Prometheus Bound: the story on HearLore

Prometheus Bound

The hammer strikes the mountain in Scythia, sending sparks into the cold air. Kratos and Bia stand over a silent figure bound to the cliff face. They are personifications of brute power and callous violence. Hephaestus, the blacksmith of the gods, performs the task with reluctance. He shudders at the cruelty required by Zeus's orders. Prometheus remains silent as his wrists are shackled to the stone. No words pass between him and his tormentors until the three exit. Only then does Prometheus speak to the wind and the springs of water around him. He calls upon the Earth and the Sun to witness his unfair suffering. His voice rises against the silence of the mountainside. He intuits that the future might hold positive terms for him. His outrage begins to diminish as he speaks to the elements.

Scholarly Doubts And Dating

Rudolf Westphal challenged the idea that Aeschylus wrote this text in 1857. He returned to the question again in 1869. By 1911, A. Gercke became the first scholar to reject the Aeschylean attribution entirely. F. Niedzballa followed two years later with lexical analysis of unique words. Mark Griffith made forceful cases in 1977 regarding linguistic grounds. M. L. West found evidence against the traditional claim overwhelming after editing all seven plays. Wilhelm Schmid argued that themes appeared foreign to Aeschylus compared to The Suppliants. Some scholars suggest Euphorion, son of Aeschylus, may have written it instead. Computerized stylometric analysis has thrown the burden of proof on those who uphold the traditional claim since the 1970s. No consensus exists today despite decades of debate. The play likely dates between 479 BC and 424 BC based on internal references and parodies.

Who wrote the play Prometheus Bound?

The authorship of Prometheus Bound is disputed among scholars. While traditionally attributed to Aeschylus, many experts believe Euphorion or another writer composed it based on linguistic analysis.

When was Prometheus Bound written according to historical evidence?

Scholars date the composition of Prometheus Bound between 479 BC and 424 BC using internal references and parodies found within the text.

What specific arts did Prometheus teach humanity in this play?

Prometheus taught men writing, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, architecture, and agriculture as described in lines 447 through 506.

How does Hesiod's Theogony differ from Aeschylus version of Prometheus?

Hesiod portrays Prometheus as a lowly trickster while Aeschylus depicts him as an intolerable victim suffering injustice at the hands of Zeus.

Which translation of Prometheus Bound premiered at the Getty Villa in 2013?

Joel Agee's translation premiered at the Getty Villa from August 29 to the 28th of September 2013 with Travis Preston directing the production.

Prometheus Bound

Scholarly Doubts And Dating

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Common questions

Who wrote the play Prometheus Bound?

When was Prometheus Bound written according to historical evidence?

What specific arts did Prometheus teach humanity in this play?

How does Hesiod's Theogony differ from Aeschylus version of Prometheus?

Which translation of Prometheus Bound premiered at the Getty Villa in 2013?

Departures From Hesiod's Version

Fragments Of Lost Sequels

Translations And Stage Productions