From Greek mythology, this is the powerful story of Prometheus—the titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity.
In doing so, he changed the course of human life… and sealed his own fate.
Prometheus stands as an example of courage, consequence, and the enduring cost of standing against power.
The tale of Prometheus appears in early Greek poetry as far back as Hesiod in the 8th century BCE.
Later, audiences attended the tragedy Prometheus Bound, traditionally attributed to the ancient playwright, Aeschylus in the 5th century BCE who wrote:
"Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus".
For centuries, the story was retold, reshaped, and expanded as it passed from voice to voice.
This is Percy Bysshe Shelley from his drama: Prometheus Unbound , first published in 1820):
"To defy Power, which seems Omnipotent; To love, and bear; to hope, till Hope creates from its own wreck the thing it contemplates...".
And from Lord Byron's poem "Prometheus" , first published in 1816:
"A mighty lesson we inherit: Thou art a symbol and a sign To Mortals of their fate and force; Like thee, Man is in part divine"
The version I am using, is complied from several 19th and early 20th century authors. These authors include Thomas Bullfinch, Logan Marshall, James Baldwin and others. All of their works are in the public domain.
Content Note: This episode contains scenes of violence consistent with classic stories.
A Look Ahead:
Wednesday, April 22nd - "Princess on the Glass Hill" from the Norse
Wednesday, April 29th - "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe
Wednesday, May 6th - "The Lady or The Tiger by Frank R. Stockton
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