2. MYTH OF PROMETHEUS

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Morgan Roberts
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1 2. MYTH OF PROMETHEUS SUBJECT: TEACHER: CLASSICAL STUDIES ANA MARTINEZ

2 How appeared the first human beings on earth? Let s see how Fire was given to Men Ovidio explains:

3 CREATION OF MAN BY PROMETHEUS The myth of Prometheus starts long before the age of man, even before the age of the gods. He was a TITAN. After the battle between the Titans and the gods, Prometheus was the only Titan not banished by Zeus. For his alliance with the gods, he was allowed to live on Mt. Olympus. He was there when man was created.

4 At the dawn of the creation of man, all the creatures of the earth had weapons and gifts, but not man. He was left without natural defenses. Without the benefits of claws, wings, or fangs, men huddled in caves, living in darkness and fear.

5 Zeus liked it this way. He knew that the more meek man was, the more mighty were the gods. Zeus ordained that man should never be granted the power of the gods; he wanted man to remain forever in awe of the gods. Zeus ordained man could never have fire.

6 Prometheus saw the pitiful condition of man. He knew that with fire man could craft weapons, dispel the darkness, cook his food, build homes, cities and empires. He knew that fire is the fundamental element of technology, knowledge and progress.

Prometheus made the bold decision to give fire to man. His decision was legally wrong, a crime, but morally admirable, honorable, and noble. His decision was heroic.

7 Prometheus made the bold decision to give fire to man. His decision was legally wrong, a crime, but morally admirable, honorable, and noble. His decision was heroic. He stood to gain nothing. He knew he would be punished. He knew he would suffer. And yet he knew he could help those in need. He gave of himself for the benefit of others.

8 Prometheus gift enabled men to rival the might of the gods. When Zeus surveyed the earth, he saw armies of men carrying shields and swords, sailing great ships, and living in palaces. He knew instantly what Prometheus had done. Zeus decided to punish Prometheus with cruel creativity.

9 Prometheus was condemned to spend the rest of his immortal life chained to a rock on a desolate mountainside. His shackles, forged by mighty Hepahaestus himself, could not be broken even by a Titan.

10 His only visitor was an eagle, the sacred bird of Zeus, who tore at Prometheus flesh and devoured his liver each day. The blessing of his immortality was also his curse: his flesh regenerated each night.

11 Some say that eventually Zeus relented, and tolerated Hercules defiant act of finding and freeing Prometheus from his bondage.

12 But the power of the story of Prometheus resides in our imaging him there still, accepting his plight, tolerating his suffering, and sacrificing himself over and over entirely for the benefit of others.

13 So go tell the myth and live the example of Prometheus!

14 THE STORY OF DEUCALION AND PYRRHA The story of Noah's ark is not the only flood story in the world: There are many others. The story of Deucalion and Pyrrha is the Greek version. Like the version found in the Old Testament, in the Greek version, the flood is a means to punish mankind.

15 Warned by his father, the immortal titan Deucalion built an ark to survive the coming Bronze Age ending flood that Zeus was sending to punish mankind for its wickedness. Deucalion and his cousin-wife, Pyrrha (daughter of Prometheus' brother Epimetheus and Pandora), survived for 9 days of flooding before landing at Mt. Parnassus. All alone in the world, they wanted company. In answer to this need, the titan and goddess of prophecy Themis cryptically told them to throw the bones of their mother behind them. They interpreted this as meaning "throw stones over their shoulders onto Mother Earth," and did so. The stones Deucalion threw became men and those Pyrrha threw became women.

16 Deucalion and Pyrrha settled in Thessaly where they produced offspring.

17 GREEK FLOOD MYTH: PIRRA AND DEUCALION Watch the following video: c

18 THE FIRST WOMAN: PANDORA Watch the following video:

A sarcophagus (carved stone coffin) depicting Prometheus bringing his created men to life (Louvre Museum. 200s CE). 2. The establishment of sacrifice

A sarcophagus (carved stone coffin) depicting Prometheus bringing his created men to life (Louvre Museum. 200s CE). 2. The establishment of sacrifice Fri Jan 13: The structure of mortal experience: work, reproduction and relating to gods Chapter 5 pp. 108-33: Prometheus, Pandora, the Five Races, the Flood 1. The creation of mortal men pp.108-9 myth