In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, a cultural hero, and trickster figure who is credited with creating man from clay and who challenges the gods by stealing fire and giving it to humanity, an act that allowed progress and civilization. Prometheus is known for his intelligence and as a champion of humanity. Prometheus' punishment as a consequence of theft is a major theme of his mythology and is a popular subject of both ancient and modern art. Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods, condemned the Titan to eternal torment for his transgression. The immortal Prometheus was tied to a rock, where every day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, which then grew again during the night to be eaten again the following day. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayIn some stories, Prometheus is finally freed by the hero Heracles. In another of his myths, Prometheus establishes the form of animal sacrifice practiced in ancient Greek religion. Evidence of a cult of Prometheus himself is not widespread. He was the focus of religious activity primarily in Athens, where he was linked to Athena and Hephaestus, other Greek deities of creative abilities and technology. In the Western classical tradition, Prometheus became a figure who represented human endeavor, particularly the pursuit of scientific knowledge. and the risk of excessive or unintended consequences. In particular, in the Romantic era, he was considered the embodiment of the solitary genius whose efforts to improve human existence could even result in tragedy: Mary Shelley, for example, gave The Modern Prometheus as a subtitle to her novel Frankenstein. the theonym Prometheus is debated. The classical view is that it means “foresight,” as that of his brother Epimetheus denotes “afterthought.” It has been theorized to derive from the Proto-Indo-European root which also produces the Vedic pra math, "to steal", from which pramathyu-s, "thief", cognate with "Prometheus", the thief of fire. The Vedic myth of Mātariśvan's fire theft is an analogue to the Greek tale. Pramantha was the instrument used to create fire. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Myths and Legends Oldest Legends The four oldest sources for understanding the origin of the myths and legends of Prometheus all legends are based on the images depicted in the Titanomachy, or the cosmological struggle between the Greek gods and their parents, the Titans. Prometheus, himself a Titan, managed to avoid being in the direct cosmic conflict battle between Zeus and the other Olympians against Kronos and the other Titans. Prometheus then survived the fight in which the guilty Titans were eternally banished by Zeus to the chthonic depths of Tartarus, only to survive and face Zeus on his own terms in the subsequent climactic fights. The Great Titanomachy depicts a general metaphor of the struggle between generations, between parents and children, symbolizing the generation of parents who must ultimately give ground to the growing needs, vitality and responsibilities of the new generation for the perpetuation of society and the survival interests of the race human. Works Cited Hesiod. (n.d.). Theogony. Retrieved from https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Hes.+Th.+507Kerényi, C. (1951). Prometheus: archetypal image of human existence. Kerenyi, C. (1959). The Gods of the Greeks. Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., & Jones, H. S. (1996). A Greek-English lexicon. Retrieved from https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.04.0057Naddaf, G. (2006). The Greek concept of nature. Powell, B.B. (2008). Classical Myth (7th ed.). Rose, H.J