Prometheus

 

I couldn't wait to develop the 4 year plan for reading "good for me" literature (who even does that?).so I began right away with Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus,

I had heard about Prometheus and his giving fire to humans and his providing an eagle with a daily liver charcuterie but I didn't know who he was or who chained him or why he was chained. I read the play (total transparency here: I fell asleep twice) and realizing I needed help, I looked to YouTube. Luckily I found Zaireeto's synopsis of the Prometheus Bound - Ancient Greek Play. 

I then read the play again, this time with eyes open.

As a result I met Hephaestus, Ion, and Hermes and I whet my appetite to get Prometheus' full story.

It turns out that the Wikipedia article Prometheus has the full story, but, alas, I found myself falling asleep (AGAIN!).  So I looked for some fun ways to feed my mind:

• If you want the full story, watch the 5 minute TED ed production of The Myth of Prometheus. Iseult Gillespie does a good job of weaving together the various writings in which Prometheus lives.  Iseult also includes 19th century works in which he plays a starring role, which is a way that artists and thinkers participate in Hutchins' and Adler's the Great Conversation. The only quibble that I have with Iseult is that he uses a vulture instead of an eagle. (2018)

• For a tease about how widespread the myth is watch the 8 minute PBS production of Why Prometheus risked everything for humans. Iseult Gillespie also wrote this and includes snippets of Promethean heroes in other cultures. (2023)

• As I mentioned above, here's the 6 minute Zaireeto synopsis of the Prometheus Bound - Ancient Greek Play written by Aeschylus. (2023) 

Finally, if you want to read the play and part of Plato's dialogue:

• A 40 page script of Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus, translated by Ian Johnston. (2012)

• A paraphrase of the paragraph in the dialogue Protagoras by Plato, where Protagoras uses Prometheus to illustrate his claim that virtue can be taught.

 One great read complete, 199 to go! : )