Why Prometheus Risked EVERYTHING For Humans | Fate & Fabled
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- čas přidán 1. 02. 2023
- The Greek Titan Prometheus molded humans from mud and gave us fire to cook and advance our civilization - a good deed that famously didn’t go unpunished!
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Hosted by Dr. Moiya McTier & Dr. Emily Zarka, FATE & FABLED explores the stories and characters of mythologies from all around the world - why they came to be and how they impact us still today.
Host: Emily Zarka, PhD
Writer: Iseult Gillespie
Director: David Schulte
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Producer: Thomas Fernandes
Editor / Animator: Jordyn Buckland
Illustrator: Sophie Calhoun
Script Editors: Emily Zarka, PhD & Moiya McTier, PhD
Fact Checker: Yvonne McGreevy
Additional Footage: Shutterstock
Music: APM Music
Executive in Charge (PBS): Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming (PBS): Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming (PBS): John Campbell
Fate & Fabled is produced by Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.
Descriptive Audio & Captions provided by The Described and Captioned Media Program
Is nobody going to comment about how Dr. Emily said "Mary Shelley's husband Percy"? Finally, giving that woman her due respect! Percy was lucky to have found a partner with such a fertile imagination!
Glad someone caught that. As a Romanticist whose research looks at the female authorial voice, I couldn’t resist!-*Dr.Z*
@pbsstoried I mean, it's just appropriate in this case. Otherwise it'd feel like the classic "Husband of Michelle Obama".
Percy Bish Shelley is honestly less important to literature and culture than Mary.
fym? she's mf Mary Shelley
I wouldn't have recognized the name without it being introduced that way, TBH. Mary Shelly is the larger literary figure of the two.
To me as a German, Prometheus is very much connected to the poem with the same name by Goethe, where he is depicted as the one fighting against authority, specifically against religious authority with creativity/the creative act being its opposite.
Knabenmorgenblütenträume
@@ZoggFromBetelgeuse
Damn.
What does this word actually mean?
The google translation is kinda funny.
@@grim_2000 "Boyish morning flower dreams"
I suppose Goethe created this word to ridicule naive belief in religion.
Fun fact: the cliff where Prometheus was believed to have been chained was in what's now Georgia, in the Caucasus mountains.
It’s probably in Greece
@@sophisticatedchaosgb4794 It's either Mount Elbrus (Russia) or Mount Kazbek (on the border between Russia and Georgia)
Fun!
@@sophisticatedchaosgb4794 The Greek world was very much in contact with the world around them, including the people of the Caucasus mountains, and even further. The Scythians were written about quite a bit, and they were from modern day Ukraine and Russia, and during the period Herodotus was writing about Prometheus, they were found further the the East, north of the Caucasus. The myth of the Golden Fleece explicitly ends with it being found in Colchis, which was in modern day Georgia, in the Caucasus. There were Greek myths that took place in other places we don't think of as closely associated with Greece, including the Indian subcontinent (Dionysus is said to have spent time somewhere around modern day Pakistan when he was mortal, and the myth of Heracles ended up being incorporated loosely into some sects of Buddism, thanks to being brought eastward by Alexander the Great), and Andromeda was from Aethiopia, which is what the Greeks called sub-Saharan Africa (including modern day Ethiopia, which is where that country's name comes from), as well as one of the allies said to have come to the aid of Troy being a demigod from Aethiopia. There were also quite a few myths that took place in Italy and modern day Turkey, as both were heavily colonized by the Greeks (Anatolia has actually had heavy Greek settlements since sometime around 1300 BCE, although most Greeks were expelled by the Ottoman Empire and later Turkey during the chaos during and after WWI (this is part of the same efforts as the Armenian Genocide, but Greece itself was no longer under Ottoman control by that point, so more Greeks were able to escape to Greece proper).
In short, no, as someone who has taken quite a few classics courses, as well as having a special interest in Greek myth since I was a kid, it being in the Caucasus is absolutely believable. A massive portion of mythological locations in Greek myth are from well outside of what is now Greece, and indeed many are outside of areas that were predominantly Greek speaking at any point in history. The Caucasus and the Black and even Caspian seas were both very much known to the Greeks, as they were part of a trade network that went from Spain to India, and even China (although I don't think there's any evidence of Europeans visiting China before the Roman Empire, which we know from Han dynasty records, as well as some brief mentions in Roman sources, had ambassadors travel to and from China at various points).
@@sophisticatedchaosgb4794 Its told to be a mountain in caucus in all of its version of the mythology.
