The intent of this paper is to document the Promethean revolt against Zeus discussed in the first two chapters of Anthony M. Ludovici’s “Man's Decent from the Gods". Like Ludovici, most readers would agree that in “Prometheus Bound“ Aeschylus’ Prometheus is the protector of mankind and a blameless hero”. Zeus on the other hand, the poet villianized as the “arch-oppressor.” The premise of Ludovici’s first two chapters boils down to a question in which he follows Professor Blackie,
“ … Prometheus appears as the most oppressed of martyrs, and Zeus
as the most unjust of tyrants, the question arises how an Athenian
audience, could tolerate such a representation ?"
Zeus appears extravagant in his wrath regarding culture-hero's deed, and inflicts upon the Titan a cruel and savage punishment. But Prometheus apparently conferred a benefit upon mankind. He gave them a coveted power, fire. Was this a deed that could be justly rewarded with the excruciating punishment?
Prometheus (Forethought) was one of the Iapetides, the brothers that lead the younger Titans in the ten-year war against the Olympian. He switched sides at some point taking along his brother Epimetheus. Prometheus, was first cousin to Zeus and brother to the fallen Titan leader s Atlas and Menoetius. Ludovici suggests that Prometheus was a perfect blend of the two races. All the second generation Titians who fought against the Olympian were the sons of nymphs rather than the sons of Titanesses. Ludovici refers to Prometheus as a turncoat and a traitor. “In the Theogony, even before his tricks are disclosed, Hesiod refers to him as a matter of course as " clever Prometheus, full of various wiles” Ludovici adds that Prometheus was “ believed to surpass mankind in cunning and fraud shows him, from the first, to be curiously associated with the mankind.” Ludovici suggest that he was even playing for popularity among men and suspect his aspiration to lead mankind in a revolt against Zeus
Ludovici suggests that, following the end of the Titanomachy before the division of spoils at Mecone, mankind lived an idyllic life, where the living was easy and wild food abundant. After Prometheus tricked Zeus into taking the worst part of the sacrifice for the gods (or after Zeus allowed himself to be tricked), Zeus removed fire from the earth and made life much harder. The “once and for always” agreement made at Mecone did not end up being the best for mankind. At which point Ludovici comments, “Outwitted by Zeus at Mecone, and finding himself even less popular than before with mankind because by identifying himself with them he made their position worse than previous … now makes his highest bid for popularity among the ignorant and inferior men. Thwarted and desperate, he resolves to reinstate himself in their favor by any means, at all costs. “
At which point Prometheus stole fire from Heaven. Either from Helios’s chariot or Hephaestus furnace. Both of whom are the most marginalized of the Olympian gods. (See my article “Friendship Amongst the Gods.”)
Zeus retaliates with the creation of Pandora; a mortal woman full of the gods’ gifts. She weds Epimetheus and shortly thereafter “Pandora then lifted the lid of the vessel in which the foresight of Prometheus concealed all the evils which might torment mortals in life, and diseases and suffering of every kind now issued forth” I always wondered how they got into to there.
Consequently, “the stealing of fire, with all its consequences, was by no means an unmixed blessing to those for whom it was stolen. We encounter this Promethean spirit, as the wrecker of mankind's happiness on earth. Ludovici suggests that knowledge of Prometheus crimes against humanity is why Plato’s twenty thousand friendly faces at the drama tolerated Zeus cruelty to the fallen Titan. He deserved it. Ludovici argues that “ The Greeks loved and revered Zeus very much more than they loved and revered Prometheus. Does not Hesiod speak of Zeus as the most excellent among the gods, as the father who distributed fairly to the immortals their portions and declared their privileges,”
Prometheus was chained to Mount Caucasus, by Cratos and Bia and tormented by an eagle every day devouring his liver that was restored in the night.
Ludovici therefore concludes that “the punishment of Prometheus, cruel as it was, appeared just and well- deserved to the ancient Greek mind…because; “1. “…of the infinite trust the ancient Greek had in the wisdom and justice of Zeus.
2. “…the career of crime imputed to Prometheus, in which Zeus figures not only as an outraged god, but also as a benevolent power who ultimately pardons the deceiver3. “…while in the Prometheus Bound of Aeschylus we have only one section of a trilogy …. How do we know what the other parts of the trilogy contained, what balance they struck between the myths’ two principal figures Zeus and Prometheus and how much they modified the impression made by the Prometheus Bound?” Greek choruses are notorious for the sympathy they show the character on the stage; most disturbingly in “Medea”
Ludovici tried to show, the crimes of the Titan Prometheus proved a disaster to mankind, and that benevolent Zeus was conceived by the Athenian audiences at the dramas as being so deeply outraged by their suffering.“Zeus, therefore, stands for the sound principle in Greek life, for the beneficent power meaning well by man ; Prometheus stands for the reverse, for the malign power the power that descends to any shift, however base, in order to satisfy the blind Promethean ambition”
Note; There is some argument to the notion that “men” were mightier than gods. At least in the case of demi-gods. See James C.Hogan and David J. Scheneker; Challenging Otherness. In which they list a number of mortals who got the better of various gods. And my paper “Five Reasons to Fight the Fates”.
