The majority of plays written by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides have been lost to literary antiquity, including many of their writings on Prometheus. Both during and after the Renaissance, Prometheus would again emerge as a major inspiration for his literary and poetic significance as a symbol and archetype to inspire new generations of artists, sculptors, poets, musicians, novelists, playwrights, inventors, technologists, engineers and film makers. His literary and mythological personage remains prominently portrayed in contemporary sculpture, art and literary expression including Mary Shelleys portrayal of Frankenstein as The Modern Prometheus. The influence of the myth of Prometheus extends well into the 2. The artificial chemical element Promethium is named from it. EtymologyeditThe etymology of the theonym prometheus is debated. The classical view is that it signifies forethought, as that of his brother Epimetheus denotes afterthought. It has been theorized that it derives from the Proto Indo European root that also produces the Vedicpra math, to steal, hence pramathyu s, thief, cognate with Prometheus, the thief of fire. The Vedic myth of fires theft by Mtarivan is an analog to the Greek account. Pramantha was the tool used to create fire. Myths and legendseditOldest legendseditThe four most ancient sources for understanding the origin of the Prometheus myths and legends all rely on the images represented in the Titanomachy, or the cosmological struggle between the Greek gods and their parents, the Titans. Prometheus, himself a Titan, managed to avoid being in the direct confrontational cosmic battle between Zeus and the other Olympians against Cronus and the other Titans. Prometheus therefore survived the struggle in which the offending Titans were eternally banished by Zeus to the chthonic depths of Tartarus, only to survive to confront Zeus on his own terms in subsequent climactic struggles. The greater Titanomachia depicts an overarching metaphor of the struggle between generations, between parents and their children, symbolic of the generation of parents needing to eventually give ground to the growing needs, vitality, and responsibilities of the new generation for the perpetuation of society and survival interests of the human race as a whole. Prometheus and his struggle would be of vast merit to human society as well in this mythology as he was to be credited with the creation of humans and therefore all of humanity as well. The four most ancient historical sources for the Prometheus myth are Hesiod, Homer, Pindar, and Pythagoras. Hesiods Theogony and Works Of The DayseditThe Prometheus myth first appeared in the late 8th century BCE Greek epic poet Hesiods Theogony lines 5. He was a son of the Titan. Iapetus by Clymene, one of the Oceanids. He was brother to Menoetius, Atlas, and Epimetheus. In the Theogony, Hesiod introduces Prometheus as a lowly challenger to Zeuss omniscience and omnipotence. In the trick at Mekone, a sacrificial meal marking the settling of accounts between mortals and immortals, Prometheus played a trick against Zeus 5. He placed two sacrificial offerings before the Olympian a selection of beef hidden inside an oxs stomach nourishment hidden inside a displeasing exterior, and the bulls 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. Prometheus, however, stole fire back in a giant fennel stalk and restored it to humanity. This further enraged Zeus, who sent Pandora, the first woman, to live with humanity. Pandora was fashioned by Hephaestus out of clay and brought to life by the four winds, with all the goddesses of Olympus assembled to adorn her. From her is the race of women and female kind, Hesiod writes 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. Prometheus Brings Fire by Heinrich Friedrich Fger. Prometheus brings fire to mankind as told by Hesiod, with its having been hidden as revenge for the trick at Mecone. Prometheus, in eternal punishment, is chained to a rock in the Caucasus, where his liver is eaten daily by an eagle,7 only to be regenerated by night, due to his immortality. The eagle is a symbol of Zeus himself. Years later, the Greek hero Heracles Hercules slays the eagle and frees Prometheus from the eagles torment. Hesiod revisits the story of Prometheus in the Works and Days lines 4. Here, the poet expands upon Zeuss reaction to Prometheuss deception. Not only does Zeus withhold fire from humanity, but the means of life, as well 4. Had Prometheus not provoked Zeuss wrath 4. Hesiod also expands upon the Theogonys story of the first woman, now explicitly called Pandora all gifts.