Προμηθεύς (Promētheús) Type: mythological figure (Titan) Ancient Greek: Προμηθεύς Pronunciation: /pro.mɛː.tʰéu̯s/ Name meaning: forethought, thinking ahead(from πρό “before” + μανθάνω “to think, learn”) Who he is: Prometheus is the Titan who gives fire to humans and is punished by Zeus for it.But reducing Prometheus to “the one who stole fire” misses the point. What he represents:Prometheus is not rebellion for its own sake.He represents intelligence that anticipates consequences — thought that comes before action. In Greek myth, fire is not just warmth. It symbolizes: - technical knowledge - civilization - creativity - human autonomy By giving fire to humans, Prometheus gives them the capacity to shape the world, not merely endure it. The punishment (and why it matters):Prometheus is chained and an eagle eats his liver each day — the liver regenerates, and the cycle repeats. This is not random cruelty. It reflects a core Greek idea: Knowledge has a cost, and foresight carries suffering. Prometheus knows the punishment in advance.He acts anyway. Contrast (important): - Προμηθεύς (Prometheus) → forethought, planning, anticipation - Ἐπιμηθεύς (Epimetheus) → afterthought, realizing too late Greek mythology uses these two figures to stage a debate: Is it better to act wisely and suffer — or act blindly and regret? Modern resonance:Prometheus becomes, later: - a symbol of human progress - a warning about unchecked power - a figure of intellectual responsibility He is not a hero in the modern sense.He is a thinker who accepts consequences. Why this entry matters:Prometheus shows that Greek mythology is not about gods behaving badly.It is about thinking, responsibility, and the danger of knowledge.

Hi — and welcome. This community is a space for thinking about Ancient Greek and Latin as languages with structure, depth, and continuity — not as lists to memorize or puzzles to rush through. We’ll explore: - Ancient Greek and Latin - mythology, language, and meaning - how words, ideas, and structures travel through time - connections to Modern Greek when they help clarify or illuminate You’ll see posts that look like: - lexicon entries (one word, deeply explained) - short explanations of linguistic or mythological concepts - discussions about how language shapes thought This is not: - a fast-paced course - a grammar-drill group - an exam-prep space (though students are welcome) It is: - slow thinking - careful language - serious curiosity If you’re here, you don’t need to know everything already. You just need to be interested in understanding why words mean what they mean. I’m glad you’re here. — Marg