The myth of Prometheus

Here is the myth of Prometheus: complete text by Plato.

Myth of Prometheus: the complete text of Plato.

The following text comes from the work Protagoras (320. 321c) of Plato:

There was a time when gods existed, but mortal species did not. When the time that destiny had assigned to the creation of these latter had come, the gods shaped them in the bowels of the earth from a mixture of earth and fire and of the elements which combine with fire and earth. When the time approached to bring them to the light, they charged Prometheus And Epimetheus to provide them and attribute appropriate qualities to each. But Epimetheus asked Prometheus to let him do the sharing alone. “When I have finished it,” he said, “you will come and examine it.”

His request granted, he made the division, and, in doing so, he attributed to some strength without speed, to others speed without force; he gave weapons to these, refused them to those, but he imagined other means of preservation for the latter; for to those of them whom he lodged in a small body, he gave wings to flee or an underground refuge; for those who had the advantage of large size, their size was enough to preserve them, and he applied this process of compensation to all animals. These precautionary measures were intended to prevent the disappearance of the breeds.

But when he had provided them with the means of escaping mutual destruction, he wanted to help them endure the seasons of Zeus; To do this, he imagined covering them with thick hair and tight skins, sufficient to protect them from the cold, also capable of protecting them against the heat and finally intended to serve, for the time of sleep, as natural coverings, suitable for each person. 'them ; he also gave them as shoes, either hooves made of horns, or calloused skins devoid of blood, then he provided them with varied foods according to the species, to some the grass of the ground, to others the fruits of the trees, to other roots; to some he even gave other animals to eat; but he limited their fertility and multiplied that of their victim to ensure the salvation of the race.

However, Epimetheus, who was not very thoughtful, had without being careful spent all the faculties at his disposal on the animals and he was left with human race to fill, and he didn't know what to do. In this embarrassment, Prometheus comes to examine the division; he sees the animals well provided, but the man naked, without shoes, blankets or weapons, and the appointed day was approaching when he had to be brought from the bosom of the earth into the light. Then Prometheus, not knowing what to imagine to give man the means to preserve himself, steals from Hephaestus and Athena the knowledge of the arts with fire ; because, without fire, knowledge of the arts was impossible and useless; and he makes it present to man. Man thus had the knowledge to preserve his life; but he did not have political science; it was at Zeus's house and Prometheus no longer had time to enter the acropolis where Zeus inhabits and where formidable guards also keep watch. So he slips furtively into the common workshop where Athena and Hephaestus cultivated their love of the arts, he steals from the god his art of handling fire and from the goddess the art which is proper to her, and he presents it to man, and this is how man can obtain resources to live. Subsequently, Prometheus was, it is said, punished for theft which he had committed through the fault of Epimetheus.

When man was in possession of his divine lot, first because of his affinity with the gods, he believed in their existence, privilege that he alone has of all animals, and he began to erect altars and statues for them; then he soon did, thanks to the science that he had to articulate his voice and form the names of things, to invent houses, clothes, shoes, beds, and to get food from the ground. With these resources, men originally lived isolated, and cities did not exist; also they perished under the blows of wild beasts always stronger than them; the mechanical arts were enough to sustain them; but they were of insufficient help in the war against the beasts; because they did not yet possess the political science of which military art is a part. As a result they sought to assemble and seek safety. by founding cities ; but when they came together, they harmed one another, because they lacked political science, so that they separated again and perished.

Then Zeus, fearing that our race would be wiped out, sent Hermes to bring to men modesty and justice to serve as rules for cities and unite men by the bonds of friendship. Hermes then asked Zeus in what way he should give men justice and modesty. “Should I share them as we shared the arts? Now the arts have been divided in such a way that a single man, an expert in the medical art, is sufficient for a large number of lay people, and the other artisans in the same way. Should I thus distribute justice and modesty among men or share them among all? » – “Among all, replied Zeus ; let everyone share in it, because cities could not exist if these virtues were, like the arts, the exclusive sharing of a few; further establish in my name this law that any man incapable of modesty and justice will be exterminated like a scourge of society.

This is how, Socrates, and this is why and the Athenians and others, when it comes to architecture or any other professional art, think that it is only for a few to give advice, and if someone else, outside of this small number, intervenes to give an opinion, they do not tolerate it, as you say, and they are right in my opinion. But when we deliberate on politics where everything is based on justice and temperance, they are right to admit everyone, because everyone must share in civil virtue; otherwise there is no city.

Translation by Emile Chambery.

The myth of Prometheus (Plato): explanation. What is the meaning of this legend? How to interpret it?

Nearly 3000 years old, the myth of Prometheus passed down to us by ancient Greek authors, including Hesiod, Aeschylus, Plato and Diogenes the Cynic.

In mythology, Prometheus is a Titan , in other words a primordial creature acting in the service of the gods.

We will focus here on the myth of Prometheus as reported by Plato in his work Protagoras . Plato depicts two Titans: Prometheus And Epimetheus , who are brothers. Both are charged by the gods with shaping animal species, and attributing to each of them the appropriate qualities and faculties.

