Prometheus: The Protector and Benefactor of Mankind Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

Among all ancient Gods and Titans, the image of Prometheus stands out as a person who, belonging to the celestials, took an active part in shaping humanity as it is nowadays. Indeed, according to legends, Prometheus not only carved the figures of people but also became their advocate in front of Gods. Ancient sources suggest that Prometheus was a martyr ready to sacrifice his well-being for humanity’s sake.

Prometheus Prefers People Over Gods

Prometheus is an image that primarily inspired ancient authors. Belonging to the Titans, Prometheus sided with Zeus in a war of Gods against the Titans, which allowed him to gain an advantageous position in Olympus. Zeus himself appreciated Prometheus for his ability to foresee the future. However, Prometheus was ready to discard this favor for humanity’s sake. Being the creator of people, Prometheus liked humanity and tried to teach people to master skills necessary for their life. Zeus did not like the actions of the titan: he foresaw that the independence of man could weaken his power. But Prometheus went against the main god of Olympus, doing what he considered his duty to the people he created.

The fact that testifies to the idea that Prometheus preferred people over Gods is the way the titan tricked the Gods over parts of the animals that had to be given to them in a sacrifice. When it was decided which parts of the sacrificial bull would go to the gods and which to people, Prometheus covered the bones with mouthwatering grease while the meat was put into the ox’ inside (Prometheus: The Fire Bringer). As a result of this trick, the best pieces went to people, and the deceived Zeus got even angrier. Fearful of people’s independence, Zeus advised Prometheus to forget about people and lead his life. However, Prometheus had a pure and noble soul, open to pity and compassion. Gradually, in his noble soul, a burning desire to help people, even against the will of Zeus, became more and more pronounced.

The Way Prometheus Changed People’s Lives

Looking at how thin and weather-beaten people concealed themselves in the caves in a poor attempt to warm themselves, Prometheus decided to steal fire and give it to people against the express wish of Zeus. Though Prometheus knew that the wrath of the almighty god threatened him, he also knew now what happiness it was to help the weak and see their enlightened, smiling faces.

Prometheus taught people to see, hear and understand everything around them. He showed people the east and the west, taught them numbers, writing, and reading, and gave them the power of memory, which people did not have before (Simard, pp.141-143). He built a fast ship for people and winged it with a white linen sail so that the vessel could easily and freely glide across the expanses of the sea. He taught people to find, mine, and use earthly treasures – copper and iron, silver and gold (Simard, pp. 145-146). Overall, he instilled in people will, courage, hope, and selflessness – the qualities Zeus most expressly did not want to find in them.

Prometheus’ Suffering as a Reflection of his Noble Character

As a punishment for Prometheus’ disobedience, Zeus “chained him to a rock in the Caucasus and sent an eagle to prey on him” (Prometheus: The Fire Bringer, para. 8). The unbearable torments the titan underwent are reflected in the picture by Matt Hughes, entitled “Prometheus and the child of tomorrow.” In the picture, one can see how the titan is writhing in a vain attempt to get away from the eagle and there is a look of horror on his face (Matt Hughes).

The same idea of unbearable suffering is expressed in the poem “Disconnected” by Brent Michaels. The author describes torment as “a moment that refuses to follow or precede but stretches in both directions out of reach,” which clearly shows the agony Prometheus experienced to which there was no beginning and no end (Michaels, para. 2). The titan even wishes for the death to come, the idea expressed by such words as “eat my liver and be done with it” (Michaels, para. 4). However, despite all the suffering not even once he regrets the good he has done for people and, in general, mankind.

Neither is he willing to admit himself guilty of a crime since all he was doing was helping people. This defiance testifies to the noble character of Prometheus when he is ready to experience all world tortures rather than betray his ideas. Therefore, it is highly natural that at the end, Heracles, who is half-human, delivers Prometheus from his misery, thus fulfilling the duty mankind owes to the titan.

Conclusion

The image of Prometheus, created by the ancient authors, encompasses such qualities as compassion, loyalty, and readiness to suffer for what a person believes in. Being largely attributed to people, these qualities link the life and fate of Prometheus to the history of mankind and the first people he created. Perhaps the greatest merit of Prometheus lies not in what he taught people to do but in instilling humanity with ideals and qualities that are noble and worthy of being taken as an example by future generations.

Works Cited

Matt Hughes. Prometheus and the Child of Tomorrow [Canvas].

”. GreekMythology. Web.

Michaels, Brent. “Disconnected”.

Simard, Jared. “The Titans of Rockefeller Center: Prometheus and Atlas.” Classical New York: Discovering Greece and Rome in Gotham, 2018. Pp. 140-160. Web.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2023, November 17). Prometheus: The Protector and Benefactor of Mankind. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prometheus-the-protector-and-benefactor-of-mankind/

Work Cited

"Prometheus: The Protector and Benefactor of Mankind." IvyPanda, 17 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/prometheus-the-protector-and-benefactor-of-mankind/.

References

IvyPanda. (2023) 'Prometheus: The Protector and Benefactor of Mankind'. 17 November.

References

IvyPanda. 2023. "Prometheus: The Protector and Benefactor of Mankind." November 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prometheus-the-protector-and-benefactor-of-mankind/.

1. IvyPanda. "Prometheus: The Protector and Benefactor of Mankind." November 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prometheus-the-protector-and-benefactor-of-mankind/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Prometheus: The Protector and Benefactor of Mankind." November 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/prometheus-the-protector-and-benefactor-of-mankind/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1