Prometheus facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Rubens - Prometheus Bound
Chained Prometheus, Peter Paul Rubens, 1611-1612

Prometheus was a Titan in Greek mythology. He is the son of Iapetus and Themis. He created humans. He also stole fire from Zeus and gave it to humans. As punishment, Zeus had Prometheus chained to a mountain. Every day an eagle would come and eat his liver. Prometheus is immortal, so he never died, and his liver grew back every night. But he still felt great pain.

After a long time, Zeus sent his son Heracles to free Prometheus by breaking the chains which held him.

Aeschylus wrote a play about Prometheus.

Images for kids

  • Gustave Moreau 006

    Prometheus by Gustave Moreau, (1868).

  • Prometheus Adam Louvre MR1745 edit

    Prométhée enchaîné (Prometheus Bound) by Nicolas-Sébastien Adam, (1762). Prometheus chained to a rock having his liver torn out by the eagle.

  • Prometheus Adam Louvre MR1745 edit atoma

    Prometheus depicted in a sculpture by Nicolas-Sébastien Adam, 1762 (Louvre)

  • Herakles Prometheus Louvre MNE1309

    Heracles freeing Prometheus from his torment by the eagle (Attic black-figure cup, c. 500 BCE)

  • Afrodi6

    Heracles freeing Prometheus, relief from the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodisias

  • Jacques de l'Ange - Chained Prometheus

    Chained Prometheus by Jacques de l'Ange, c. 1640-1650

  • Otto Greiner - Prometheus

    Prometheus (1909) by Otto Greiner


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