Prometheus and Pandora

Prometheus, the Titan whose name means one who can see the future, had helped the gods come to power and had given them their jobs. He asked Zeus for permission to create a new race in the image of the gods and Zeus said yes, he could. But the one condition was that they could not have the gods special gift of fire. Prometheus went ahead to Panopeus where he got some clay and shaped it into the first men, breathing life into them. He taught humans all they needed to know about hunting, farming, writing, fishing, every art and science, he explained to them. One day an ox was slaughtered to celebrate an agreement establishing the relationship between the gods and man. Prometheus tricked Zeus. He slaughtered an ox and cut the skin in two. He gave the best part to the humans. In one of the pieces he wrapped up all the lean meat and in the other the fat and the bones and put the two before Zeus for him to choose between them. Zeus chose the half with the bones in it, and then Prometheus gave the lean meat to mankind. So in this way it became practice for men to burn the fat and bones of sacrifices as an offering to the gods and to eat the meat themselves.

Prometheus discovered that humans were going to have a very hard time if they could not cook or keep themselves warm or make anything out of metal. By now, he had a real soft spot for humans, so he decided to disobey Zeus. He sneaked up to the top of Mount Olympus while Zeus was away in Ethiopia and stole a spark of fire from the chariot of the sun-god. He hid it in a fennel bulb and gave it to the humans. When Zeus got back from Ethiopia, as it got dark, he looked

out across Greece and saw little points of light. He was furious. He realised that Prometheus had disobeyed him. Alas he paid dearly for his goodness towards mankind and his lack of respect for Zeus. He was condemned to be tied to the Caucasus Mountains. Before he left, Prometheus gave a box to his brother, Epimetheus to mind. It was locked and Prometheus explained that, on no account, was it to be opened. So his brother put it away and hid the key. Meanwhile, Zeus ordered Hephaestus the smith god to make the chains and to ensure Prometheus was tightly secured to the rock.

Every day an eagle descended upon him and ate his liver, and because Prometheus was immortal it grew back again. So the next day the eagle could come and eat it

again and again. This torture carried on for many years. Finally the hero Heracles released him from his torment.

Zeus still had to punish the human race, though. He decided to give a gift to Prometheuss brother, Epimetheus. This was Pandora, the first woman. Needless to say, Epimetheus was delighted with his gift. All was well until Pandora found the box. She was intrigued and the more Epimetheus told her that it was not to be opened, the more consumed with curiosity she became.

One day, when her husband was out, Pandora searched until she found the hidden key. She could not resist the temptation to open the box, just to take a little look. Shef opened the box, and before she could slam the lid closed, out flew all the bad things in the world famine, war, disease, anxiety, jealousy, crueltyetc. She slammed down the lid as fast as she could, but too late. Sick with anxiety, she heard a little whimpering sound inside and gradually opened the lid again, inside was a tiny little creature who flew up into the air.hope.