---
title: Prometheus
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Prometheus/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2025-02-04
---
# Prometheus
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
In [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/), the [Titan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Titan/) Prometheus had a reputation as being something of a clever trickster and he famously gave the human race the gift of fire and the skill of metalwork, an action for which he was punished by [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/), who ensured everyday that an eagle ate the liver of the Titan as he was helplessly chained to a rock.
Prometheus (meaning "Forethought") was one of the ringleaders of the [battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) between the Titans and the Olympian gods led by Zeus to gain control of the heavens, a struggle which was said to have lasted ten years. Prometheus did, however, switch sides and support the victorious Olympians when the Titans would not follow his advice to use trickery in the battle.
According to [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/)'s *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)*, Prometheus' father was Iapetus, his mother was Clymene (or [Themis](https://www.worldhistory.org/Themis/) in other versions) and his brothers were fellow Titans Epimetheus (Afterthought or Hindsight), Menoetius, and [Atlas](https://www.worldhistory.org/Atlas/). One of Prometheus' sons was Deucalion, an equivalent of [Noah](https://www.worldhistory.org/Noah/), who survived a great flood by sailing in a great chest for nine days and nights and who, with his wife Pyrrha, became the founder of the human race.
In some traditions of the creation of humanity, Prometheus made the first man from clay, whilst in others, the gods made all creatures on Earth, and Epimetheus and Prometheus were given the task of endowing them with gifts so that they might survive and prosper. Epimetheus liberally spread around such gifts as fur and wings but by the time he got around to man, he had run out of gifts.
### Prometheus' Crime
Feeling sorry for man's weak and naked state, Prometheus raided the workshop of [Hephaistos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hephaistos/) and [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/) on Mt. Olympus and stole fire, and by hiding it in a hollow fennel-stalk, he gave the valuable gift to man which would help him in life's struggle. The Titan also taught man how to use their gift and so the skill of metalwork began; he also came to be associated with [science](https://www.worldhistory.org/science/) and [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/).
In a slightly different version of the story, mankind already had fire, and when Prometheus tried to trick Zeus into eating bones and fat instead of the best meat during a meal at Mt. Olympus, Zeus, in anger, took away fire so that man would have to eat his meat raw. Prometheus then stole the fire as in the alternative version. This also explained why, in animal sacrifices, the Greeks always dedicated the bones and fat to the gods and ate the meat themselves.
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### The Punishment of Prometheus
Zeus was outraged by Prometheus' theft of fire and so gave the Titan an eternal punishment by having him taken far to the east, perhaps the Caucasus. Here Prometheus was chained to a rock (or pillar) and Zeus sent an eagle to eat the Titan's immortal liver. Even worse, the liver re-grew every night and the eagle returned each day to perpetually torment Prometheus. Fortunately for man's benefactor, but only after many years, the hero [Hercules](https://www.worldhistory.org/hercules/), when passing one day during his celebrated labours, killed the eagle with one of his arrows. In the [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) poet Hesiod's *Works & Days* we are told that Zeus punished man for receiving the fire by instructing Hephaistos to create the first woman, [Pandora](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pandora/), from clay and through her all the negative aspects of life would befall the human race - toil, illness, [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/), and [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/) - and definitively separate mankind from the gods.
[  Prometheus relief Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3611/prometheus-relief/ "Prometheus relief")Prometheus was worshipped in [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/), particularly by potters (who, of course, needed fire in their kilns) and there was an annual torch race held in the [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/)'s honour. Prometheus first appears in Greek art in a 7th century BCE ivory from [Sparta](https://www.worldhistory.org/sparta/) and on [Greek pottery](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Pottery/) from c. 600 BCE, usually being punished. The myth of Prometheus and his terrible punishment by Zeus was the theme of tragic poet [Aeschylus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aeschylus/)' *[Prometheus Bound](https://www.worldhistory.org/Prometheus_Bound/)*.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- Carabatea, M. *Greek Mythology.* Pergamos, Peania, 2007
- Carpenter, T.H. *Art and Myth in Ancient Greece.* Thames & Hudson, London, 2012
- [Hesiod. *Hesiod.* Loeb Classical Library, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0674996224/)
- Hope Moncrieff, A.R. *Classical Mythology.* Senate, London, 1994
- [Hornblower, S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, USA, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 700 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) poet [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/) writes his *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)* and *[Works and Days](https://www.worldhistory.org/Works_and_Days/)*.
- **c. 700 BCE - c. 600 BCE**: [Prometheus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Prometheus/) first appears in [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) art.
## Questions & Answers
### What is Prometheus the Greek god of?
Prometheus was not a god but a Titan. He stole fire from the Olympian gods and gave it to humanity.
### How did Prometheus trick Zeus?
Prometheus tricked Zeus by making the god eat bones and fat instead of the best meat during a meal at Mt. Olympus. Zeus was angry and took away fire so that man would have to eat his meat raw. Prometheus then stole the fire, hiding it in a hollow fennel-stalk, and he gave it back to humanity.
### How did Zeus punish Prometheus?
Zeus punished Prometheus for giving humanity fire by chaining the Titan to a rock and having an eagle eat his liver. As the liver grew back each night, so the eagle returned to eat it again the next day forever after.
## External Links
- [The myth of Prometheus - Iseult Gillespie](https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-myth-of-prometheus-iseult-gillespie)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2013, April 20). Prometheus. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Prometheus." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 20, 2013. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Prometheus." *World History Encyclopedia*, 20 Apr 2013, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 20 April 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.