In Nahuatl, the word for possum is "tlacuatzin", which means "little fire-eater" for his role in stealing fire from the gods. Native American stories say that the possum's tail is bald because he carried the flame on his lit tail.
I'd love to see a video one day on the evolution of Greek Mythology, like how Zeus hasn't always been the king of the gods, but rather Poseidon was.
And how hades hasn't even existed while poseidon, demeter and persephone were the rulling power of underworld
I don’t know if these are where you learned about this, but Overly Sarcastic Productions has some videos like that.
I'd really like one with a focus on Pan in particular 👉👈
@@agoose5692 ugh yes I did! I want more! It's a fascinating concept, if a bit confusing lol.
And this is why Prometheus is one of my patron gods. He is willing to take a stand, go against the status quo, and help those need him. Regardless of the consequences. Because it’s the right thing to do.
Serve! I’ve been engaging with this energy a lot right now! I think I’ll throw an offering in his direction :)
In your experience, what does he appreciate? Thanks! ❤
@@frogchair a burning candle :) I find he likes being reminded we use his gift still.
Do you have any ancient prayers to Prometheus like Orphic Hymns? How do you pray to him if I may ask? 😅
@@elphebathewickedwitchofthe6231 no I don’t do word prayers. Just thoughts and quiet contemplation.
@@triciac.5078 oh I see. Thank you! ✨
I am Circassian from the north western Caucasus region and we have a similar figure named Sosoruko who was seen as a Nart hero who went out in the cold winter to steal fire from a giant ogre who is much stronger than Sosoruko. He challenges the ogre to various feats that the orgre continues to outdo him in including stopping a boulder rolling towards him or eating impossible things until he convinces him to see how long he can last in a freezing lake. He stays in the lake until his whole body is frozen over and he is stuck cursing the Nart's name for tricking him. Sosoruko, despite being smaller, was cunning and seized the opportunity to bring the firebrand back to provide warmth and other uses to his people making him the greatest of heroes.
Thank you for making this and mentioning my region of the world with a sister culture of ours.
You don't need fire to get a world-class burn on Musk. Nicely done.
I was afraid this was going to be about Twitter, but it was instead a legit reproach of power in true Promethean fashion!
Given enough time, his cars will supply all the fire you need.
@@mathewfinch Never trust a car that has a punch knife for a logo
Ridley Scott's Prometheus was basically about a Musk-like billionaire who is desperate to get to space for selfish reasons, surrounds himself with useful idiots, only have faith in his own creation (David), and hates his progeny. Didn't end well for him.
5:45 I like Prometheus as an activist. He does not gatekeep, gaslight and Godboss.
You managed to make me dislike one of my favourite mythological characters for a moment with the hideous word salad you vomited here.
Prometheus is for sure a Trickster God (or Demigod, anyway). Not all Tricksters are dark or destructive-in a few cultures they’re even Creator Gods. And many Tricksters are inherently more relatable to people specifically because the trouble they stir up sometimes sweeps them up themselves. Thanks for doing this topic, Emily. I’m always happy to watch anything you or Moiya write.
honestly even odin is somewhat of a trickster himself, it's just that he was able to grow after hanging himself upside down
Tricksters are always deeper than one would think , they seek to bring joy where there is pain and humble those he tricks .
Meanwhile the Mexican Prometheus (from a phehispanic legend) is the opossum, who stole the fire from giants to give it to humans, it stole the fire with its tail (the reason it's hairless now); it tricked the powerful to bring knowledge to humans and it's known to be wise, cheerful and a drinker. My favorite Prometheus
Ohhh interesting, I wonder if this is a classic example of 1 story being told down and slightly changed over time but has the same message.
Or maybe it’s just an inant human story that we naturally tell? Fascinating stuff
I’ve always heard the version that Hestia helped Prometheus smuggle fire from her hearth in a reed, but this is interesting to hear the version that he got it from Apollo’s chariot, then again Hestia is my fave
I am always happy when a new video is posted. Learning about how Prometheus is not only viewed as a creator, but also a hero and trickster. I won’t lie when I realize it was about fire thieves I was hoping the fire basenji dog from African mythology that stole fire would also make an appearance. Oh well. Thanks for expanding my knowledge on this Greek god.
It's hard to include every example in these short episodes, but that just means we save more content for future explorations!-*Dr.Z*
@@pbsstoried Hey that is totally understandable. I would not be surprised if there are multiple myths and legends that have similar stories. I am excited to see what videos you guys post this year. Thanks for posting these educational videos in an entertaining way. You are awesome Dr. Z and I am excited for the next monstrum video.
I'm sure she will do one on Coyote, Anubis, Brother Wolf and other Canine Gods eventually.
