but also a certain reward.
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For hundreds of years this story was told to Greek youths by old men - shepherds and farmers. And at magnificent feasts and festivals, itinerant singers and storytellers sang this legend. There was a time, they said, when people lived like wild animals: they did not know fire, did not know how to build houses, plow the earth, suffered and died from diseases, not knowing how to heal them. They spent their entire lives in fear. But most of all they feared their gods.
And the immortal gods, led by their king Zeus, feasted on Mount Olympus.
So people would have lived forever in darkness, poverty and grief, if not for a mighty titan named Prometheus. He was not only strong, but clever and cunning, once he helped Zeus himself become the king of the gods. Prometheus felt sorry for people, and he thought about how to help them.
In Mount Mosch, on Lemnos, Prometheus stole fire for people from the forge of his friend Hephaestus.
He taught people the arts, gave them knowledge, taught them counting, reading and writing. He introduced them to metals, taught them how to extract and process them in the bowels of the earth.
Prometheus humbled a wild bull for mortals and put a yoke on it so that people could use the power of bulls to cultivate their fields. Prometheus harnessed his horse to a chariot and made him obedient to man.
The wise titan built the first ship, equipped it and spread a linen sail on it, so that the ship would quickly carry a man across the boundless sea.
Previously, people did not know medicines, they did not know how to cure diseases, people were defenseless against them, but Prometheus discovered the power of medicines for them, and they humbled diseases with them, He taught them everything that eases the sorrows of life and makes it happier and more joyful.
With this he angered Zeus, for this he was punished by the thunderer. But Prometheus will not suffer forever. He knows that an evil fate will befall the mighty thunderer. He will not escape his fate! Prometheus knows that the kingdom of Zeus is not eternal: he will be overthrown from the high royal Olympus.
And Zeus decided to severely punish Prometheus. He called to him two mighty gods - Power and Strength. "Capture Prometheus," he ordered them, "take him to the Caucasus, and nail him there to the rock for eternity. Let him learn how to rebel against me!"
"And you, Hephaestus," he said to the blacksmith god, "will also be punished for not saving the fire. You will go with them and help to chain your friend Prometheus. Do not try to disobey, otherwise you will suffer the same fate."
Deserted, wilderness at the very end of the earth, in the land of the Scythians. Harsh rocks leave behind clouds with their pointed peaks. All around - no vegetation, not a single grass is visible, everything is bare and gloomy. Dark masses of stones that have come off the rocks rise everywhere. The sea rustles and rumbles, hitting its shafts against the foot of the rocks, and salty spray soars high. Coastal stones are covered with sea foam. Far behind the rocks you can see the snowy peaks of the Caucasian mountains, covered with a light haze. Gradually formidable clouds cover the distance, hiding mountain peaks. Higher and higher clouds rise across the sky and block the sun. Everything around is getting gloomier. A bleak, harsh area. Never before has a human foot set foot here.
Here, to the end of the earth, the servants of Zeus brought the chained titan Prometheus to chain him to the top of the cliff with indestructible chains. The irresistible servants of the Thunderer, Strength and Power, lead Prometheus. Their huge bodies seem to have been carved out of granite. The hearts of their pity do not know, compassion never shines in their eyes, their faces are harsh, like the rocks that stand around. Sad, bowing his head low, comes the god Hephaestus with his heavy hammer. A terrible business lies ahead for him. He must chain his friend Prometheus with his own hands. Deep sorrow for the fate of his friend oppresses Hephaestus, but he does not dare to disobey his father, the thunderer Zeus. He knows how Zeus relentlessly punishes disobedience. Strength and Power raised Prometheus to the top of the cliff and rush Hephaestus to get to work. Their cruel speech makes Hephaestus suffer even more for his friend. He reluctantly takes up his huge hammer, only necessity makes him obey. But the Force urges him:
- Hurry, hurry, take the shackles! Drive the mighty hammer blows of Prometheus to the rock. Your grief for him is in vain, because you grieve for the enemy of Zeus.
The force threatens Hephaestus with Zeus' wrath if he does not chain Prometheus so that nothing can free him.
Hephaestus chains the hands and feet of Prometheus to the rock with indestructible chains. How he now hates his art - thanks to him, he must chain his friend for long torments. Zeus' implacable servants keep an eye on his work all the time.
- Hit with the hammer harder! Pull the shackles tight! Don't you dare weaken them! Heather Prometheus, he skillfully knows how to find a way out of insurmountable obstacles, says Strength. - Tightly chase him, let him know here what it is like to deceive Zeus.
- Oh, how cruel words fit all your stern appearance! - exclaims Hephaestus, getting to work.
