Prometheus Unbound is a fragmentary Greek tragedy by the 5th-century BC tragedian Aeschylus. It follows the continued torment of the Titan Prometheus, who was punished by Zeus for giving fire to humanity, and culminates in the hero Heracles killing the eagle that ate Prometheus' liver each day and freeing the Titan.
How many fragments of Prometheus Unbound by Aeschylus survive?
Eleven fragments of Prometheus Unbound survive, preserved by later authors. A lengthy fragment was translated into Latin by the Roman statesman Cicero.
Where does Prometheus Unbound fit in the Prometheia trilogy?
Prometheus Unbound is thought to be the second play in Aeschylus' Prometheia trilogy, following Prometheus Bound and preceding Prometheus the Fire-Bringer.
Who visits Prometheus in Prometheus Unbound by Aeschylus?
A chorus of Titans, recently released by Zeus from their imprisonment in Tartarus, opens the play. Scholars also propose a visit from Gaea based on a mistaken dramatis personae in Prometheus Bound. Heracles arrives later, kills the eagle tormenting Prometheus, and frees the Titan.
Did Percy Bysshe Shelley's Prometheus Unbound come from Aeschylus?
Yes. Shelley's play of the same title was inspired directly by the Aeschylean tragedy. Aeschylus' fragmentary work prompted Shelley to write his own version.
Is the Prometheus and Zeus conflict resolved in Prometheus Unbound by Aeschylus?
No. The play ends with Prometheus freed from his physical torment after Heracles kills the eagle, but the Titan and Zeus have not yet reconciled. Scholars believe their reconciliation was reserved for the trilogy's third play, Prometheus the Fire-Bringer.