@@brettgabbitas1852 I hope so. I am a big animal lover and I love hearing myths/legends about them. Also I really love dogs, wolves, and basenjis (a breed of dog).
The multitude of stories about heroes stealing fire from the gods made me think of the first humans to learn to use fire. They'd carry these precious life-giving & life-saving sparks. Whoever controlled the stalks or whatever was used to carry these sparks would have great powers. The stories could've come from real accounts about people that gave away that fire.
to add another angle to this, it was hypothesized that the first humans cannot really make fires themselves but rather would preserve embers from natural phenomenons like lightning strikes or wildfires...literally fire from the gods. That also made the stewards of these fires very powerful peoples as you have said
It could be argued that the serpent from the garden of Eden is a Prometheus figure, as it helped bring knowledge to humans. It was then punished by having its legs removed and forced to slither on the ground.
Shhhh! 🤫
Poor guy showed he had guts, and the gods were like "We'll see about that".
Yessss!!! Finally a video about the best myth EVER.
Also, in Siberian and Native American myths, the raven has a similar role, a trickster entity who stole fire for humans and, in these versions, the raven was burnt and turned black as a punishment.
Same with coyote in pacific/inland northwest
This is true for some very specific Indigenous cultures, yes, but is not true for all or even most! The raven/crow does not play as similar a role across the breadth of Indigenous nations as is often asserted, and there are many different pyrogenisis tales, plenty of which do not fit the 'Prometheus' mold.
As an example, in my nation (from the Southeast) & among our relatives it is said that ravens/crows and buzzards try and fail to bring fire: crow/raven becomes soot stained and raspy from smoke inhalation; the feathers of buzzard's head catch fire and burn off on the way back. However, crow and buzzard aren't punished for their failure by these things--they can at the most be read as consequences of hubris. Grandmother Spider (usually small and overlooked or dismissed until the very last) uses wisdom/intellect and stealthily takes not fire but a small live coal in a covered clay pot.
@@Mockingbird_Taloa that's awesome, I guess the similarities and symbolisms are more about the fire part of the myth.
In any case, it's pretty good, please tell me more or point me in the right direction
this channel always makes me cry aha, the messages and morals are often so sweet
Prometheus is, to me, a real phenomenon and being in the sense that fire could be anything that is considered to be valuable or exlcusive to someone or something or some group of people. Prometheus essentially took pity on the humans and gave something that was only reserved for his kind and was punished for it. This could be translated into the real world where someone who is in a more privileged position shares their privileges to the less fortunated, only to be punished and forgotten.
I wish Storied also makes a video about Filipino Mythology. Our ancestors worshipped a pantheon of gods before Europeans came to our shores.
Maybe Prometheus was the real inspiration for the flames which we light every 4 years during the Olympic games?
I love how there are a couple other stories of where mortals come from in Greek myth, and we are left to either scratch our heads at which one is "canon" to Greek myth, or to try and synchronize the stories as creating different waves of humans with the different material ages.
My favorite is not a story of the Titans but of the Gigantes. Where after their own battle with the gods, Gaia was so distraught with the death of her children that she swallowed up their corpses and birthed humanity, built from their raw material.
Heh. The mythos tracked "canon" about as well as early Marvel and DC, so we have a mishmash of "reboots" when new "authors" came in that have been stitched together not entirely seamlessly.
Makes you remember that the time of Cronus was known as the golden age of humanity ironically
Greek mythology rarely fallows a concert and easy to fallow timeline. I suppose it could be instead said it was the golden age of gods as they were the undisputed rulers of all. But then came the olympians and then humans. While the gods were still at the top, humans now also had some mastery over the world as well.
Goethe wrote a very good poem in which Goethe in the spirit of Prometheus speaks to Zeus. Absolutely unrepentant. Very good essay. Thank you
Ever thought of going more into Slavic mythology and it’s pantheon and how it has been altered due to its nomadic origins and then Christianity?
Mad props to Prometheus, and (even more) nuts to Zeus.
Was just studying a bit of the Titans, seems you guys always release just the video I need!
Happy New Year, Dr. Z!
"Die on this cliff" HA! good one!!
Love the message at the end!
This is amazing!!!
It always takes me a while to force myself to watch these videos. But when I do, I get rewarded with something beautiful. Thank you.
Thanks for the video 👍🏻
I've been waiting for moment we come to this subject. Prometheus among my favorite mythological figures.
Awesome thanks for your hard work
Excellent episode! I like that you go more deeply into these subjects, that are the background to our culture, than is common. I'd love to see an episode on the idea of war in heaven, whereby one group of gods is overthrown and replaced by another - that's something you could really sink your teeth into!
