Primary Sources Analysis Assignment - Prometheus Myth

The earth was young when Prometheus, the clever Titan, created all the living creatures from a mixture of earth and water. From his imagination, he fashioned birds for the air, fish for the sea and animals for the land. However, from the image of the immortal gods, he fashioned humans.

Gentle Epimetheus observed his brother’s activity with amazement and envy. He also wanted to have some part in the creative process, so he pleaded with Prometheus to let him do something for each living creature. Because Prometheus loved his gentle brother, he decided to let him distribute the qualities that each of his creatures would need to survive.

Epimetheus first gave qualities to help the animals protect themselves from other animals, such as size, speed, teeth, and claws, and then qualities to defend them from their various environments, such as leathery skin or thick fur. After distributing all the gifts, he thought he was finished, but then realized he had forgotten mankind, who was defenseless. He alone, of all Prometheus’s creations, had received no gifts. Prometheus joined his brother, and observed the terrible problem, saying “there isn’t anything left for man, is there?” This was a tremendous disappointment to him, for of all his creations, Prometheus most loved man.

Prometheus resolved to do whatever was necessary to ensure man’s survival, regardless of the risk to himself. That night, he stole up to mount Olympus, home of his cousin Zeus and the immortal gods. He knew that the Lord of Olympus would not help him. However, Zeus’s children, strong-armed Hephaestus and grey-eyed Athena, sympathized with him because they too were creators. They risked the wrath of their father’s thunderbolts, and taught Prometheus their knowledge of arts and crafts so that he, in turn, could impart this knowledge to humankind. As a parting gift, Hephaestus gave Prometheus fire, so that mortals could use their new knowledge to the fullest.

Prometheus returned to earth and became humankind’s great teacher. He taught them to read and write, to understand their environment, to build houses and sailing ships, and to tame wild animals for food, labor, and protection. He showed them treasures within the earth, such as copper, iron, silver, and gold. And he taught them how to use the gift of fire to use these treasure to improve and beautify their lives. Thus it was that man, frail as he was, became master of this environment.

He went too far, however, when he instructed mortals in methods to deceive the gods so that they humans could keep the best fruit of their labors for themselves. When Zeus discovered this deception, he punished man by taking away the gift of fire. But Prometheus was so bold as to steal fire from the gods a second time, and when Zeus looked down from Mount Olympus and saw the fire gleaming among Prometheus’s mortals, he became determined to punish Prometheus and humankind.