PROMETHEUS, pro-methlis, in Greek mythology, son of Iapetus the Titan and Oymene (according to Hesiod), or Themis (according to 4Eschylus), or Asia (according to Apollodorus). He is the legendary giver of fire and all its benefits to men. In Athens Prome thus had an altar in the academy and a special festival was devoted to him. Hesiod
dEschylu (q s .v.), the latter of whom made his story the subject of a trilogy of which one tragedy, 'Prometheus Bound' (q.v.), is alone extant as a whole, are our chief authority for the myth concerning Prometheus. He is repre sented as the brother of Atlas, Mencetius and Epimetheus. According to YEschylus, Prome theus took part with Zeus against his brother Titans and by his craft and sage counsel ren dered Zeus victor and enabled him to ascend his father's throne. Later, objecting to the plan of Zeus to destroy mankind and create a new generation of beings, he helps the weak race of mortals by stealing fire from the lightnings of Zeus and giving it in a hollow reed to med, to whom it had been till then denied. In re venge Zeus has Prometheus chained to a rock in the Caucasus by Hephaestus and his helpers Kratos and Bia, and sends a vulture to tear forever at his vitals, not allowing him to end his pain by death. Steadfastly Prometheus bean his doom, aware that in time Zeus will fall by the hand of a son born to himself and Thetis. Heracles, with the consent of Zeus, slays the vulture and releases Prometheus, who returns to Olympus and thereafter is the wise counsellor of the gods. It is in the above form that the myth has been most generally accepted, but it was varied in many ways by different poets and philosophic interpreters. His Greek name, meaning
(that of his brother Epimetheus, signifying eAfterthoughta), makes the underlying allegory apparent. Pro. nietheus, as the friend of men, the wise helper in necessity, and in some interpretations as a rebel against unjust authority, has been muds referred to in literature, and in modern times was made the subject of Shelley's lyrical drama an
quently represented in plastic art. The most famous English rendition of JEschylus' tragedy is Mrs. Browning's 'Prometheus Bound.' An other more recent translation has been pub» lished by R. Whitelaw (Oxford 1907).
Bibliography.— Baenteli, M., 'Le Mythe de Promethee) (in Revue Occid. Philos., Serie III, Vol. VI, p. 57, Paris 1914) ; Bapp, K., 'Pro metheus) (in W. H. Roscher's 'Ausfiihrliches Lexikon der Griechischen mid Ftomanischen Mythologie,' Vol. III, part 2, Leiptig 1902-09); Baumeister, A., 'Promethus' (in 'Den Kmaler des Klassischen Altertums,' VoL III, Munich 1888); Delff, H. IC H., 'Prometheus. Dionysos. Sokrates. Christos. Beitrage stir Religions Eschichte) (Gotha 1877); Fraenkel, J., 'Wand des Prometheus' (Bern 1910); Gayley, F. V, 'The Classic Myths in English Litera ture and in Art' (Boston 1911); Gulick, C. B., 'The Attic Prometheus' (in Harvard Studies its Classic Philology, Vol. X, p. 103, Boston 1899) ; Harry, J. E., 'Problems in the Prome theus' (in University of Cincinnati, University Studies, Series II, VoL III, No. 1, Cincinnati 1907); Hermann, J. G. J., 'De dEschyli Pro metheus Soluto' (Leipzig 1831) ; Holle, C., 'Die Prometheussage' (Berlin 1879) ; Murray, A. S., 'Manual of Mythology' (Philadelphia 1898); Preller, L, 'Griechische Mythologic' (4th ed., Vol. I, Berlin 1894); Reinach, S., (Promithee) (in Musee Guiniet Anna/es, Bib liothique de Vulgarisation, Vol. XXV, p. Paris 1907) ; Spitteler, C., 'Prometheus and Epimetheus; Em Gleichniss' (Jena 1911) ; Tatlock, J. M., 'Greek and Roman Mythology) (New York 1916) ; Walzel, 0. F., 'Das Pro metheus symbol von Shaffesbury zu Goethe' (Leipzig 1910); Wekker, F. G., 'Die Aeschy liische Prometheus' ( Darmstadt 1824); id., zu der Aeschyliiischen Trilogie Prometheus' (Frankfurt 1827).