Prometheus Creates Mankind

Prometheus, the titan of forethought, had been tasked alongside his brother Epimetheus 'afterthought' to populate their grandmother earth, Gaia.

Zeus, now King of the Gods, had rewarded the brothers with this work for their loyalty in the Titanomachy - the great war between Gods and Titans.

Prometheus was greatly relieved, finally a challenge to sink both the mind and heart into. The brothers eagerly went to the forge of Mount Olympus, gathered the tools required with the help of the cyclops, and went down to earth.

The Gods exist on a different plane than the mortals, so they went to the source, that which would be their home, and got to work.

They collected the muds and clays, waters from the rivers and oceans. Prometheus sat with the raw materials and thought, conjuring blueprints for creatures and species all in his own mind. For Prometheus, the Titan of forethought, this is what he does best. He shall see their needs and futures, and craft accordingly.

But his brother, sweet nervous Epimetheus, he rushed ahead as he always does. The Titan of afterthought, tried his best to counteract his own godly gifts. He shaped and worked away at the clay immediately, not stopping to think for a moment. He grabbed from the multitude of gifts they had to give, and used them with abandon.

He fashioned the lion with claws and teeth, that would be enough. But he gave them furs and great manes to warm them, and he gave them great speed, that could've been granted to others.

He gave strength and size to elephants, but also tusks and memory.

He gave beautiful song, bright feathers, and flight all to birds.

Regenerative limbs, shifting chameleon scales and cold blood to lizards.

And oh, the variations of each he made, so wide he would make a mistake, miss something important, and leave them defenseless due to his, afterthought.

He had soon made hundreds and thousands of animals, mammals, insects, reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians.

It took him days, working endlessly, as if in a fever.

All whilst Prometheus sat with the clays and waters, deep in thought over the design of the perfect creature, and how to balance all the gifts.

Prometheus did not mind his brother working away on his animals, until he knocked on his brothers door, waking him from his thoughts.

Epimetheus could not look his brother in the eye, and was playing with his hands, unable to stand still. He took Prometheus to his workshop, and there on the work table, the box that held all the gifts they had to give, it was empty, with nothing left.

And Prometheus had not yet begun to work on the final creation, man himself.

Prometheus was furious with his brother, stormed out, prepared to strike him for his selfishness, his lack of sight, biting them both again in the process.

But Prometheus knew, he should've seen this coming. He knew his fool of a brother, which is why he did not hit him then. For he was too wrapped up in the idea of a perfect creation to stop his brother from wasting every single gift.

Prometheus returned to his own workshop, utilized his anger, and engulfed himself in work.

He took water and mud, mixing it together to make a big batch of clay. He then took a brick, wet his hands, digging into the slimy flesh, molding and shaping, carving away excess.

As he worked it away piece by piece, Prometheus saw him. Not only in his mind, but in the clay. He scraped and gouged out pieces, smoothed and refined.

First, he made the bare bones, all separate pieces, but carved just so, and they work as one. Then came the muscles layered over, holding the bones, and shaping them. He fashioned the organs and blood vessels, nervous systems, and brains.

As he he layered the delicate skin stretching over it all covering all his arduous work, they became things of beauty.

All different varieties, shapes and colors, each like a son to Prometheus.

For this race of men, were all his creation, made by his hands. And as they lay in his workshop, they all look to be asleep, already alive in his eyes.

So then he took them as they were, naked, clawless creatures, bare and defenseless.

Prometheus in frustration thought why should his own creations be so vulnerable to his brothers work, because of Epimetheus' mistakes.

They had one gift that the animals did not; Prometheus gave them, the image of the Gods.

To walk on hind legs, it was all Prometheus could think to give them.

Prometheus felt more for them than he did any other creature. In some, he hid features that resembled his family. Atlas, Municious, his lost brothers. Even parts of his father, hidden, in the faces of men.

