Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης
Prometheus Bound
Aeschylus · Date unknown · authorship disputed
For giving fire to men, Prometheus is chained to a rock at the edge of the world on Zeus’ orders. He knows a secret that could bring Zeus down, and will not tell it.
Persons, in order of appearance
- Κρ.Power
- Ηφ.Hephaestus
- Πρ.Prometheus
- Χο.Chorus
- Ωκ.Oceanus
- ΙωIo
- Ερ.Hermes
Translations
- H. W. Smythprose · 1922 · aligned by line · with Smyth's Greek
- E. D. A. Morsheadverse · 1881–1908 · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
- Ian Johnston (VIU)verse · aligned by speech · with Murray's Greek
Greek texts
Cite as Aesch. PV 1–1093
Full synopsis (tells the ending)
For giving fire to men, Prometheus is nailed to a rock at the edge of the world on Zeus's orders. Visitors come to the crag: the daughters of Ocean, Ocean himself, and Io, the girl Zeus loved, now horned and driven over the earth by Hera's gadfly. To her Prometheus tells the future, and that Zeus will one day fall to a son of his own; he knows how, and will not say. Hermes comes to demand the secret. Prometheus refuses, and Zeus sinks him, rock and all, into the earth.
Drawing: Line drawing after a photo of a Laconian black-figure cup in the Vatican (Museo Gregoriano Etrusco 16592): Atlas holds up the sky; Prometheus is bound to a column and the eagle feeds on him; a snake behind Atlas; below, a capital between two lotus sprays; the three border rings; retraced.