Epimetheus insists on completing this task alone, asking Prometheus to come and check his work once it is completed, which Prometheus accepts.

Epimetheus carefully attributes the faculties to each species, but he realizes that he has forgotten the human race , which finds itself totally destitute, naked and weak. Both Titans are embarrassed.

Prometheus then decides to fly Hephaestus (god of fire, forging and metallurgy) and Athena (goddess of wisdom) the fire of knowledge to present it to men. This sacred fire will allow humanity to master the arts, sciences and techniques, and therefore to subsist on its own.

The gods decide to punish Prometheus for this theft.

The myth of Prometheus has a very current resonance. It illuminates the human condition and destiny particularity of man within Nature. It evokes original sin, the centering and uprooting of humanity, evil and misfortune.

Let us attempt an explanation of the myth of Prometheus according to Plato.

The myth of Prometheus: explanation.

The myth of Prometheus contains deep symbolism. It describes the error outbreak and evil as a principle opposing the good gods. The theme is the fall of humanity and the rise of civilization.

Prometheus and Epimetheus: duality, separation.

Prometheus and Epimetheus are two brothers who are similar: they both have the will to do well, but they fall into the trap of thoughtlessness and error.

In Greek mythology, the Titans symbolize the raw forces of the Earth with a tendency to revolt against the forces of the spirit (Zeus). Here we have a first dualism .

Prometheus and Epimetheus represent the separation (which is a characteristic of matter): the two Titans wanted to work separately on the creation of species; in reality, Epimetheus wanted to do everything alone, undoubtedly through pride . We can imagine that if the two brothers had worked together, they would not have made any mistakes.

It is therefore separation which establishes error and evil.

The difference between men and animals.

The myth of Prometheus illuminates the fundamental difference that exists between men and animals.

Epimetheus perfectly distributed the qualities between the animals, guaranteeing balance and harmony within Nature: the most powerful animals are also the most limited, the most fragile animals are endowed with other assets allowing their conservation. Everything is in order.

Man is an exception: Epimetheus having distributed all the qualities and attributes among the different animal species, there is nothing left for men. Prometheus then decides to steal the sacred fire of knowledge in order to offer it to men, so that they can make their own weapons and clothes.

This is how men find themselves sharing superior attributes with the gods: knowledge, intelligence, but also a certain level of consciousness .

In fact, the myth of Prometheus lays the foundations of a ambiguous report between men and gods:

• men now possess a part of the divine, which pushes them to turn to the gods and worship them: a relationship is established,
• on the other hand, the human condition is based on error and prohibition, which can only provoke the anger of the gods and the misfortune of humanity.

On the other hand, the myth of Prometheus illuminates the fundamental imbalance that exists within Nature: as man is endowed with superior power, the general harmony is called into question. The ecological crisis current is the perfect illustration of this.

The symbolism of fire.

THE fire that Prometheus stole from the gods symbolizes knowledge . In this case, it is the knowledge of the arts, sciences and techniques which make it possible to model and transform Nature (agriculture, crafts, industry, architecture, etc.); it’s as much about manual labor as it is about design and creativity.

This knowledge is linked to consciousness : it goes beyond simple knowledge, it is dynamic, animated like a flame.

Note that knowledge is stolen from Hephaestus (god of fire, forging and metallurgy) and Athena (goddess of wisdom): here we find the two aspects of knowledge, concrete and abstract.

But, the fire of knowledge being normally reserved for the gods, using it carries a risk of deviation. Poorly controlled, fire can devastate everything in its path, destroying Nature, annihilating species... and Man himself.

Original sin and its consequences.

The theft of the sacred fire of knowledge recalls the original sin from the book of Genesis ( Old Testament ). After having bitten from the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge and evil , Adam and Eve are expelled from paradise: they enter a world of work, suffering, shame and death.

Note, however, that in the myth of Prometheus, it is not a man who commits original sin, but a Titan. This Titan (Prometheus) recalls the serpent tempter of the book of Genesis, particularly in his character cunning And off-center .

Whatever happens, Man accepts his new condition: from now on, he must work to survive. It loses its spontaneous and natural character; he is condemned to live in effort, questioning, doubt, shame and guilt.

Along the same lines, the Greek poet Hesiod recounts how Pandora , the first human woman, was created on the orders of Zeus to take revenge on men following the theft of fire by Prometheus. Zeus offers Pandora's hand to Epimetheus, who accepts it without suspicion. In her luggage, Pandora brings a box which contains all the evils of humanity (old age, illness, war, famine, poverty, madness, vice, deception, passion, pride and hope). Pandora opens the box: all evils escape, except one: hope .

Ultimately, the myth of Prometheus highlights the risk of imbalance and decentring due to the human condition. Man possesses the sacred fire of knowledge, but is he really worthy of it? Current ecological disorders seem to indicate not.

Man will have to reinvent himself to survive, perhaps by making a new pact with the gods, in other words by practicing a new spirituality . Because the main obstacle to Man's survival is Man himself. In this respect, the myth of Prometheus can be compared to that of Technical progress.