And as a true artist, Prometheus could not help but leave a piece of himself reflected in them also. They would think, be able to reason as the Gods do, but nowhere near as well, of course. For they are but clay and water, and the Gods are divine.

It still did not feel enough for the Titan, he sat in the sunlight just looking at the husks that would be mortals soon, and felt inept. He pondered on what could possibly help them when there were no gifts to give. Until the sun burnt hot on his neck, an idea came to him but it would have to wait until they were alive.

The next day, both Titan brothers reported to Zeus before the court, all they would need is the sacred Breath of Life to complete the project he had assigned.

The court oohed and ahed at the secret surprise the King had prepared. At his own delight, he declared his new daughter Athena would go and see to the final touches with the brothers before a feast in a few days time.

Zeus announced a week long feast - where the three of them: Zeus, Prometheus, and Epimetheus would present the world of Mortals to the Gods.

A new era of peace, prosperity, and life for all.

They were all excited when Zeus announced a great sacrifice to be presented at the feast, a great bull, divided in two. That which would declare the best sacrifice for the gods from then until the end of time.

Athena seemed impressed by their creations, studying and asking questions about each. She listened to Epimetheus, the different elements, and worries he had tried to prevent with each of his creations. And let him ramble on, when they rose with her breath.

Moving for the first time, he was quiet, only when watching their first moments in life, awed by the things he had made.

Finally, after a long two days Athena came to Prometheus' workshop, the sun was setting, as she looked over at man.

She exclaimed they were the most intricate creatures, out of all she had seen they were the most strange to her. They walk and think like the Gods, yet they are so vulnerable. She probed asking if they were sure to struggle with the other beings on this Earth.

Prometheus knew her concerns had merit, but he also knew he would never leave them as defenseless as they might seem. With the skills he has given them and a final gift once they awake, he believed the creatures would survive, perhaps even thrive in this new world.

Athena shook her head, walked to the first clay man, her breath imbued with the essence of life filled the whole statue. Every inch of it was filled on the inside, and as the breath left the clay, Prometheus heard the heart begin to beat, its skin transformed, and all at once its blood was pumping, all organs began working, it took its own first deep breath, and opened its eyes, for he was alive.

By the time the feast came, all of earth had animals across it, and men scattered around. But they were thriving, fighting back against any creature they came across. For Prometheus had taught the men of fire.

The men were able to see in the dark, hunt and cook. Against all odds, the creations of Prometheus were winning over against Epimetheus' and he was proud.

For the feast all the Gods entered the mortal world so all could see one another, they sat at a grand table, drank ambrosia, and gorged upon the fruits and meats of the new world cooked in piles.

A great fire stood in the middle, Athena stood with Prometheus and Epimetheus as they showed the Gods their work.

Mammals, insects, reptiles, invertebrates, amphibians, and finally, man.

The Gods were fascinated with each different variety, and how they worked. The balance and cycle of life itself; how one eats one, that eats another, and so on, as life would be for mortals. The Gods applauded the genius.

But none received more renown than Prometheus' creation, men themselves.

Even more were impressed with their survival, until he spoke of their knowledge of fire. Some of the court laughed, some smiled, but Zeus was not smiling when Prometheus looked at him.

Epimetheus cooled over the tension, the time for sacrifice had approached. Prometheus felt a chill on his neck grow as the great bowls were brought before Zeus. This moment would set the law on sacrifice to the Gods hereafter.

The immortals need not to eat, for they exist on different realms, but they enjoyed tasting. Whatever the mortals burn in sacrifice will be brought to the realm of the Gods for them to enjoy.

But Prometheus knew the same could not be said for mortals, which the Gods do not yet understand. What Gods consume for pleasure, men need for necessity. Which is why this moment is crucial for Prometheus' new creatures, and why he himself prepared the bowls.

Zeus wished only the best for himself and the Gods. One bowl had the hide of the bull's belly, it looked tough and worn, the other had a glistening pile of sweet fats. And Zeus chose the bowl of fat, the seemingly biggest portion. When the fat hit his lips, he crunched down on brittle bones, and no meat.