The rock trembles from the heavy blows of the hammer, and the thunder of mighty blows echoes from end to end of the earth. Finally, Prometheus is chained. But that's not all, you still need to nail him to the rock, piercing his chest with a steel, indestructible point. Hephaestus hesitates.
Oh, Prometheus! he exclaims. - How I grieve seeing your torment!
- Again you hesitate! - Sila says angrily to Hephaestus. - You are still grieving for the enemy of Zeus! See how you don't have to grieve for yourself!
Finally it’s over. Everything is done as Zeus commanded. The titanium is chained, and a blade of steel pierced his chest. Mocking Prometheus, Force says to him:
- Well, here you can be as arrogant as you want; be proud as before! Give now to mortals the gifts of the gods, stolen by you! Let's see if your mortals can help you. You will have to think about how to free yourself from these shackles.
But Prometheus keeps a proud silence. For all the time, while Hephaestus chained him to the rock, he did not utter a single word, even a quiet moan did not escape from him - he did not betray his suffering in any way.
The servants of Zeus, Strength and Power, left, and with them the sad Hephaestus left. Prometheus was the only one left; only the sea and gloomy clouds could listen to him now. Only now a heavy moan escaped from the pierced chest of the mighty titan, only now he began to complain about his evil fate. Prometheus exclaimed loudly. Inexpressible suffering and grief sounded his lamentation:
- Oh, divine ether and you, fast-moving winds, oh, sources of rivers and the incessant roar of sea waves, oh, earth, universal foremother, oh, all-seeing sun, circling the whole circle of the earth - I call all of you to witness! Look what I put up with! You see what a shame I must bear for countless years! Oh woe, woe! I will moan from agony now, and for many, many centuries! How can I find an end to my suffering? But what am I saying! After all, I knew everything that would happen. These torments did not overtake me unexpectedly. I knew that the dictates of a formidable fate were inevitable. I must bear this torment! What for? For the fact that I gave great gifts to mortals, for this I must suffer so unbearably, and I cannot escape these torments. Oh woe, woe!
The titan Prometheus - the benefactor and protector of humanity - is mentioned by Hesiod in his Theogony. What is the titan Prometheus famous for? We will begin the summary of the poem with a short overview of this work. In it, the hero appears before the readers as a clever sly who divides the meat of a sacrificed bull between gods and people, and makes it so that people get the best part of it.
Angry Zeus does not want to give fire to mortals so that they can cook and taste meat. Prometheus went against the will of Zeus, stole the fire and gave it to people. The enraged Zeus decided to punish the rebellious titan, chained him to a pillar and ordered an eagle to peck at his liver. Prometheus will be subjected to this torture for many centuries, until the brave Hercules comes and frees him by killing a bird of prey.
Another version of the myth
Later, this legend began to be presented differently. The protagonist of the story is still Prometheus. Its summary is slightly different. Now he appears in the role of a dignified and wise seer (Prometheus means "Provider"), and not a cunning one who stole fire.
From the very beginning of the world, during the period of the struggle of the old gods with the Olympians (younger gods), Prometheus knew that the younger gods could not be taken by force, you had to use cunning. He offered his help to the Titans, but the self-confident elder gods rejected his offer. Foreseeing their inevitable defeat, Prometheus sided with the Olympians and helped them overthrow their enemies. And instead of gratitude and eternal friendship, he received the cruel punishment of the once former ally of Zeus.
The Olympians are haunted by the fear that the time will come - and they will suffer the fate of their fathers. They will be overthrown by their own descendants - the young gods. They don't know how to prevent it, but Prometheus does. The summary of this version tells that he knows everything that awaits them at the end of the world. Zeus wants to learn this secret from Prometheus, and therefore tortures him, but the titan is proudly silent.
Then Hercules, not yet being a god, decides to end the torment of Prometheus in gratitude for the good that the titan did for mortals. He cracks down on the eagle and frees Prometheus. In response to this step, Prometheus tells Hercules how to maintain the power of Zeus and his associates.
Zeus and the goddess Thetis
What secret did Prometheus know? The summary of this myth includes the story that Zeus achieves the love of the sea goddess - the damsel Thetis. But Prometheus knows that Zeus should abandon her, since Thetis must give birth to a son who will be stronger than his father. If Zeus becomes his father, then the son will become stronger than him and will inevitably overthrow him, the power of the Olympians will end there.
Zeus listens to Prometheus and leaves Thetis, who later became the wife of an ordinary mortal, from whom she gave birth to Achilles - the most powerful man in the world.
Poem of Aeschylus: summary
Based on the above version of the myth, he created the poem Aeschylus - "Chained Prometheus". We will begin the summary of the work with the events in distant Scythia, located in the wild uninhabited mountains.
Start
What does Aeschylus ("Chained Prometheus") want to tell people in her poem? The summary of the work reveals to the readers the nobility and courage of the protagonist against the background of the cruelty of the gods.
