Mythology: History of the Greek (Essay Sample)

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Mythology
Ancient Greeks were a highly religious people. They believed in many gods who had superhuman powers and strength and appeared in human form. Prometheus was an ancient Greek god, son of Lapetis and Themis. He was brother to Atlas, Menoetius and Epimetheus. He became considered as the god of wily intelligence, craftsmanship and forethought. His main work was to create mankind out of clay (earth and water). It is from this work that Prometheus developed his fond liking for mankind (Dougherty 67). He strived to make mankind have more power than the liking of Zeus who was the supreme ruler of the gods. Ancient Greek viewed Prometheus as the god who championed mankind’s interest. Prometheus is famous for a couple of incidences discussed below.
THE STORY OF FIRE
According to classic Greek mythology; at some point in the reign of Zeus, mankind and gods were disputing and to settle the dispute, Zeus and Prometheus devised a ceremonial party in the form of animal sacrifice. Once slaughtered, Prometheus divided the animal parts into two. In one part, he wrapped up ox-bones in fat of the slaughtered animal while the other part he wrapped up the main ox-meat using its stomach lining. To rival Zeus judgment ability, he presented both parts of the sacrifice to Zeus while wrapped and proceeded to ask Zeus to choose from the two. Zeus proceeded to choose the part covered in fat not knowing it only contained bones in it! Here, Prometheus had tricked Zeus into believing that the part covered in fat would contain the best meat. In so doing he helped mankind by ensuring that they would always receive the part with the most meat. As a result of Prometheus deception to Zeus, he ensured that whenever mankind offered sacrifice to the gods, they would always receive the meat as long as they burned the bones as an offering for the gods (Dougherty 97).
Zeus was angered by this trick that Prometheus had played on him and he decided to hide fire from mankind. Prometheus retaliated by stealing fire in a giant fennel stalk plus gave it back to mortals. As a result of this story of fire that ancient Greeks when making sacrifices to ancient gods, they would only burn a part of the sacrifice for the gods and use the rest as their own food. It is also from this story that the Greeks tradition of fire torches during sporting events originated from. Prometheus, who stole the fire in a fennel stalk, appeared flying joyfully, while tossing the stalk so that air shut in it would not keep out the fire flame and presents the fire to mankind. It is also from this story that up to now, men who come with good news come with speed (Dougherty 107).
Creation of Pandora
When Prometheus stole fire and gave it to man-kind, Zeus was angered and due to this he decided to hurt Prometheus by hurting those whom he loved the most who were his brothers and humans. Zeus therefore decided to send Pandora who was the first woman to live among men. Pandora was adorned as all the goddesses of Olympus, which was heaven for the gods. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to mould a virgin, Pandora, earth, whom she adorned with all the charms strategically to entice mortals. Pandora was a ‘gift’ to mankind by Zeus and with her; she carried a jar which contained ‘evil, pain and diseases’ which brought death to mankind. Epimetheus who was Prometheus brother received the jar with Pandora. Despite Prometheus warning Epimetheus not to open the jar that Pandora came with, he did and all the evil, pain and disease escaped to face mankind. The only thing that remained in the jar was hope. Due to Prometheus stealing and handing over the fire to mankind, Zeus angrily sent Pandora to live among mankind and cause humans’ pain, evil and diseases which brought about their death (Seymour 23).
Prometheus bound of Aeschylus
Prometheus bound is a Greek myth that refers to the punishment of Prometheus by Zeus and attributed to Aeschylus, a 5th BC Greek tragedian. Aeschylus was a Greek playwright famous for his tragedian plays. The Prometheus bound focuses on Zeus torture of Prometheus after he stole fire and provided it to the humans. In the play, Prometheus claims to have taught mankind not only civilization but other arts too such as writing, mathematics, medicine, agriculture and science. In the play, Aeschylus portrays Prometheus as a champion of human rights and as a friend of the humans. Prometheus portrayed as a benefactor to the mortals and seems to have saved them from complete destruction. Zeus not pleased with all this, views Prometheus actions for the mortals as though the mortals would acquire too much power (Seymour 45). For this he plans to punish Prometheus. Earlier, Aeschylus had demonstrated Prometheus as a key character in the Titanomachy which was a war against the Olympians by other gods.
Prometheus played a key role in the war by ensuring victory for the Olympians and also ensuring that Zeus stayed in power. Therefore, Zeus punishment of Prometheus plays as a harsh betrayal. Aeschylus also portrays the violence and cruelty of Z...