It was then Prometheus pulled the hide off the other bowl, and the succulent meat was revealed, he passed the bowl to the men and took his place with the Gods.

Zeus' eyes crackled with rage, a hush fell over the crowd as he confronted Prometheus over the jest he had pulled.

He honored the love Prometheus has for his 'mud people' deciding since his trick was ingenious he will not change the rules of sacrifice. Fair is fair, forever more the Gods would receive the fat, the bones and the entrails, while men shall have the best meats.

It was then Zeus smiled, snapped his fingers causing a silent wind to blow out every fire in the feast, along with every campfire and torch across the world going out. The King of the Gods asked what they will cook it with now without fire.

Prometheus searched their minds only to see Zeus had stripped the knowledge of fire from every last one of mankind.

It had been a week since the feast, Prometheus watched his creations with great concern. Mankind, as they shivered and hid, ran and starved, without fire they were no match for the great predators his brother Epimetheus had forged. Every pain he saw them endure, Prometheus felt in his very own being; he had tried to save them, and in doing so left them more vulnerable than before. Punished for his own mistakes and inadequacies.

The men ate raw flesh and picked at the berries they could find, they were a husk of their former selves, and a failure in the eyes of Prometheus. All potential stripped from them before they could even begin. In the days of his unending watch, the anger Prometheus felt towards Zeus only grew.

He kept an eye on his creations, and also the skies of Olympus, Prometheus then thought of a plan. Fate was on his side, for the mighty Zeus leap from his palace into the sky, transforming into an eagle, he flew off into the night.

The Titan Prometheus snuck his way inside the great forge of Olympus, the workshop of the cyclops. The divine flames bathed the room with a warm glow, the fires danced, the embers mesmerizing in the dark. Zeus had wiped the knowledge of fire from mankind, even if Prometheus had made a fire and shown them as he did the first time, they would not remember.

But the sacred flames would restore it all. Zeus had forbidden any and all from giving mortals fire, but Prometheus had no regret reaching into the forges grasping at the flames with his bare hands, crackling and scorching his skin, but he did not feel it.

He slipped the embers into a hollow fennel stalk, using his powers to seal it inside, but keep it alive. Prometheus knew he was putting himself in danger, but all he could think of were the men, cold, alone, defenseless, they couldn't survive without it. Prometheus ran from Mount Olympus as fast as he could.

That night, he walked across the lands, searching cave after cave, finding the naked shivering men, and igniting fires for each of them. All from the hollow fennel stalk, and the great fire of the Gods.

Prometheus, Titan of foresight, understood he possessed both a gift and curse. For he knew the consequences he would soon face. He foresaw it all, prophetic in sight. He decided to give one more gift to his brother, Epimetheus. Prometheus instructed clearly that should the Olympian Gods come with gifts of their own, do not accept.

Soon after Prometheus was bound in adamantine chains and brought before the King of Olympus, Zeus. He knew there was a prophecy that haunted the great King, that a woman would bear a son more powerful than even himself. Zeus offered a deal of clemency in exchange for the information he so desperately sought.

But Prometheus refused to give the answers Zeus demanded, as he felt what he did for mankind was right. He accepted the punishment that awaits, knowing that one day he would stand before Zeus again. Knowing it was not the end for himself, or mankind.

Zeus, ruler of Olympus, decreed Prometheus a trickster and traitor. Defying his commands to keep the knowledge of fire from men, he had seen the duties of the Gods, and abandoned them in favor of his mortal men.

For his disloyalty, Prometheus was sentenced to being chained to the mountains of Caucasus, having no rest, no sleep, no moments respite. Wasting the eons of time with nothing but rock and pain as his companions. The eagle of Zeus would dive down onto the chained Titan, ripping open his flesh, and consuming his liver. The liver would grow back overnight, so the eagle could do the same tomorrow.

This is what the great creator of man is willing to endure, simply to see that his beloved creations would prosper.