University:
California State University, Northridge
Course:
CLAS 315 | Greek and Roman Mythology
Academic year:

2024
Views:

370

Pages:

2
Author:

Hallie Randolph

Prometheus When I was a little girl, I would dive headfirst into any Greek mythology I could get my hands on. Myths like Medusa and the Titans would often frighten me so greatly that I would stay up at night thinking about how I would try to defeat them if I were a strong and mighty goddess but stories like Hercules and Prometheus would intrigue me as I saw them as heroes. I would often think to myself that if I lived as a mortal under Olympus, I would praise Prometheus as he saved mankind. In Hesoid’s version of Prometheus’s story, there is a strong bias leaning towards the side of Zeus as Prometheus was depicted as a villain rather than a hero. In Anthology of Classical Myth, Hesoid’s use of language includes, “Smiled softly and remembered his trickery” (147, Hesoid). This line alone sets the tone for how Prometheus is viewed in his version. I supposed in the eyes of the Gods, he was a thief, but in the eyes of mortals, he was a savior. Hesoid explains how Prometheus stole fire from the Gods in order to allow mankind to cook their livestock, live in warmth, and forge weapons. Enraged by his betrayal to the Gods, Zeus chained him to the side of a mountain and a large bird of some kind would gut Prometheus’s undying liver everyday as it would regenerate. Similarly to Hesiod’s interpretation, Herodorus claims that Prometheus’s punishment is rationalized; however, Prometheus was not chained up by Zeus, but rather his subjects of Scythians. The cause was that Prometheus, being king, was unable to sufficiently provide for his subjects due to the river called Aetos. Prometheus was later relieved of his punishment by Hercules. In Lucian’s version from Anthology of Classical Myth page 240, Prometheus is illustrated as a victim rather than the attacker. Lucian reveals Prometheus begging to be released as he has endured enough suffering at the hands of Zeus as Zeus claims, “That’s not even a fraction of what you deserve to suffer” (240, Lucian). This interpretation depicts Zeus as a merciless and unforgiving God unlike Hersoid;s interpretation where Zeus is the victim of Prometheus’s crimes. Hesiod, Herodorus, and Lucian’s interpretations of Prometheus’s journey are as different as night and day. Although Hesoid and Lucian share a similar plot, the antagonist and protagonist roles are reversed. These differences interpret the way we view myth because each story has great differences. As readers, there is no true way of telling which version is true, more or less if any version has truth. Readers tend to go with the version they like best or versions that are most consistent with others. The underlying story that each interpretation follows is that consequences will follow actions. As a reader, I was surprised to read Herodorus’s version as I had never heard that interpretation before. From my past readings, I had known Hesiod’s plot intertwined with Lucian’s character arcs. Personally, I strongly believe that each interpretation changes the meaning of the story. After reading each version, Prometheus’s story became so broad and it was difficult to confidently say that I knew the myth of Prometheus.

Prometheus Paper

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