PrometheusPrometheusMyth and MartyrMyth and Martyr

The story of Prometheus should sound The story of Prometheus should sound familiar. His story follows the pattern familiar. His story follows the pattern of the lives of many great martyrs. He of the lives of many great martyrs. He should remind you of Dr. Martin Luther should remind you of Dr. Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and people like them King, Gandhi, and people like them who selflessly suffered for the benefit who selflessly suffered for the benefit of their fellow man.of their fellow man.

The myth of The myth of Prometheus starts long Prometheus starts long before the age of man, before the age of man, even before the age of even before the age of the gods. He was a the gods. He was a TITAN. After the battle TITAN. After the battle between the Titans and between the Titans and the gods, Prometheus the gods, Prometheus was the only Titan not was the only Titan not banished by Zeus. For banished by Zeus. For his alliance with the his alliance with the gods, he was allowed gods, he was allowed to live on Mt. Olympus. to live on Mt. Olympus. He was there when He was there when man was created.man was created.

At the dawn of the creation of man, all At the dawn of the creation of man, all the creatures of the earth had the creatures of the earth had weapons and gifts, but not man. He weapons and gifts, but not man. He was left without natural defenses. was left without natural defenses. Without the benefits of claws, wings, Without the benefits of claws, wings, or fangs, men huddled in caves, living or fangs, men huddled in caves, living in darkness and fear. in darkness and fear.

Zeus liked it this way. He knew that Zeus liked it this way. He knew that the more meek man was, the more the more meek man was, the more mighty were the gods. Zeus ordained mighty were the gods. Zeus ordained that man should never be granted the that man should never be granted the power of the gods; he wanted man to power of the gods; he wanted man to remain forever in awe of the gods. remain forever in awe of the gods. Zeus ordained man could never have Zeus ordained man could never have fire.fire.

Prometheus saw the pitiful condition of Prometheus saw the pitiful condition of man. He knew that with fire man could man. He knew that with fire man could craft weapons, dispel the darkness, craft weapons, dispel the darkness, cook his food, build homes, cities and cook his food, build homes, cities and empires. He knew that fire is the empires. He knew that fire is the fundamental element of technology, fundamental element of technology, knowledge and progress.knowledge and progress.

Prometheus made the Prometheus made the bold decision to give fire bold decision to give fire to man. His decision was to man. His decision was legally wrong, a crime, legally wrong, a crime, but morally admirable, but morally admirable, honorable, and noble. His honorable, and noble. His decision was heroic. He decision was heroic. He stood to gain nothing. He stood to gain nothing. He knew he would be knew he would be punished. He knew he punished. He knew he would suffer. And yet he would suffer. And yet he knew he could help those knew he could help those in need. He gave of in need. He gave of himself for the benefit of himself for the benefit of others.others.

Prometheus’ gift Prometheus’ gift enabled men to rival enabled men to rival the might of the gods. the might of the gods. When Zeus surveyed When Zeus surveyed the earth, he saw the earth, he saw armies of men carrying armies of men carrying shields and swords, shields and swords, sailing great ships, and sailing great ships, and living in palaces. He living in palaces. He knew instantly what knew instantly what Prometheus had done. Prometheus had done. Zeus decided to punish Zeus decided to punish Prometheus with cruel Prometheus with cruel creativity.creativity.

Prometheus was Prometheus was condemned to condemned to spend the rest of spend the rest of his immortal life his immortal life chained to a rock chained to a rock on a desolate on a desolate mountainside. His mountainside. His shackles, forged shackles, forged by mighty by mighty Hepahaestus Hepahaestus himself, could not himself, could not be broken even be broken even by a Titan. by a Titan.

His only visitor His only visitor was an eagle, the was an eagle, the sacred bird of sacred bird of Zeus, who tore at Zeus, who tore at Prometheus’ Prometheus’ flesh and flesh and devoured his liver devoured his liver each day. The each day. The blessing of his blessing of his immortality was immortality was also his curse: his also his curse: his flesh regenerated flesh regenerated each night. each night.

Some say that Some say that eventually Zeus eventually Zeus relented, and relented, and tolerated tolerated Hercules’ Hercules’ defiant act of defiant act of finding and finding and freeing freeing Prometheus Prometheus from his from his bondage. bondage.

But the power of the story of But the power of the story of Prometheus resides in our imaging Prometheus resides in our imaging him there still, accepting his plight, him there still, accepting his plight, tolerating his suffering, and tolerating his suffering, and sacrificing himself over and over – sacrificing himself over and over – entirely for the benefit of others. entirely for the benefit of others.

So go tell the myth – and live the So go tell the myth – and live the example – of Prometheus!example – of Prometheus!