Who was Prometheus?

Prometheus (forethought), the most intelligent Titan (a gigantic race who, according to Greek mythology, inhabited the earth before man was created), was given the job, along with his brother Epimetheus (afterthought) to create man and the animals. Epimetheus, the stupidest Titan, was to do the work and Prometheus to supervise. Epimetheus bestowed all of the animals with different gifts such as strength, speed, wings for one, claws for another and a shell cover for yet another. By the time he got to man who was superior to the other animals he had no gifts left. Epimetheus asked Prometheus for help. With Minerva, Prometheus went up to heaven and lighted a torch from the chariot of the sun, and presented the fire to man back on earth. This gift gave man an edge against the animals. It made him able to make weapons and tools with which he could subdue the animals and cultivate the earth. Fire also enabled man to warm his home and be safe from climate changes and finally to coin money, the means of trade and commerce. Prometheus was punished by the other gods, angry with him for giving mortal man the gift of divine fire. Woman was not yet made, so Zeus sent down the first woman, named Pandora (All-Gifted). She was made in heaven, with each god donating something perfect to her. Prometheus cautioned his brother about accepting gifts from Zeus. The story of Pandora's Box is one in which Zeus gets even with Prometheus for giving fire to man. Notice the similarities to Genesis' story of Adam and Eve.

Man is the only animal who uses fire as a tool. Other animals make use of rudimentary tools, but none have evolved to use fire. In fact there is no evidence that any animal besides man has used fire in the millions and millions of years that life has evolved on earth. The first use of fire was the introduction of technology.

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