Irlandos at 15:33, December 27, 2006

2006-12-27T15:33:16Z

Irlandos at 15:32, December 27, 2006

2006-12-27T15:32:12Z

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'''''Prometheus Bound''''' ([[Greek language|Greek]] Προμηθεύς Δεσμώτης) is an [[Ancient Greek theatre|Ancient Greek play]]. It is traditionally attributed to [[Aeschylus]], but is now considered by some scholars to be the work of another hand, perhaps one as late as the [[4th century BC]]. However, it is still normally included in collected editions of Aeschylus. There is evidence that it was the first play in a trilogy, but the other two plays, ''[[Prometheus Unbound]]'' and ''[[Prometheus Pyrphoros]]'', survive only in fragments.

The play is based on the myth of [[Prometheus]], a [[titan (mythology)|titan]] who gave the gift of fire to mortals and was punished by the god [[Zeus]] for this. Prometheus (whose name means 'foreknowledge') possessed prophetic knowledge of the person who would one day overthrow Zeus, but refused to divulge this information.

==Synopsis==

The play is composed almost entirely of speeches and contains little action since its protagonist is chained and immobile throughout. At the beginning, [[Cratos]] (strength), [[Bia]] (violence), and [[Hephaestus]] the [[blacksmith|smithy]]-god chain Prometheus to a mountain in the [[Caucasus]] and then depart. The daughters of [[Okeanos]], who make up the [[Greek chorus|chorus]], appear and attempt to comfort Prometheus by conversing with him. Oceanos himself, a friend, arrives and warns Prometheus not to arouse the further wrath of Zeus by boasting of the god's future overthrow. Prometheus is then visited by [[Io (mythology)|Io]], a maiden whom Zeus pursued, and who has been changed into a cow by [[Zeus]] to save her from the wrath of [[Hera]]; Prometheus gives her knowledge of her own future, telling her that one of her descendants will release him from his torment. Finally, [[Hermes]] the messenger-god is sent down by the angered Zeus to demand that Prometheus tell him who threatens to overthrow him. Prometheus refuses, and Zeus strikes him with a thunderbolt that plunges Prometheus into the abyss.

==Themes==

Throughout the play, Prometheus remains defiant, identifying Zeus as a tyrant and criminal. He contrasts his own concern and sacrifice for the race of mortal men with Zeus's desire to destroy them. This treatment of Zeus is quite different from his treatment in other Attic plays, and perhaps suggests that Aeschylus, who elsewhere described Zeus as 'father of gods and man', was not the author. It is possible that the play was written as a political allegory.

==Reputation==

''Prometheus Bound'' was not highly regarded among Greek plays until the early [[nineteenth century]], when Romantic writers came to identify with the defiant Prometheus. [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] wrote a poem on the theme, and [[Lord Byron]] became attached to the play in childhood, and claimed that it worked its way into everything he wrote. Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a poem, ''[[Prometheus Unbound]]'', which used some of the materials of the play as a vehicle for Shelley's own vision.

==Memorable lines==

*''To sungenes toi deinon he th'omilia.'' (Kinship and companionship are not small things.)
*''Homoia morphei glossa sou geruetai.'' (Your speech and your appearance — both alike.)
*''Tuphlas in autois elpidas katoikisa.'' (I established in them blind hopes.)
*''Saphos m'es oikon sos logos stellei palin.'' (Your speech returns me clearly home.)

==Translations==
* Edward Hayes Plumptre, 1868 - verse: [http://www.bartleby.com/8/4/ full text]
* J. Case, 1905 - verse
* Robert Whitelaw, 1907 - verse
* E. D. A. Morshead, 1908 - verse
* Walter Headlam and C. E. S. Headlam, 1909 - prose
* Herbert Weir Smyth, 1926 - prose: [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=aesch.+pb+1 full text]
* Clarence W. Mendell, 1926 - verse
* Robert C. Trevelyan, 1939 - verse
* David Grene, 1942 - prose and verse
* E. A. Havelock, 1950 -prose and verse
* Philip Vellacott, 1961 - verse
* Paul Roche, 1964 - verse
* C. John Herrington and James Scully, 1975 - verse
* unknown translator - verse: [http://classics.mit.edu/Aeschylus/prometheus.html full text]
* G. Theodoridis full text: [http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/soloword/]

==Additional resources==
*[http://www.sparknotes.com/drama/prometheus/ Sparknotes.com Entry on Prometheus Bound.]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Ancient Greek plays]]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==Synopsis==
-The play is composed almost entirely of speeches and contains little action since its protagonist is chained and immobile throughout. At the beginning, [[Cratos]] (strength), [[Bia]] (violence), and [[Hephaestus]] the [[blacksmith|smithy]]-god chain Prometheus to a mountain in the [[Caucasus]] and then depart. The daughters of [[Okeanos]], who make up the [[Greek chorus|chorus]], appear and attempt to comfort Prometheus by conversing with him. Oceanos himself, a friend, arrives and warns Prometheus not to arouse the further wrath of Zeus by boasting of the god's future overthrow. Prometheus is then visited by [[Io (mythology)|Io]], a maiden whom Zeus pursued, and who has been changed into a cow by [[Zeus]] to save her from the wrath of [[Hera]]; Prometheus gives her knowledge of her own future, telling her that one of her descendants will release him from his torment. Finally, [[Hermes]] the messenger-god is sent down by the angered Zeus to demand that Prometheus tell him who threatens to overthrow him. Prometheus refuses, and Zeus strikes him with a thunderbolt that plunges Prometheus into the abyss.
+The play is composed almost entirely of speeches and contains little action since its protagonist is chained and immobile throughout. At the beginning, [[Cratos]] (strength), [[Bia]] (violence), and [[Hephaestus]] the smithy-god chain Prometheus to a mountain in the [[Caucasus]] and then depart. The daughters of [[Okeanos]], who make up the [[Greek chorus|chorus]], appear and attempt to comfort Prometheus by conversing with him. Oceanos himself, a friend, arrives and warns Prometheus not to arouse the further wrath of Zeus by boasting of the god's future overthrow. Prometheus is then visited by [[Io (mythology)|Io]], a maiden whom Zeus pursued, and who has been changed into a cow by [[Zeus]] to save her from the wrath of [[Hera]]; Prometheus gives her knowledge of her own future, telling her that one of her descendants will release him from his torment. Finally, [[Hermes]] the messenger-god is sent down by the angered Zeus to demand that Prometheus tell him who threatens to overthrow him. Prometheus refuses, and Zeus strikes him with a thunderbolt that plunges Prometheus into the abyss.
 ==Themes==
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==Reputation==
-''Prometheus Bound'' was not highly regarded among Greek plays until the early [[nineteenth century]], when Romantic writers came to identify with the defiant Prometheus. [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] wrote a poem on the theme, and [[Lord Byron]] became attached to the play in childhood, and claimed that it worked its way into everything he wrote.  Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a poem, ''[[Prometheus Unbound]]'', which used some of the materials of the play as a vehicle for Shelley's own vision.
+''Prometheus Bound'' was not highly regarded among Greek plays until the early [[nineteenth century]], when Romantic writers came to identify with the defiant Prometheus. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote a poem on the theme, and [[Lord Byron]] became attached to the play in childhood, and claimed that it worked its way into everything he wrote.  Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a poem, ''[[Prometheus Unbound]]'', which used some of the materials of the play as a vehicle for Shelley's own vision.
 ==Memorable lines==

Prometheus Bound - Revision history

Irlandos at 15:33, December 27, 2006

Irlandos at 15:32, December 27, 2006