PROMETHEUS - ZEUS |
Session I |
In Greek mythology, there were eight Titans. They were of a generation prior
to the chief Greek god Zeus. The wisest of those Titans, Prometheus, befriended
the newly-made humans, and taught them "architecture, astronomy, mathematics,
navigation, medicine, metallurgy, and other useful arts" (1).
The newly-made humans lived in dark caves and were cold. Prometheus compared
their condition to those which the gods enjoyed in their home on Mount Olympus,
and he suggested to Zeus that humans as well as gods be given the gift of fire.
Zeus refused, claiming fire as a divine privilege. Finally Prometheus hid a
spark of that divine fire in a hollow branch, snuck it out of Olympus, and brought
it to humans in the dark and cold caves. Zeus saw the fires on earth and smelled
food cooking.