Prometheus (Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World) New edition by Dougherty, Carol (2005) Paperback

Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World

by Carol Dougherty

Myths and legends of this rebellious god, who defied Zeus to steal fire for mankind, thrive in art and literature from ancient Greece to the present day. Prometheus' gifts to mortals of the raw materials of culture and technological advancement, along with the curse of despair that followed the enlightenment of humankind, have formed the basis of a poetic and powerful embodiment of the human condition.
Seeking to locate the nature of this compelling tale's continuing relevance throughout history, Carol Dougherty traces a history of the myth from its origins in ancient Greece to its resurgence in the works of the Romantic age and beyond. A Prometheus emerges that was a rebel against Zeus's tyranny to Aeschylus, a defender of political and artistic integrity to Shelley and a symbol of technological innovation during the industrial revolution, his resilience and adaptability illuminating his power and importance in Western culture.
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the Prometheus myth, emphasizing the vitality and flexibility of his myth in a variety of historical, literary, and artistic contexts of the ancient Greeks, the Romantics, and twentieth-century English poet, Tony Harrison. It is an essential introduction to the Promethean myth for readers interested in Classics, the arts and literature alike.

Genres: Mythology, Nonfiction, Classics, History

Paperback

First published December 12, 2005

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Were I to rate this book on the first 115 pages, I would give it 5 stars. It's a good introduction to the classical Prometheus with references to his importance in later European culture, but she devotes roughly two-thirds of her study of contemporary references to the rebellious Titan to consideration of an obscure British film with an apparent strong political bias.

Her prose is often pedestrian and her notion of Prometheus as a trickster somewhat intriguing, but the book remains on the whole a solid monograph, if flawed at the end.

[Leonard Houx · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ur-myth of technological man.