Why Prometheus Was Punished (English) in: Europe – Greek
But you asked
why Zeus is torturing me like this.
I will explain. As soon as he was seated
on his father’s throne, he quickly set about
assigning gods their various honours
and organizing how he meant to rule.
But for those sad wretched human beings,
he showed no concern at all. He wanted
to wipe out the entire race and grow
a new one in its place. None of the gods
objected to his plan except for me.
I was the only one who had the courage.
So I saved those creatures from destruction
and a trip to Hades. And that is why
I have been shackled here and have to bear
such agonizing pain, so pitiful to see.
I set compassion for the human race
above the way I felt about myself,
so now I am unworthy of compassion.
This is how he seeks to discipline me,
without a shred of mercy—the spectacle
disgraces Zeus’s name.
(f.a.i) Greek — (f.a.ii) Podlecki (2005) — (f.a.iii) Johnston (2012) — (f.a.iv) Theodoridis (2006) — (f.a.v) Scully & Herington (1975) — (f.a.vi) Smyth (1922) — (f.a.vii) Secondary sources
– Johnston, Ian, Aeschylus: Prometheus Bound, (Nanaimo, BC, Canada: Vancouver Island University, 2012), p. 13. [This source may be distributed for non-commercial use; download here].
– http://johnstoniatexts.x10host.com/aeschylus/prometheusboundhtml.html
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