Prometheus Bound

Prometheus Bound is also a Greek classical play which is about the Titan, Prometheus, who was bound to a mountain as punishment for giving humans the gift of fire. The play is mostly words with no action, as the story is mainly about Prometheus being in bondage. The writer of the play is unclear, but many point that it was Aeschylus who wrote it.

The play is mostly about Prometheus’ torment while he is bound to a mountain. At the beginning of the play, he is visited by three gods – Hephaestus, Kratos, and Bia – while they argue about his punishment made by Zeus. The three talk for a while, until they leave after reluctantly chaining Prometheus to a mountain.

He is then visited by his cousins, the Oceanids, and later, by Oceanus himself, who plans on pleading to Zeus for Prometheus’ freedom. Prometheus, however, refuses his help saying that Zeus will free him sooner or later as he will need his gift of prophecy to secure his position.

Many visit him, until ultimately, Zeus hears about the taking of his position. The god immediately sends Hermes to ask him who was going to overthrow him. Prometheus refuses to answer, and so, Zeus strikes him with a thunderbolt which causes the mountain to crumble and he plunges down into the abyss. He is then tortured forever, with Zeus making sure that an eagle would come down to eat his liver. What made it worse was that Prometheus’ liver re-grew every night and that the eagle would return each day to torment Prometheus.