OUA HST 140 Assessment task 2

by Feodor Weissmann

student ID 40899152

1. Describe Prometheus' role in humanity's primal history according to Hesiod.

From the first sight according to Hesiod, Prometheus plays a role of biblical snake in humanity's primal history. However in Hesiod`s poem "snake" does not influence the woman, he triggers the event that lead to her creation. Prometheus painted as a challengers Zeus' world order in relations with humans (Theogany (507-543)). First he intervenes in sacrificial meat division, tricking Zeus to accept bull`s bones as an offering (Theogany (545-557)). Later on then Zeus decided to punish mortals by withholding fire from them. Prometheus steals the fire and gives it to the mortals. When Zeus discovers that fire is being given to humans he enrages and as a punishment creates first woman and sends her to world of men . This women bring with her all the "joys" of physical labor and she finalizes separation of mortal and divine realms. You might consider Prometheus a rebel to Zeus or a protector of humanity but one thing is certain, his actions triggered and shaped the human world that Hesiod portrayed. Prometheus portrayed as arrogant titan, his squabble with Zeus has a catastrophic

consequences for humanity. Not only they have to work to support themselves now, the whole situation brings with itself technological progress, it is something that through the course of history was very military oriented. We have the need to support themselves with technical progress, we now have wars and destruction among the humans.

2. How is Plato's Prometheus different from Hesiod's ? What is the significance of the difference to the myth?

In Plato`s version of events Prometheus is not a rebel but was order by Olympians, along with his brother to distribute appropriate capabilities to animals and human. Prometheus`s brother, Epimethius over-distributed capabilities to animals and then it came to humans they are left : "unclothed, unshod, unbedded, unarmed" (Protagoras 321c). Trying to fulfill his mission (with whatever reasons), Prometheus, in state of confusion steals the wisdom from the gods. This is not an act of mutiny, he is fulfilling his mission , mission what Zeus himself has order him to do. Neither this is an act of luxury, this has to do with pure survival of the human kind, it is something what absolutely must be done. Such presentation of the event adds ethical acceptance to this Prometheus doing, clearing any considerations or accusation of Prometheus for human poor being as a result of his actions. In this version of events Prometheus portrayed not as a "snake" but rather a "Messiah" sacrificing himself for the survival of the species he is not part of but feels very passionate towards. Technological progress triggered by Prometheus is not a bad thing, it is necessity since humanity could not survived otherwise. The conflict with Zeus is not emphasized and it is Zeus that ensures the survival of humanity by giving them common moral (set of accepted ethical lows) ground. Protagor states that "here's an extra bit of evidence" (Protagoras 323a) that it had turned out tight and humanity learned to survive and made an order based on the laws given to them by Zeus. Protagor sees the whole episode from a favorable point of view, something that Hesiod is missing then he lays out the story.

Bibliography:

Theogany by Hesiod

Protagoras speach by Plato.