Prometheus (Forethought)
titanThe Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, suffering eternal punishment for the gift.
The Myth
Prometheus, whose name means forethought, was the son of Iapetus and Clymene. He was the great champion of humanity, defying Zeus twice on mankind's behalf. First, at Mecone, he tricked Zeus during the division of sacrificial meat, wrapping bones in glistening fat while hiding the choice meat under the stomach lining. Zeus, forced to choose the attractive portion, received only bones — establishing the precedent that humans keep the best meat while gods receive smoke and fat. Enraged, Zeus withheld fire from mortals. Prometheus stole it in a fennel stalk from the forge of Hephaestus and delivered it to humanity. For this crime, Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock in the Caucasus where an eagle devoured his liver each day, the organ regenerating each night. This continued for generations until Heracles shot the eagle and freed the Titan — with Zeus's eventual consent, to glorify his son.
Fun Fact
Element 61, promethium, was named after Prometheus — fitting, as it was created by nuclear fission, a modern theft of fire.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Iapetus
titanIapetus was the Titan whose sons shaped humanity's relationship with the gods more than any other...
Prometheus
titanThe Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, earning eternal punishment....
Prometheus (Punishment)
titanTitan who stole fire from the gods for humanity and was chained to a mountain where an eagle ate...
Prometheus (Titan)
titanPrometheus the Titan was the creator and champion of humanity whose gift of fire sparked...
Titan War (Titanomachy)
titanThe ten-year war between the Titans and the Olympians that reshaped the cosmos and established...
Clymene
titanAn Oceanid-Titaness best known as the mother of Prometheus, Atlas, and the other sons of Iapetus...
Hephaestus
godThe divine blacksmith of Olympus, god of fire and the forge. Despite being lame, Hephaestus created...
Hephaestus (Smith)
godHephaestus was the divine smith who forged Achilles' shield, Harmonia's necklace, Pandora herself,...
Heracles
heroThe greatest hero of Greek mythology, son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. Famous for his...
Prometheus (Culture Hero)
heroPrometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, for which Zeus chained him to a rock...
Prometheus (Fire)
conceptThe fire stolen from the gods by Prometheus and given to humanity, enabling civilization. Fire...
Prometheus Bound (Myth)
conceptThe punishment of Prometheus, chained to a rock in the Caucasus where an eagle devoured his...