Great stuff!🔥
6:50 Sick burn IMHO
Please do more episodes!
Welcome back Dr. Z!!!
I love u guys at PBS, it's better than college
Good retelling! Thanks for bringing in similar stories from other cultures! Now tell me, what's an everyday vulture?
Welcome back Dr.Z, hope all is well with your little monster!
Prometheus and Bob makes sense in retrospect.
Welcome back, Dr Z!
Prometheus is intriguingly similar to Kotar-wa-Hasis, Atrahasīs, Enki (pro-humans, craftsperson, sticking it to 'the man').
They probably refer to the same entity but over time the stories and names changed.
Prometheus is the "angel of light" in Greek mythology, Blessed Be.
YES!!!!!! 😄😃I am so happy to see these videos again!!!!!🥳 Its.... sort of like a dream come true!! 🧚♂
In the second century CE, the author and writer Lucian affirmed that during all Antiquity there was no temple of Prometheus to be found or seen.
Temples in Antiquity were built to revere deities or to honor people or persons who did important things and accomplished great deeds. People in Antiquity (and beyond) knew that Prometheus didn't achieve great things, he didn't help or benefit anybody by his actions. He used trickery to steal fire, his main reasons were envy, hubris and greed, and he was rightfully held accountable and punished.
By the way the biggest and most important temples in Antiquity were built for Zeus or Jupiter, or to the same supreme deity as Zeus when he was known or called by other names.
Zeus was in Antiquity called among other things the lord of justice, the protector of strangers, and the keeper of oaths
so good
Hail Prometheus!
Brings to mind the tale of Yeí'ł (raven) who stole the sun, moon and stars to brighten the world
I'm reading a mythology series now that ties together Greek/Norse/Polynesian myths with Prometheus, Loki and Maui being the same person: The Firebringer, who is now cursed to watch the world end again and again. Very interesting series. There's also the Raven myth from the Northwest Indigenous People: Raven steals the sun from the gods for the people.
What series is this referring to?
Matt Larkin’s Cycles of Eschaton.
In the movie adaptaion of Hugo Cabret, there is a scene of Prometheus's representing the film camera. In fact, I think this element was more explicit in the book.
The Scorsese movie?
I'm reading The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan (shout out to my niece and the podcast The Newest Olympian who employs this channel's own Moiya McTier as their mythology correspondent for getting me hooked) and it's all about the Gigantomachy and I could really use an overview of what happened in those myths next if you please! Thanks!
6:56 Tell em girl!
Thanks.
NASA "Nuclear Systems Initiative", was renamed as the Project Prometheus (also known as Project Promethean) was established in 2003 to develop nuclear-powered systems for long-duration space missions.
It is interesting that Prometheus has a similar analog in many mythologies across the world. It makes us think that maybe they are somehow based on somebody that really existed.
Yeah! Stick it to 'The Man'! ✊
One of my favourite mythological figures/Gods alongside Hades and Hermes
The SCP wiki has a bunch of great stories based upon or styled around the story of Prometheus. For example, there are a number of stories in which Prometheus Labs is a group that makes sentient androids.
Don't forget that the depiction of Prometheus as a rebel and fighter for individualism in Western European society was also massively inspired by the eponymous poem of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which was written several decades before the romantic period.
In the inspiring words of Oracle Turret: „Prometheus was punished for giving the gift of knowledge to man. He was cast into the bowels of the earth and pecked by birds.“
Prometheus seems to have some things in common with Satan. He is said to have used trickery or deceit with humans and the divine. He is said to have provided humans with the opportunity to express their free will. This free will could be like a fire of opportunities for humans to embark on their own path. Some refer to Satan as Lucifer, which I think means light bringer, but I am not sure. If so, it would be similar to Prometheus being a bringer of fire.
In Morden day, wikileak and other also related to that kind
Let me just.... Have some feelings on main for Prometheus. Like this man had foresight enough to see that the Olympians would eventually triumph. Surely, he would have the foresight to know what Zeus would do to him for giving humans fire. But he did it anyway. Prometheus looked at an eternity of liver eating pain and compared it to all that humans could be. I bet as he was being strapped to that mountain he just looked the dude in the eye and said, "worth it"
For me he stays a trickster. In so many world myths tricksters play major roles in bringing gifts to humanity. It's the going against order (from whatever motivation) that brings renewal. This lesson still stands. Old powers stifle progress. New ideas are needed, like currently regenerative design, food forests and liberating ourselves from corporate power. The people need to cheat these current Gods of their tricks and use them for all of us.
