Prometheus and Io

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Prometheus and Io

• Presentation by Nicol and Reba

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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).
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.