So, Prometheus appears on the scene, accompanied by two demons - Violence and Power. By the will of Zeus, he must be chained to the rock by his comrade - the god of fire Hephaestus. The latter is sorry for his friend, but he cannot resist the great Zeus and his fate. The shackles shackle the shoulders, arms and legs of Prometheus, and the chest is pierced with an iron stake, but Prometheus is silent. The deed is done, the executioners have no choice but to leave the stage. Finally, Power contemptuously throws out the phrase: "You are a Provider, so providence, how can you save yourself."
Further, the summary ("Prometheus chained") should be continued with a scene where, left alone with himself, Prometheus turns to the sun and sky, sea and earth, urging them to witness how the gods treated him unfairly for stealing fire and striving to reveal to people the path to a dignified life.
Conversation of Prometheus with the Oceanids and the Ocean
At this moment, the summary of "Prometheus chained" should continue with the appearance of the Oceanid nymphs, daughters of the Titan Ocean, disturbed by the clang and roar of the shackles of the long-suffering Prometheus. He tells them that he would prefer languishing in Tartarus to this public humiliation, and about his confidence that his suffering will not last forever, and Zeus will be forced to change his anger to affection and humility. The chorus of nymphs asks Prometheus, why is Zeus punishing him so? To which he replies that the reason is in mercy to people, "... for he himself is not merciful" - says Prometheus about Zeus.
Then the legend of Prometheus, a summary of which we present, tells about the appearance after the daughters of the Ocean itself. He once fought the Titans against the lesser gods. But he submitted, resigned himself, received forgiveness and peacefully carries his waves around the world. He says that humility is the only way out, and warns of Zeus' vengeance, which can doom Prometheus to even more unbearable torments. However, the latter with contempt rejects the arguments of the Ocean and invites him to think about himself, for he can anger Zeus with his sympathy for the criminal. The ocean recedes, and the Oceanid choir sings a song of compassion, recalling in it the brother of Prometheus Atlanta, who was tormented to forever hold on his shoulders the copper firmament on the western side of the world.
Prometheus's story about his help to people
What is the next story of the legend of Prometheus? The summary continues with the story of Prometheus to the Oceanids about how much good he did for mortals. People were as foolish as children, and Prometheus endowed them with intelligence and speech. In a time of languor with worries, he reassured them with hopes. It was hard for them to live in caves, every arrival of the night inspired them with fear, they were powerless before the winter cold - and Prometheus taught them to build houses. He told them about how the seasons change and how the heavenly bodies move at the same time, taught them to write and count, and convinced them to pass this knowledge from generation to generation.
What else did Prometheus do for people? Aeschylus (a summary of the poem of this author we are considering) indicates in his work that none other than Prometheus showed mortals to the deposits of underground ores, taught how to build carts to move on land, and ships to plow the sea, showed how to harness bulls to cultivate fertile land. He revealed the secrets of medicinal herbs to mortals so that they could heal diseases.
People did not understand anything about the prophetic signs that the gods and mother nature sent them, the noble Prometheus taught them fortune-telling by the entrails of animals, the cries of birds and the sacrificial fire.
The Oceanids heeded him and were amazed that, possessing such knowledge and the gift of prediction, the wise Prometheus could not save himself from the wrath of Zeus. To which the titan replied that fate is stronger than him and Zeus. Then the nymphs asked him about what fate has in store for Zeus? But Prometheus did not reveal his great secret to them, and the choir continued to sing its song of sympathy.
Meeting with Queen Io
A summary of the tragedy of Aeschylus "Prometheus chained" should contain these memories of the past, which are then interrupted by the future. The beloved of the god Zeus appears on the stage - the beautiful princess Io, whom he turned into a cow. Fearing the wrath of his jealous wife, Zeus turned the princess into an animal. But Hera figured out this trick and demanded that her husband give this cow to her. Zeus fulfilled her demand, and then Hera sent a terrible gadfly to the unfortunate. In search of salvation from his incessant bites, Io wandered around the world.
Exhausted and driven to despair to the brink of insanity by pain, she climbed the Promethean rock. Known for his mercy, Prometheus took pity on the princess and told her what awaited her. From the mouth of the titan, she learns that her wanderings have no end in sight, she has to overcome the cold and heat, wandering across Asia and Europe, to see monsters and savages before she reaches the Egyptian lands. There she will give birth to a son to Zeus, whose descendant in the twelfth tribe will be Hercules. He will come to this mountain to free Prometheus. Io asks what will happen if Zeus does not allow Hercules to do this, to which Prometheus replies that then Zeus will die himself. The princess wants to know who will decide to destroy the god Zeus, and the titan explains to her that his unreasonable marriage will become the reason for the death of Zeus. And then Prometheus refuses to speak. Here a malicious gadfly attacks the princess again, and she has no choice but to rush away.
