... Prometheus Bound Description Artist: Thomas Cole Style: Romanticism. Material: Canvas Start date: I846 Completion date: 1847 Genre: Mythological Painting. Dimension: 244 * 163 Gallery: Private Collection. Prometheus bound was a painting that was done with oil by Thomas Cole. In his painting, he is able to achieve among many things, the central theme; suffering. Through the theme of Prometheus bound, major artists such as Thomas Cole embarked on artistic works (Noble). Through Thomas Cole, a generation of American painters especially on landscape such as the Hudson River resulted. Thomas Cole was born in Bolton-le-moors, England in 1801 (Noble)....
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...knowledge is represented in the Prometheus myth. The punishment of Prometheus is a reflection of the double nature of knowledge: it can be used for the benefit or the destruction of humanity. The influence and legacy of the Promethean myth can be traced through history. It has been reused and recycled until it holds a distinctly familiar, yet strangely obscure grip on the imagination. There is no doubt that the Promethean tradition has become an everyday aspect of literary and artistic society: Shakespearean lines such as “Women’s eyes are the source of true Promethean fire” to “And faster bound to Aaron’s charming eyes, than is Prometheus tied to the Caucaus” illustrate this. The great Romantic Poets offered their interpretations of the myth in Byron’s “Prometheus” and Shelley’s sequel “Prometheus Unbound”. Milton used the Promethean myth to shape his characterisation of Satan in Paradise Lost; indeed The Book of Genesis can be seen as an example of the complete Promethean myth: Adam’s temptation with forbidden knowledge and subsequent fall from grace completely encapsulates the Prometheus myth. In this case it is an example of a Greek myth being appropriated and assimilated into Christian, Jewish and Islamic dogma. A more contemporary example is Hitler’s description of Napoleon : “He is the Prometheus of Mankind.” The myth also poses the motif of one man toiling against the odds, the example of a defiant hero or rebel risking all for the many. Prometheus is up against Zeus, leader...
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...CULTURAL EVENT REPORT Submitted by Juliet Barnett Professor D. Amore Humanities 112 September 6, 2012 As a result of the Norton Museum of Art being closed, I had no choice but to do this project on line. The Museum I chose to visit was the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I have always wanted to visit this particular museum and I hope that I will. On September 4th 2012 I visited the Online Museum of the Philadelphia Museum of Art After navigating through the site looking at different works of art and sculptures, I felt so lost in all that I saw it was as if I was transported back in time, I could visualize the painters at work, and it was as if I could feel their passion radiating from these canvases, the vibrant colors, the elaborate brush strokes and attention to minute details all brought across the message of these paintings I spent close to two hours looking at paintings dating from the Baroque period all the way into the modern age but the paintings that really caught my eyes were those from the 17th century. Of these the ones that made an impression on me were: 1. “Virgin and child with Angel” painted in 1642 by Simon Vouet in France. This portrays a virgin half sitting, half crouching with a cherubic infant on her hips while her focus was on the basket of fruits that she was eating from, oblivious of the angel to her right that was playing with the infant in her arms. The scenery is painted overshadowed by a large tree, possibly an Oak; in the distance...
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...The mythological figure of Zeus/Jupiter has been given many different character traits, based mostly on the idealized views of certain human qualities. In Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound and Plautus’ Amphitryon the god assumes two very different roles. In both works he also shows the various way that he exercises his power, and treats those whom he views as inferior to himself. In tragedy Zeus is typically shown in a more harsh and serious manner, while in comedy he seems to be a less tyrannical leader and more of a foolish and self absorbed one. Not to say that Zeus is fundamentally different in these separate types of work, but he most certainly takes a different stance upon his throne. In Prometheus Bound, Zeus is “betrayed” by Prometheus and as a result of his actions Prometheus is punished. In this tragic work Zeus is shown to be a very harsh leader. For example when Hephaestus tells Prometheus, “You'll cry out often, in sorrow, pain, regret it will do you no good. Zeus is not to be won over. He is harsh, as all those new to power are harsh” (Aesch. Prom. 36-38). Here Hephaestus is trying to explain to Prometheus that the punishment that he is to endure will be terrible and no matter how much he suffers and begs he will not convince Zeus to free him. This whole exchange shows that Zeus is not interested in the welfare of his fellow gods, but he cares more about the fact that he be view as a ruler with an iron fist. This most certainly shows Zeus in a tyrannical and abusive...
