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Prometheus Biography

Mythical Figure

Prometheus was the son of a Titan, one of the giant Elder Gods of Greek mythology. Prometheus was a friend to mortal men; his best-known act was sneaking into the heavens and stealing fire from the gods, which he then delivered to humans on Earth. Prometheus also foretold the doom of Zeus, but refused to tell Zeus the secret of how that doom would occur. Enraged, Zeus had Prometheus chained to a rock in the mountains, where an eagle (some say a vulture) came every day and gnawed his liver. This went on for 30 years until the hero Hercules slew the bird, ending Prometheus's torment.

Extra credit: The Greek tragedian Aeschylus wrote a famous play about the hero, Prometheus Bound. In the 19th century the poet Shelley replied with his poem Prometheus Unbound... Prometheus is sometimes called "the fire-bringer."

Prometheus appears with Mickey Mantle in our loop on Liver Trouble.