Visit of Prometheus by Hermes
After memories and predictions, it's time to return to the present. The messenger of Zeus appears - the god Hermes, despised by Prometheus for his laxity before the Olympians, and demands the titan to repeat what he said about the fate of Zeus, threatening him with new torments. But Prometheus does not want to talk to Hermes, preferring suffering. He says that he is immortal and witnessed the fall of Uranus and Crohn, and will wait for the fall of the god Zeus. Then Hermes leaves, and Prometheus calls Heaven and Earth to witness his innocent suffering. This concludes the summary of the book "Chained Prometheus".
The myth of Prometheus, which gained great importance in the Greek religion, became one of the favorite subjects of poetry, is a legend about the development of human civilization. Prometheus, son of the titan Iapetus, was originally, like Hermes, the personification of fire as applied to human needs. From this developed in myths the concept of him as a representative of man's attraction to mental development, to dominion over nature, the idea also developed that this attraction easily leads a person to resistance to the gods, to rebellion against them.
The myth of Prometheus in Hesiod
Another myth about Prometheus, which also gave content to many works of art and poetry, said that Prometheus was the creator of people - in one story, at the beginning of the world, in another, after Devkalionova flood. He molded the bodies of people from clay, and, according to one myth, he also revived them by means of heavenly fire; according to other stories, life was invested in them by other gods or forces of nature. Prometheus is a human spirit striving for freedom, feeling itself the ruler of nature, and in the consciousness of its strength rebelling against Zeus. The myth of Prometheus is a myth about the awakening of human self-awareness, about the struggle and suffering that accompanies this awakening.
Prometheus- an ancient Greek character in myths and subsequent fairy tales. It is believed that Prometheus was a titan and part-time protector of people. He was in a tough confrontation with Zeus, the supreme god.
About Prometheus:
- Son of Iapetus and Clement;
- Zeus's cousin;
- Titanium;
- Possibly the illegitimate son of Gaea (according to Aeschylus);
- “Prometheus” in translation “previously thinking”;
- Prometheus had a brother - Epimetheus ("thinking after"), a husband;
- He brought people the fire of the gods;
The myth of Prometheus
There was a time when oppressed and poor people lived on Earth, hiding in caves and chewing sprouts and roots, while the gods drank nectar from ambrosia and enjoyed the dances of beautiful grace. At the dawn of mankind, people were equated with wild animals that shook with fear at every appearance of lightning and thunder, died like flies from diseases, probably caused by dampness and unsanitary conditions. There was only torment and hardship on Earth.
Prometheus, an intelligent titan, a companion of the gods, who helped in the ascent of Zeus, felt sorry for the poor people. He began to ponder how he could help them. The instructions of the titan who came did not help people in any way, because “having eyes, they could not figure out what and where; they listened, but did not understand anything; acted by touch, then they could not hew a stone or build a dwelling. " With the help of fire, they managed to learn how to burn clay and build a house, cook food, distinguish the seasons and protect themselves from seasonal changes in the weather.
How did Prometheus steal the fire?
Love for people prompted Prometheus to commit theft. On the island of Lemnos, in the middle of the ocean, there was Mount Mosichl - the place where the forge of the god of fire, Hephaestus, was located. Zeus, hating all earthly offspring, forbade the gods and titans to give gifts to people, including presenting fire, which was used only for the needs of the Olympians. Prometheus, making his way to the island of Hephaestus, secretly carried out a flaming reed, ignited by the spark of the forge.
Returning to the caves to the people, he showed how to light a fire, how to build houses and prepare food. For the first time in their lives, previously blind and frightened people saw each other - since then the sunrise and sunset have appeared, and the divine spark smoldering in the forges of people began to be passed from hand to hand, communicating and bringing the settlers closer.
Punishment of Prometheus
Learning about the "betrayal" of Prometheus, Zeus became very angry and punished, first of all, people, sending them hard work in order to get funds for food. Prometheus did not abandon his charges even now: having returned to the people, he taught them crafts, which soon grew into wonderful arts.
Then Zeus ordered Hephaestus to forge chains that even a titan could not break. Having chained Prometheus to a rock (Caucasus Mountains according to Pseudo-Apolodorod), he sent a giant eagle to peck at the titan's liver. Since Prometheus was immortal and capable of recovery, he received a kind of eternal torment - he regenerated in the evening, and in the morning a bird flew in again and pecked at his entrails.
Subsequent fate
According to myths Ancient Greece in one of his 12 travels, he met Prometheus, who helped the hero, showing the way to the Hesperides, and in gratitude he cut the fetters and killed the eagle with a bow, freeing the martyr.
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