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...people. They believed in many gods who had superhuman powers and strength and appeared in human form. Prometheus was an ancient Greek god, son of Lapetis and Themis. He was brother to Atlas, Menoetius and Epimetheus. He became considered as the god of wily intelligence, craftsmanship and forethought. His main work was to create mankind out of clay (earth and water). It is from this work that Prometheus developed his fond liking for mankind (Jone, 2009). He strived to make mankind have more power than the liking of Zeus who was the supreme ruler of the gods. Ancient Greek viewed Prometheus as the god who championed mankind’s interest. Prometheus is famous for a couple of incidences discussed below. THE STORY OF FIRE According to classic Greek mythology; at some point in the reign of Zeus, mankind and gods were disputing and to settle the dispute, Zeus and Prometheus devised a ceremonial party in the form of animal sacrifice. Once slaughtered, Prometheus divided the animal parts into two. In one part, he wrapped up ox-bones in fat of the slaughtered animal while the other part he wrapped up the main ox-meat using its stomach lining. To rival Zeus judgment ability, he presented both parts of the sacrifice to Zeus while wrapped and proceeded to ask Zeus to choose from the two. Zeus proceeded to choose the part covered in fat not knowing it only contained bones in it! Here, Prometheus had tricked Zeus into believing that the part covered in fat would contain the best meat. In so doing...
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...Pieces of literature including Prometheus, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the Inferno, the Bible and Paradise Lost are often referred to throughout the book, especially Prometheus, the sub title of the book is The Modern Prometheus, Shelley is obviously alluding to the myth of Prometheus. Shelley would have never put the subtitle of the book as The Modern Prometheus if she didn’t want her audience to consider it while reading Frankenstein. In the myth Prometheus, Prometheus created man out of clay, as well stole fire from the sun, and gave to man. The actions of Prometheus made Zeus very angry, and he was condemned for his said actions, his punishment was to be bound to a rock for eternity while an eagle pecked at his liver. In Frankenstein, no one was condemned to have their liver pecked at, but Frankenstein was condemned by having his whole family murdered by the monster. He wanted to play God, and create something, and just like in Prometheus, a new creation was made, and because someone else wanted to play God, they were punished. On page 45, Shelley clearly alludes to Prometheus with the creation of man by clay, “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I dabbed among the unhallowed damps of the grave or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay?”. Frankenstein created the monster out of parts of other humans, he literally dug people up, and took their body parts, from the dirt, he created something new, and in Prometheus, from the clay, he created...
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...Hesiod evidently didn't value being born during the Iron Age. The Iron age is shown as a time of hardship where a man contently has some kind of trouble to deal with. The Iron Age is a period of pain and labor. A man's principles are non existent and these men are often opposing each other. "No, they'll keep all their praise for the wrongdoer, the man who is violence incarnate and shame and injustice will lie in their hands." This period is also a time where men age quickly and throughout they're life they are presented with problems and pressures to overcome. Hesiod evidently views the Iron Age negatively as this time is described in Hesiod's Works & Days as being ripe with conflict and hardship especially when compared to the previous generations....
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... Zeus’ precise will to punish early mankind for having any benefit through the tricks that Prometheus, the divine benefactor of human beings, played at Zeus’ expense. In the beginning of the story, Zeus thought that since he was the chief god, anything he wanted went his way. Back then, at any meal, gods and goddesses were allowed to pick out what they desired before any other person. So Zeus , being the chief god, “took the largest portion he could see” thinking it was covered with the most meat. When he found out that Prometheus replaced the actual meat with bones, his anger level rose very quickly and that’s when he decided to seek revenge. Zeus thought that just because he was the chief god, every best thing would be made just for him and him alone to devour( in this case). Even though he is chief god, he should at least be considerate of others and not get mad because his expectations were not met. After finding out what Prometheus had done to him, Zeus “declared that men would never have the luxury of fire on earth”. If anybody knew what type of person Zeus was, then getting him angry would not be an option; if Zeus is not happy, then everybody else’s life is going to be miserable. Zeus is so evil, he goes out of his own way to create another source of evil to do the destruction for him. Prometheus, the creator of human beings, had a brother, Epithetheus whom Zeus presented Pandora (Zeus had meant to introduce her...
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...Prometheus' creation of the human race during the creation of the universe was for the sake of humanity, Victor's creation of the creature was for his sole knowledge to only better his curiosity. Some may say Victor Frankenstein does not portray a modern Prometheus. Although he may not be a god, he is to the creature. In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is the modern Prometheus. Victor seeks for enlightenment and power, in which, Prometheus does as well.Victor does something forbidden; creating human life. Prometheus also does something forbidden; giving fire to humans. Victor, in return, serves a torturous death, as does Prometheus, although Prometheus cannot die. For these reasons this novel, Frankenstein, shows how Victor is the modern Prometheus. Undoubtedly both Victor Frankenstein and Prometheus seek for enlightenment and power. In the beginning of this novel Victor starts his childhood yearning for knowledge and reading books of science. The quote, “...eager desire to learn,..., secrets of heaven and earth that i desired to learn,..., my inquiries were directed to the metaphysical,…, the physical secrets of the world” (Shelley, 23). It shows how ambitious Victor was to learn as a child and how the start of his seeking for enlightenment and power came to be. Victor also foreshadows how misfortune had tainted his mind, “...misfortune had tainted my mind and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections…”(Shelley...
