Prometheus Bound

Name: Prometheus Bound
Availability: InStock
Rating: 8 (1 reviews)
Author: Aeschylus (attr.)
ISBN: 9780195061659

Aeschylus (attr.)

Attributed to Aeschylus — the Titan punished for giving fire to humanity; the archetype of rebellion against divine tyranny that shaped Romanticism, Marx, and every modern revolutionary.

Year

460 BC

Country

Greece (Athens)

Language

Ancient Greek

Genre

Tragedy

Work Type

Drama

Pages

Designation

Major

Century

5th c. BC

GBM Assessment (Score: 8/10)

Prometheus Bound, attributed to Aeschylus, is the archetype of rebellion against divine tyranny, depicting the Titan Prometheus punished by Zeus for giving fire to humanity. The figure of Prometheus as a symbol of defiance and creative suffering shaped the Romantic movement and continues to resonate in modern thought.

Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote Prometheus Unbound as a direct response to the play, and Karl Marx cited Prometheus as the patron saint of philosophy. Mary Shelley subtitled her novel Frankenstein as "The Modern Prometheus," extending the myth into the realm of science and creation. The play inspired Goethe, Byron, and generations of writers who saw in Prometheus the embodiment of human aspiration against oppressive authority.

Classical Athens: The Golden Age, c. 480-430 BC

480 BC – 430 BC · 9 works from this era

Athens defeats Persia at Marathon and Salamis, inaugurating the most concentrated cultural flowering in Western history. Under Pericles, the Parthenon rises. Athenian democracy reaches fullest expression. The Great Dionysia produces tragedy and comedy. Herodotus invents history. The population of Athens — smaller than modern Reno — shapes Western civilization forever.

Also from this era

Odes The Persians The Oresteia Antigone The Histories Medea Oedipus Rex Hippolytus

Awards & Adaptations

Inspired Shelley, Goethe, Byron, Marx.

Recommended Edition

James Scully & C.J. Herington trans. (Oxford UP, 1975)

Subjects

Classical literatureDramaGreek MythologyGreek drama (Tragedy)History and criticism

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Prometheus Bound written?

Prometheus Bound was composed around 460 BC. Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote Prometheus Unbound as a direct response to the play, and Karl Marx cited Prometheus as the patron saint of philosophy.

Who wrote Prometheus Bound?

Prometheus Bound is traditionally attributed to Aeschylus, though authorship is uncertain and the work probably reflects multiple hands across the tradition.

Why is Prometheus Bound considered a great book?

Attributed to Aeschylus — the Titan punished for giving fire to humanity; the archetype of rebellion against divine tyranny that shaped Romanticism, Marx, and every modern revolutionary.

What language was Prometheus Bound originally written in?

Prometheus Bound was originally written in Ancient Greek.

How long is Prometheus Bound?

Prometheus Bound runs about 98 pages in standard print editions.

What's the best edition or translation of Prometheus Bound?

Recommended editions of Prometheus Bound: James Scully & C.J. Herington trans. (Oxford UP, 1975).

Where can I read Prometheus Bound for free?

Prometheus Bound is available free in the public domain. You can download a digital edition from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27673

ISBN-13: 9780195061659

ISBN-10: 0195061659

Editions: 111

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