I would point out that Spiderman is also sort of a Promethian figure. He once meddled in the power of a powerful, godlike wizard named Kulaan Gath, through time travel, and he paid for his meddling by being tortured and then crucified.
😂 What?! What comic does THIS happen in, supposedly?!
Fun video, once again! Most of what I've read has been pretty Olympian-centric, so more background on Prometheus was a treat. You'd think his gift of foresight would have helped him avoid punishment, too. Seems that foresight failure could have been the inspiration for Cassandra's given punishment later, making true predictions that wouldn't be followed.
Bravery isn't the total disregard for dangers or consequences, but acting in spite of them.
@@smurfyday Totally not the point. His Spidey-sense failed when the plot needed it to.
I feel that his foresight did warn him - common sense would also have told him that stealing from the gods would get him in trouble, but foresight likely would have also at least hinted that his punishment would be very harsh. (And possibly past observation, it's not like Zeus played nice at any point, not really)
However, choosing to take the action despite the consequences - what does that change about his action and its meaning? Maybe nothing at all. Or maybe it can serve as a warning for us now. Yeah, you can stick it to the man, you can fight for others, but do so in full awareness of what consequence may come.
I think it's pretty plain that Prometheus felt like humans were worth not only the deed itself, but of the pain that came for him after.
Prometheus was a rebel.
And he knew his fate in advance and did it any way.
What's the back ground music?
And where to find it.
I’d love to see a vid or two on Xhosa/Zulu lore. Or more Southern African mythology
"Die on this cliff." Nice one.
Engagement for the engagement god! Subs for the sub throne!
There's also the Zoroastrianism version Ahura Mazda, which reminds me of his Discworld parody Fingers Mazda, who did similar things. Of course my favorite part is the Discworld troll version who stole the secret of rocks from the gods. The secret being you can use rocks to hit other things with.
I can't help but see similarities between Prometheus and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. In both you have a god who wants man to be subservient until one comes along who gives them the ability to think independently.
Oh wow I didn't think of that. Interesting indeed!
🙇 Welcome back, Dr. Z!
🎈👶🎊🤱🎂👣 🍾 And congrats again!
Can you do a video on Proteus?
“The Greek Gods are notorious for petty squabbles, brutal punishments and meddling in people’s love lives.”
Truer words have never been spoken. The Greek Gods were so petty and had Main Character Energy.
Well, I would imagine that the beings that literally run the universe would have "Main Character Energy". Can't get more main than that!
Love the romantics and Mary Shelley
Contemplate how it was the Greeks knew that the liver actually DOES regenerate. 🤯
Quest for fire!
Yey its Dr Z
Was hoping on hearing the parallels with Lucifer (light bringer) in Judaism and Christianity
I like to think Prometheus's favourite song is Fire by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown
Why is the "chained to a rock and eaten by scavenger birds" so prevalent with this type of myth? You mentioned at least 2 other cultures with that as the fire-stealer's punishment. Seems oddly specific and coincidental.
There is one mythology in some austronesian cultures where it was rice that was brought to earth
what a likeable god
Can you make a video about the asian tale of the Peacock Princess?
According to the legends of many indigenous groups from Mexico the one who stole the fire and gave it to humans was the opossum, he tricked the witch/giants/gods who where keeping it, let his tail catch fire and run back to where the humans where suffering from cold, that's why they don't have hair on their tails
What’s interesting if you look at Ancient Greek religion you see this older group of gods simultaneously diminished and answering the question: if gods always exist how can there be a new god. This is a pattern repeated in many faiths like Norse (“giants”) and even Christianity (Judaism). The old sets up the new while being dethroned. Makes for good stories too.
I still prefer to think of Frankenstein as a deadbeat dad.
In other mythos variations, the “fire” was actual magic essence.
Lit
Fire like life is ephemeral 🦔🇿🇦
Was 6:48 a Glass Onion reference? 🤭
Yep! We couldn’t resist-*Dr.Z*
@@pbsstoried OHMAYGHAD YOU RESPONDED. I LOVE YOU DR Z. I LOVE YOUR WORK AND YOUR WHOLE PERSONALITY YOU GIVE OFF IN THE VIDS. EVERYONE IN STORIED TOO.
ahem* Keep up the good work, y'alls! 🤗
Padayon~💪
prometheus = azazel, a fallen angel that taught humans how to create weapons, jewelry, and cosmetics.
What where did you get that information from now
@@miguelatkinson mostly Wiki's,
Why the weird fixation on pecking out livers?
When does monstrum usually have a new episode
Interesting that the creator and helper of humanity belonged to the older generation of deities than the ones who would rule over us.