Prometheus - Research Article from Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Prometheus.

Prometheus - Research Article from Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics

This encyclopedia article consists of approximately 3 pages of information about Prometheus.
This section contains 800 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Prometheus Encyclopedia Article

In ancient Greek mythology the hero Prometheus (meaning forethought) rose up to the heavens to light a torch from the Sun's fire, then brought it back to Earth for humankind. This fire, stolen from the sun god Helios, transformed humankind into something superior to other living beings. As retribution, Zeus sentenced Prometheus to be chained to a rock while an eagle forever gnawed at his liver; Hercules killed the eagle and freed him. Zeus's divine justice included a ruse for Prometheus's brother Epimetheus (meaning afterthought). He received the gift of an all-good, incomparably beautiful wife, Pandora, who came accompanied by a box that was never to be opened. Pandora could not resist the temptation and opened the box, releasing upon humankind a manifold of miseries and evils—along with hope.

In Greek literature the story of Prometheus can be found in three sources: Hesiod's Theogony and Works and...

(read more)

This section contains 800 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Prometheus Encyclopedia Article
Copyrights
Macmillan
Prometheus from Macmillan. Copyright © 2001-2006 by Macmillan Reference USA, an imprint of the Gale Group. All rights reserved.