The immortals of Ancient Greece were normally portrayed as benefactors of man to a lesser or greater extent, and although the Olympian god, Hermes, is known as the friend of man, there is one immortal known as the “Benefactor of Man”, and that was Prometheus. The story of Prometheus is a complex one, although he is now most famous for being the one to provide the gift of fire to man.

The story of Prometheus begins before the time of Zeus and the other Olympians, during the Golden Age of Greek Mythology. This was the time of the Titans, when Cronus and his siblings ruled the universe. Prometheus was born to one these siblings, Iapetus, the mother is proclaimed to be the Titan Themis, or the Oceanid, Clymene. With Iapetus as the father though Prometheus became known as a second generation Titan, this parentage also meant that Prometheus had three brothers, Atlas, Menoetius and Epimetheus. The Titans were said to have been provided with special powers, and Prometheus’s name meant “forethought”, linked to the gift of seeing into the future, just as Epimetheus was known as “afterthought”.

During this Golden Age Prometheus was also blessed with a son, Deucalion, either with Pronoia or Clymene. Deucalion became known as the saviour of man, when he built his ark in a precursor to the story of Noah. The Golden Age though for the Titans was about to end, as Zeus sought to usurp his father, Cronus. Thus the Titanomachy began, pitting Zeus and his siblings, and allies like the Cyclops, against the might of the Titans. Prometheus though saw the future, and the ultimate success of Zeus, and so along with Epimetheus joined the fight on Zeus’ side. Ten year of war followed which saw Prometheus fighting against his father, and brothers, Atlas and Menoetius.

Zeus was of course successful, and so rather than being punished, Prometheus, along with Epimetheus, were then given the task of filling the world with living creatures. Thus through the use of clay and mud the animals and man were created, with the breath of life provided by Zeus himself. Zeus then gave the brothers the additional task of naming and providing everything with their own characteristics. It was though a task that Epimetheus wished to complete himself. Thus it was that Epimetheus named and characterised all animals, but ran out of gifts by the time he got to mankind. Zeus decreed that with no more gifts available, mankind would have to remain as unprotected barbarians. Prometheus though was no respecter of Zeus’ authority and sought out his own gifts to give to man.

Prometheus therefore went amongst the Olympian gods, and stole wisdom from Athena, and also stole reason to give to man. Prometheus though knew that Zeus would need to be appeased and so he also taught mankind how to make sacrifices to the gods. Zeus was happy with the idea and was willing to overlook Prometheus’ disobedience. Prometheus though would not leave the situation be in such a simple way, and so sought a way for man to benefit from the situation. Thus the meat of the sacrifice was separated into two piles, one for the gods and one for man to keep. One pile was made from the best meat, and one was made from the skin and bones. Prometheus then disguised the skin and bone by wrapping it in appetizing fat. Zeus was therefore tricked into choosing the poorer sacrifice, and man was allowed to keep to best of the meat. Thus all future sacrifices were also decided.

Zeus was not at all pleased with the outcome of the initial sacrifices, and so in revenge he took away the ability of man to make fire. Prometheus could not allow man to suffer from his deceit, and again as he was no respecter of Zeus’s rule, he decided to steal fire from Mount Olympus. Making use of a fennel-stalk, Prometheus stole an element of fire from the workshop of Hephaestus. Prometheus then travelled to Sikion on the Peloponnesus and taught the inhabitants how to make, and make use of fire.

Prometheus once again though escaped the direct wrath of Zeus for his disobedience. Instead Zeus decided to punish mankind again. Zeus had Hephaestus create Pandora from clay. Pandora was then sent to Epimetheus with her box as a wedding gift for the pair from the Olympian gods. The box was opened and all of world’s evil was released onto mankind, leaving just hope behind.

Unlike in other tales of Greek mythology, Zeus certainly had a long temper when it came to dealing with the disobedience of Prometheus. There was though one final show of disobedience that even Zeus could not ignore. With the ability of being able to see the future, Prometheus had information about the prophecy that foretold of Zeus’ overthrow at the hands of his own son. Prometheus though refused to divulge any information. Zeus thus angered decided upon an eternal form of punishment for Prometheus. Prometheus was therefore chained to an unmovable rock in the Caucasus Mountains, there he would be attacked each day by an eagle that would eat his liver. Being immortal though the attack would not kill Prometheus, just cause intense pain, and the liver would regenerate each night, ready to be eaten again the next day.

It was though a punishment that was not destined to last for eternity. Hercules, the Greek hero and son of Zeus, was on his quests and in need of assistance. Thus it was that Hercules rescued Prometheus, killing the eagles with his bow and arrow, and releasing Prometheus from his chains. Prometheus then told Hercules to seek out his brother, Atlas, in order that his quest should be completed.

Zeus allowed Prometheus to remain free, partially because Hercules was his favoured son, and partially because there was some reconciliation between Prometheus and Zeus. Prometheus is said to have warned Zeus that a marriage to Thetis, a sea nymph, could result in his downfall. Thetis in fact married Peleus, and went on to give birth to the Greek hero Achilles. This was believed to have thus broken the prophecy.

The story of Prometheus is a widespread one, and unlike other individuals in Greek mythology appears in multiple sources retelling the tale. It is interesting to consider that from the tales the gods of Mount Olympus are not the benefactors of mankind, and it is one of their predecessors who gains most praise from the educating of man.