“ … Prometheus appears as the most oppressed of martyrs, and Zeus
as the most unjust of tyrants, the question arises how an Athenian
audience, could tolerate such a representation ?"
Zeus appears extravagant in his wrath regarding culture-hero's deed, and inflicts upon the Titan a cruel and savage punishment. But Prometheus apparently conferred a benefit upon mankind. He gave them a coveted power, fire. Was this a deed that could be justly rewarded with the excruciating punishment?
Prometheus (Forethought) was one of the Iapetides, the brothers that lead the younger Titans in the ten-year war against the Olympian. He switched sides at some point taking along his brother Epimetheus. Prometheus, was first cousin to Zeus and brother to the fallen Titan leader s Atlas and Menoetius. Ludovici suggests that Prometheus was a perfect blend of the two races. All the second generation Titians who fought against the Olympian were the sons of nymphs rather than the sons of Titanesses. Ludovici refers to Prometheus as a turncoat and a traitor. “In the Theogony, even before his tricks are disclosed, Hesiod refers to him as a matter of course as " clever Prometheus, full of various wiles” Ludovici adds that Prometheus was “ believed to surpass mankind in cunning and fraud shows him, from the first, to be curiously associated with the mankind.” Ludovici suggest that he was even playing for popularity among men and suspect his aspiration to lead mankind in a revolt against Zeus
Ludovici suggests that, following the end of the Titanomachy before the division of spoils at Mecone, mankind lived an idyllic life, where the living was easy and wild food abundant. After Prometheus tricked Zeus into taking the worst part of the sacrifice for the gods (or after Zeus allowed himself to be tricked), Zeus removed fire from the earth and made life much harder. The “once and for always” agreement made at Mecone did not end up being the best for mankind. At which point Ludovici comments, “Outwitted by Zeus at Mecone, and finding himself even less popular than before with mankind because by identifying himself with them he made their position worse than previous … now makes his highest bid for popularity among the ignorant and inferior men. Thwarted and desperate, he resolves to reinstate himself in their favor by any means, at all costs. “
At which point Prometheus stole fire from Heaven. Either from Helios’s chariot or Hephaestus furnace. Both of whom are the most marginalized of the Olympian gods. (See my article “Friendship Amongst the Gods.”)
Zeus retaliates with the creation of Pandora; a mortal woman full of the gods’ gifts. She weds Epimetheus and shortly thereafter “Pandora then lifted the lid of the vessel in which the foresight of Prometheus concealed all the evils which might torment mortals in life, and diseases and suffering of every kind now issued forth” I always wondered how they got into to there.
Consequently, “the stealing of fire, with all its consequences, was by no means an unmixed blessing to those for whom it was stolen. We encounter this Promethean spirit, as the wrecker of mankind's happiness on earth. Ludovici suggests that knowledge of Prometheus crimes against humanity is why Plato’s twenty thousand friendly faces at the drama tolerated Zeus cruelty to the fallen Titan. He deserved it. Ludovici argues that “ The Greeks loved and revered Zeus very much more than they loved and revered Prometheus. Does not Hesiod speak of Zeus as the most excellent among the gods, as the father who distributed fairly to the immortals their portions and declared their privileges,”
Prometheus was chained to Mount Caucasus, by Cratos and Bia and tormented by an eagle every day devouring his liver that was restored in the night.
Ludovici therefore concludes that “the punishment of Prometheus, cruel as it was, appeared just and well- deserved to the ancient Greek mind…because; “1. “…of the infinite trust the ancient Greek had in the wisdom and justice of Zeus.
2. “…the career of crime imputed to Prometheus, in which Zeus figures not only as an outraged god, but also as a benevolent power who ultimately pardons the deceiver3. “…while in the Prometheus Bound of Aeschylus we have only one section of a trilogy …. How do we know what the other parts of the trilogy contained, what balance they struck between the myths’ two principal figures Zeus and Prometheus and how much they modified the impression made by the Prometheus Bound?” Greek choruses are notorious for the sympathy they show the character on the stage; most disturbingly in “Medea”
Ludovici tried to show, the crimes of the Titan Prometheus proved a disaster to mankind, and that benevolent Zeus was conceived by the Athenian audiences at the dramas as being so deeply outraged by their suffering.“Zeus, therefore, stands for the sound principle in Greek life, for the beneficent power meaning well by man ; Prometheus stands for the reverse, for the malign power the power that descends to any shift, however base, in order to satisfy the blind Promethean ambition”
Note; There is some argument to the notion that “men” were mightier than gods. At least in the case of demi-gods. See James C.Hogan and David J. Scheneker; Challenging Otherness. In which they list a number of mortals who got the better of various gods. And my paper “Five Reasons to Fight the Fates”.
