Editing Prometheus (section)

=====''Theogony''=====
[[File:Prometheus Adam Louvre MR1745 edit atoma.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Prometheus depicted in a sculpture by [[Nicolas-Sébastien Adam]], 1762 ([[Louvre]])]]

The first recorded account of the Prometheus myth appeared in the late 8th-century BC [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] epic poet [[Hesiod]]'s ''[[Theogony]]''. In that account, Prometheus was a son of the [[Titan (mythology)|Titan]] [[Iapetus (mythology)|Iapetus]] by [[Clymene (wife of Iapetus)|Clymene]] or [[Asia (Oceanid)|Asia]], one of the [[Oceanids]]. He was brother to [[Menoetius (mythology)|Menoetius]], [[Atlas (mythology)|Atlas]], and [[Epimetheus (mythology)|Epimetheus]]. Hesiod, in ''Theogony'', introduces Prometheus as a lowly challenger to [[Zeus]]'s omniscience and omnipotence.

In the [[trick at Mecone]], a sacrificial meal marking the "settling of accounts" between mortals and immortals, Prometheus played a trick against Zeus. He placed two sacrificial offerings before the Olympian: a selection of beef hidden inside an ox's stomach (nourishment hidden inside a displeasing exterior), and the bull's bones wrapped completely in "glistening fat" (something inedible hidden inside a pleasing exterior). Zeus chose the latter, setting a precedent for future sacrifices. Henceforth, humans would keep that meat for themselves and burn the bones wrapped in fat as an offering to the gods. This angered Zeus, who hid fire from humans in retribution. In this version of the myth, the use of fire was already known to humans, but withdrawn by Zeus.<ref>[[Martin Litchfield West|M. L. West]] commentaries on Hesiod, W.J. Verdenius commentaries on Hesiod, and R. Lamberton's ''Hesiod'', pp. 95–100.</ref>

Prometheus stole fire back from Zeus in a [[fennel]] stalk and restored it to humanity. This further enraged Zeus, who sent the first woman to live with humanity ([[Pandora]], not explicitly mentioned). The woman, a "shy maiden", was fashioned by [[Hephaestus]] out of clay and Athena helped to adorn her properly. Hesiod writes, "From her is the race of women and female kind: of her is the deadly race and tribe of women who live amongst mortal men to their great trouble, no helpmeets in hateful poverty, but only in wealth". For his crimes, Prometheus was punished by Zeus, who bound him with chains and sent an eagle to eat Prometheus' immortal liver every day, which then grew back every night. Years later, the Greek hero [[Heracles]], with Zeus' permission, killed the eagle and freed Prometheus from this torment.
[[File:Heinrich fueger 1817 prometheus brings fire to mankind.jpg|thumb|right|upright|''Prometheus Brings Fire'' by [[Heinrich Friedrich Füger]]. Prometheus brings fire to mankind as told by Hesiod, with its having been hidden as revenge for the trick at Mecone.]]