Prometheus
The Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, earning eternal punishment. Prometheus is one of mythology's greatest rebels and benefactors.
The Myth of Prometheus
Prometheus was a second-generation Titan whose name means "forethought." Unlike most Titans, he sided with Zeus during the Titanomachy and was spared imprisonment. But his true allegiance was always to humanity. He was credited with creating mankind from clay and teaching them the arts of civilization.
When Zeus withheld fire from mortals, Prometheus stole it from the forge of Hephaestus, hiding the flame in a hollow fennel stalk. He brought it down to earth, giving humanity the foundation for all technology, warmth, and progress. Zeus was furious at this defiance.
As punishment, Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains. Each day, an eagle tore out his liver; each night, it regenerated, only to be devoured again. This torment lasted for millennia until Heracles, with Zeus's permission, finally freed him. Prometheus became a symbol of rebellion against tyranny and the cost of bringing knowledge to the world.
Parents
Iapetus and Clymene
Children
Deucalion
Symbols
Fun Fact
The element Promethium (atomic number 61) was named after Prometheus because it was first produced in a nuclear reactor — fire from the gods, indeed.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Prometheus
🏔 titanTitan of forethought
Prometheus the Titan was the creator and champion of humanity whose gift of fire sparked civilisation and whose punishment on the Caucasus became a symbol of defiant resistance.
Prometheus
🏔 titanTitan champion of humanity
The Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, suffering eternal punishment for the gift.
Prometheus
🏔 titanpunishment
Titan who stole fire from the gods for humanity and was chained to a mountain where an eagle ate his liver daily.
Menoetius
🏔 titanHubris, Recklessness
A second-generation Titan struck down by Zeus for his violent pride during the war between gods and Titans.
Epimetheus
🏔 titanTitan who accepted Pandora
The Titan whose name means afterthought — he accepted Pandora despite his brother's warning, unleashing suffering.
Epimetheus
🏔 titanTitan of afterthought
Epimetheus was Prometheus's dim-witted brother whose name means "afterthought" — he accepted Pandora despite his brother's warnings, unleashing all evils upon humanity.
Menoetius
🏔 titanTitan of violent anger and rash action
A Titan struck down by Zeus for his hubris and violent temper during the war between Titans and Olympians.
Atlas
🏔 titanTitan condemned to hold up the sky
The Titan who was condemned to hold the celestial sphere on his shoulders for eternity. His name became synonymous with endurance and with books of maps.
Kronos
🏔 titanTitan, father of the Olympians
King of the Titans who ruled during the mythological Golden Age. Kronos overthrew his father Ouranos and was in turn overthrown by his son Zeus.
Iapetus
🏔 titanTitan father of Prometheus and Atlas
Iapetus was the Titan whose sons shaped humanity's relationship with the gods more than any other divine family.
Atlas
🏔 titanTitan condemned to hold the sky
The Titan condemned to bear the weight of the heavens on his shoulders at the western edge of the world for eternity.
Coeus
🏔 titanTitan of intellect
Coeus was the Titan of rational intelligence and the celestial axis — grandfather of Apollo and Artemis through his daughter Leto.