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Prometheus and Io

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Prometheus and Io Presentation by Nicol and Reba Prometheus' Back Story Prometheus was a Titan, the son of Iapetus and Themis. He was given the task to create ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Prometheus and Io


1
Prometheus and Io
  • Presentation by Nicol and Reba

2
Prometheus' Back Story
  •     Prometheus was a Titan, the son of Iapetus
    and Themis. He was given the task to create
    mankind.  After forming men from clay, Prometheus
    fell in love with his accomplishment and tried to
    provide them with all he could.  In a feast for
    men and the gods, Prometheus presented Zeus with
    bull bones wrapped in fat and a selection of beef
    hidden in an ox's stomach.  Zeus was tricked into
    chosing the bones because they appeared more
    pleasing, and Prometheus gave the beef to
    mankind.  In response, Zeus hid fire from
    mankind, which Prometheus promptly stole and gave
    back to men.  This angered Zeus, who
    instructed Hephaestus to form Pandora, the first
    woman, out of clay.  Pandora was sent to live
    with men as a curse.  Zeus also had Prometheus
    chained to a rock in Caucasus where an eagle ate
    his liver out every day.

Image by Elsie Russell. Oil on linen (1994).
3
Ios Back Story
  •     Io was a Naiad nymph and an unfortunate
    object of Zeus' affection.  He appeared to her in
    dreams, asking for her virginity.  When her
    father sought advice from prophets on what to do
    about these dreams, he was told to banish Io from
    his house or face the wrath of Zeus.  Zeus
    wrapped the earth in heavy clouds in an attempt
    to protect himself and Io from his jealous wife
    Hera.  When his first plan didn't work, Zeus
    turned Io into a cow, but Hera still demanded
    that Zeus and Io be separated.
  •     Hera placed Io under the control of Argus,
    the shepherd with hundreds of eyes.  Argus was
    able to watch Io even when he slept.  Zeus, who
    still felt strongly for Io, sent Hermes to kill
    Argus.  Hermes was successful, and Io was able to
    place Argus' eyes on the peacock, her favorite
    bird.  After Io was set free, Hera sent a gadfly
    to torment Io, along with the ghost of Argus,
    while Io wandered.

4
Prometheus and Ios Encounter
  • In her wanderings, Io met Prometheus. He
    addressed her by name and Io demanded to know who
    Prometheus was and why he was being punished in
    such a cruel way. After he explained his story,
    Prometheus foretold Ios future, saying she will
    wander as far east as Asia, and eventually south
    through Africa.
  • Io then complained to Prometheus about being
    a cow, but Prometheus consoled her, explaining
    her punishment is far less than his, and that at
    the end of her wanderings in Africa, Zeus will
    change her back into a human and impregnate her.
    Prometheus, on the other hand, explains he must
    suffer until Heracles, a descendent of Io known
    for his archery, frees Prometheus.
  • Finally, Prometheus tells Io that one of
    Zeus sons will overthrow Zeus, unless he is
    warned first. Only Prometheus has the knowledge
    to warn Zeus, but he shows little intrest in
    protecting the god.

5
The Story of Intertwining Destiny
  • The story of Prometheus and Io is told by
    Aeschylus in his play Prometheus Bound. It is a
    story about intertwining destiny and fate.
    Stories based in fate were especially popular in
    superstitious and religious communities such as
    the Greeks and Romans, but are still present
    today.
  • Prometheus and Io are connected in multiple ways.
    They are both victims of Zeus passion
    Prometheus of his rage and Io of his love. Both
    are punished unfairly by Zeus, who is portrayed
    as a tyrant.
  • In order to be freed, Prometheus relies on
    Ios descendant Heracles. Once freed, Prometheus
    alone is able to prevent Zeus downfall by
    warning Zeus which lover will carry the son who
    will overthrow Zeus himself. This links
    Prometheus and Io in the ability to either cause
    or prevent Zeus downfall. If Ios descendant,
    Heracles, frees Prometheus, Prometheus can either
    warn Zeus to stay away from that woman, or
    withhold the information.
  • Zeus also functions as a savior for both
    Prometheus and Io. At the end of her wanderings,
    Io will be returned to her human form by Zeus,
    who then impregnates her. Heracles is a
    descendant of Io and Zeus, meaning Zeus had a
    hand in creating the man who rescues Prometheus.
  • In broader terms, Prometheus and Io did not
    meet just to idly converse. The two characters
    are linked by both past and future events in
    which they play a significant role.

6
Intertwining Fates in other Texts
  • Odysseus quest in The Odyssey is filled
    with fate and prophecy. In book nine of the epic
    poem, Odysseus blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus, who
    then prays to his father Poseidon asking, If I
    really am your son and you claim to be my
    father--come, grant that Odysseusnever reaches
    home. Or if hes fated to see his people once
    again and reach his well-built house and his own
    native country, let him come home late and come a
    broken man--all shipmates lost, alone in a
    strangers ship--and let him find a world of pain
    at home!
  • Poseidon hears the prayer, and throughout
    the book the Cyclops wish is slowly but surely
    granted. Odysseus return home is delayed ten
    years by conflict after conflict. The series of
    trials breaks Odysseus down slowly eventually he
    reaches the point where he prays for his own
    death. Along his way, the Cyclops prayer is also
    uttered as a prophecy. Both the prophet blind
    Teiresias and the nymph Circe warn Odysseus that
    he will lose his entire crew (meaning he will
    return home alone as the Cyclops wished) if any
    of Helios cattle are harmed. When they are,
    Odysseus loses his entire in a storm. The same
    storm washes him to the nymph Calypsos island,
    from where the gods are able to send him to the
    Phaeacians. Odysseus returns home to Ithaca alone
    in the Phaeacians ship. In Ithaca, the world of
    pain he finds is a houseful of suitors
    desperately trying to woo his wife while
    literally devouring his estate.
  • Odysseus fate is ultimately tied to the
    Cyclops Polyphemus. By blinding the Cyclops,
    Odysseus angered Poseidon. While Polyphemus fate
    is immediate and Odysseus story had ten more
    years to unfold, both had a profound impact on
    each others future.
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