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...In mythology, one of the main reasons that the trickster character holds an archetypical position is because they don’t simply symbolize trickery or deceit, they also exhibit intellect and secret knowledge. Specifically in Greek mythology, Prometheus is an excellent examples of a trickster who uses typically frowned upon means to achieve positive ends. “When gods and mortal men divided up an ox; Prometheus audaciously set out the portions, trying to deceive the mind of Zeus” (Devinney/Thury 486). When Zeus demands a sacrifice from humans, Prometheus presents him two different bundles of animal parts. Tricking him by making the bundle with the useful and edible animal parts look unappealing with bones on the top, encouraging Zeus to leave the...
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...The characters that are chosen in Anthem to represent Gaea and Prometheus are Liberty 5-3000 and Equality 7-2521. These names were given to these characters because of their role in the story. Gaea and Prometheus were Titans not Gods. Titans were like giants. They had much more power than the Humans. Equality 7-2521 and Liberty 5-3000 had forbidden knowledge and knew more than the World Council of Scholars. In Greek mythology Gaea is the mother of earth and cares for almost everything. Gaea is the continuation of life. Liberty 5-3000 worked in the fields growing crops which helped the Earth. Liberty 5-3000 is Equality 7-2521’s continuation for a new society. Liberty 5-300 becomes pregnant with Equality 7-2521’s Child which is a new...
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...| | | Pandora's Box | Once up a time, a long time ago, Zeus ordered Hephaestus (Aphrodite's husband) to make him a daughter. It was the first woman made out of clay. Hephaestus made a beautiful woman and named her Pandora. Zeus sent his new daughter, Pandora, down to earth so that she could marry Epimetheus, who was a gentle but lonely man. Zeus was not being kind. He was getting even. Epimetheus and Prometheus were brothers. Zeus was mad at one of the brothers, Prometheus, for giving people fire without asking Zeus first. Zeus gave Pandora a little box with a big heavy lock on it. He made her promise never to open the box. He gave the key to Pandora’s husband and told him to never open the box. Zeus was sure that Epimetheus' curiosity would get the better of him, and that either Epimetheus or his brother would open the box. Pandora was very curious. She wanted to see what was inside the box, but Epimetheus said no. Better not. "You know your father," Epimetheus sighed, referring to Zeus. "He’s a tricky one."One day, when Epimetheus lay sleeping, Pandora stole the key and opened the box.Out flew every kind of disease and sickness, hate and envy, and all the bad things that people had never experienced before. Pandora slammed the lid closed, but it was too late. All the bad things were already out of the box. They flew away, out into the world.Epimetheus woke up at the sound of her sobbing. “I opened the box and all these ugly things flew out,” she cried. “I tried...
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...In Greek mythology there’s this one man whose name is Prometheus. He was a powerful deity and they have similarities with Equality, protagonist of Anthem. So let’s talk first about the first part. Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to humans. Humans can now make war, their own food, and etc. This made Zeus mad that he punished him by having him chained to a rock. Now, let’s talk about Equality’s part. On page 35, you’ll see that Equality stole candles from the Home of the Street Sweepers. Not only that, he also stole many things like manuscripts, flints, knives, papers, and etc.Why did Equality stole them? It’s because he uses it for his creations, experiments, and he rebels to his society. All the transgressions that Equality had committed were against the rules. Now, let’s take a look at their differences. First Prometheus stole fire,and Equality stole candles. Do you see the difference? We all know that fire is for candles so it has some connections in it.You know fire and candle thing. Was Equality chained too? No, he was put in a ‘’prison cell’’, but the reason was different. As you read in this essay, you’ll see the reason why Prometheus stole the fire from Zeus....
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... The stories in The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury are arranged in a notably singular way. They do not have many characters or events in common, but they are all united by the setting of Mars and, more importantly, the overshadowing influence of imperialistic governments. From the first time humans set foot on Mars to the time they finally leave it, the stories of humans and Martians are all affected by imperialism. Through this persistent backstage influence, Bradbury makes it clear that imperialistic governments seek only power, they are afraid of losing that power, and as a result they will eventually destroy themselves. The first major facet of Bradbury’s message is that imperialistic nations seek only more power for themselves. In the third expedition to Mars, Spender tells Captain Wilder that the main reason for their expedition is that the nations of Earth want to establish missile stockpiles and nuclear research centers on Mars (). The imperialistic Earth nations are only interested in Mars as a foothold to advance their authority on earth, not for anything unique Mars itself had to offer. Since they are only interested in Mars’ resources, the earth men have no respect for the sophisticated civilization of the extinct Martians. This irreverence is what prompts Spender to go on his killing spree. He sees the other astronauts disfiguring Mars with no sense of respect for the its own unique beauties, and he correctly predicted that later colonists will behave the same...
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...The word ego is often misinterpreted to have a negative connotation, but for Prometheus having ego is a sacred opportunity. In Anthem by Ayn Rand Prometheus discovers his individuality in a strictly collectivist society by becoming a creator to his own idea of society/culture/civilization that embraces the selfishness and ego found in people. To Prometheus, being an egoist is to positively pursue the ideas he believes are right for society, for himself and his happiness. The connotation of being an egoist is something different to every person whether they interpret it in a positive or negative way. Living for himself is one way Prometheus is an egoist. His selfish qualities of believing he is somewhat superior to others while being curious...
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