According to Mythology, Prometheus is the reason that the human race exists as it does
today. Prometheus, being a Titan, was never really accepted by the Olympian Gods to
begin with. The only reason he existed as he did was because he was a forethinker. He
knew that siding with the new era of Gods would bring with it the possibility of life. He is
renowned for his ability to give advice and prophecy to others, however it becomes
painfully apparent that he is unable to follow his own. One could argue that he is the
archetype, or the epitome of, a tragic hero. Prometheus possessed many flaws while still
bettering humanity. He performed such heroic and tragic acts such as making life possible
for man, paying the ultimate price for it and then never apologizing for it. Prometheus truly
was the first philanthropist of man.
Prometheus is best known for saving man-kind. He had, at the time, an abnormal love for
man as soon as they were created. He observed that, compared to the other animals, they
were at a great disadvantage. Humans were not aware of their surroundings and did not
know how to use tools or medicine yet. Prometheus changed this by giving man
intelligence. This is explained in the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. In a play written
by Aeschylus, Prometheus explains “How from the silly creature that he was [Prometheus]
made him conscious and intelligent.” (Aeschylus 35). Prometheus took pride in his work
with man. In a sense, he kind of treats them like they are his sons. He brought them up
from nothing and showed them the resources around them. For example Prometheus lists
many things such as “houses built… to catch the sun.” (Aeschylus 35) and teaching them
to “yoke the animals” (Aeschylus 35) as gifts to man. In his love for man, Prometheus
forgets his respect for the new gods. He notices that in sacrifices to Zeus, the new power,
Man was sacrificing the most nutritious parts of the animals. In Prometheus’ next action
he, in a sense, gave man the gift of lying. Prometheus exclaims, “By smoke of sacrifice of
loin and thigh wrapped in the fat I did initiate Man in a dark and intricate technique, And
the hidden bloodshot eye of the sign by fire I did unmask, that had never been veiled
before.” (Aeschylus 36).He showed Man that they did not need to sacrifice the good parts.
