greek mythology stuff

Chapter 15 Prometheus Suffering
Prometheus brought the flame back to the world and handed it over to humans, and left in a hurry without exchanging greetings or saying goodbye.

He was going to find his elder brother Epimetheus and told him not to accept any gift from Zeus, because in the future he saw, it would bring unimaginable disasters to mankind.

But when he finds the abandoned village where Epimetheus lives, Epimetheus just isn't home...

Prometheus wanted to find it, but it was too late.

The skies over Lemnos were covered with dark clouds, and Zeus responded.

……

On the island of Lemnos, in the temple of Vulcan to which Hephaestus belongs, Zeus and Hephaestus are talking.

Zeus also brought two servants, the strong god Kratos and the violent goddess Biya, they are the son and daughter of the hate goddess Styx, who were the first to drive away in the battle between Zeus and his father Cronus. Go to Mount Olympus for help.

Zeus sent them away and made them wait outside the temple.

In the temple, Zeus said to Hephaestus: "After more than 100 years of trying, I have determined the infinite potential of the human race."

"They will be my ladder to great power."

"I decided to give them women so that they could reproduce by themselves, without the need for gods to create them."

Hephaestus tentatively asked, "Then you want to let Prometheus go?"

"No!" Zeus said firmly, "No one can disobey me twice except your mother Hera."

"Moreover, human beings don't need a Creator. One day Prometheus is in the world will dilute my faith for one day, and delay my opportunity to embark on great divine power."

"You know, to me, every ounce of faith is precious, and Gaia will react sooner or later."

"Before she notices, I must have the strength to rival her like my grandfather Uranus, the god of heaven."

Hephaestus explained to him: "Without Prometheus' authority to create creatures, it is impossible for a woman to be born."

Zeus said arrogantly: "I have prepared for this."

"As early as the moment human beings were born, I let Athena quietly intercept part of Prometheus' divine power."

"Although these divine powers cannot create a large number of women, I don't need to do that either."

"As long as some women are born, human beings can solve the rest by themselves."

Speaking of this, Zeus's words ushered in a turning point, he stared at Hephaestus with a faint tone.

"However, although Prometheus is no longer needed, he still has to be punished."

"Otherwise, where should the majesty of my god-king be placed?"

"Hephaestus, are you willing to capture him?"

"You don't need to do it yourself, Biya and Kratos will do everything."

Hephaestus's heart skipped a beat. Zeus still didn't trust him. This is to let him stand in line. If he agrees, it is equivalent to handing in a vote of honor, and the gods who are hostile to Zeus will also hate him in the future.

He was 1 unwilling, but thinking of what he had promised Epimetheus, he could only nod helplessly.After all, it is entrusted by others, and it is a matter of loyalty.

After getting a positive answer from Hephaestus, Zeus laughed and left.

Before leaving, he didn't know what to think of, and he walked away with a statue of a woman in the temple.

Seeing this, Hephaestus shook his head, Epimetheus, I'm afraid you haven't paid back what you owe me.

He walked out of the temple, and Kratos, the god of strength, and Biya, the goddess of violence, were waiting respectfully. Biya was holding chains and spikes, and Kratos had a vulture on his shoulder.

Biya, the goddess of violence, asked Hephaestus: "My lord, what shall we do?"

Hephaestus asked back: "Where is the king of gods going to imprison Prometheus?"

Biya replied: "At the eastern end of the land, there is a place called Mount Caucasus."

"His Majesty the God King wants us to lock Prometheus on the cliff."

Hephaestus ordered: "Then you go there and wait for me, and I will bring Prometheus."

Kratos, the God of Strength, and Biya, the Goddess of Violence, looked at each other in blank dismay. The order they received was not like this. They were assisters, and more importantly, regulators.

Hephaestus comforted them softly: "It's okay, if the God King asks, you can say that I arranged it."

"He will not make it difficult for you, and I will also deal with you."

Kratos and Biya had no choice but to bite the bullet and agree. They were only weak divine powers, and it was uncomfortable to be caught between the two powerful divine powers of Zeus and Hephaestus.

……

Abandoned village, the residence of Epimetheus.

Prometheus did not wait for his brother, but Hephaestus.

He smiled helplessly: "Respected Lord Vulcan, did you come to arrest me under the order of Zeus?"

Hephaestus glanced at the corner, and smiled a lot more easily: "Actually, I don't want to come, but your brother Epimetheus asked me to come."

"Tell me that if it were me, it would make you feel better."

"Brother?" Prometheus was a little surprised. He looked around, trying to find Epimetheus.

"Don't look, if your brother doesn't want to see you, you can't find him even if you turn the earth over."

While speaking, Hephaestus took out the leaf that Epimetheus gave him from his arms: "This is what your brother asked me to give to you, eat it."

Holding the leaf full of vitality, looking at the smiling Hephaestus, Prometheus felt that things were different from what he had imagined. He is a god in charge of wisdom and authority, but now he finds that he does not know many things .

"Confused? Want to know why?" Hephaestus asked Prometheus.

Before he could answer, Hephaestus explained to him teasingly: "Epimetheus came to me in advance when you went to steal the fire from the Temple of the Sun."

"Otherwise, why do you take away the fire, and rely on your hand to wrap the divine power?"

Prometheus pursed his lips, trying to say something, but he couldn't.His wisdom was praised by the gods, and he was called a prophet. In the past, this was the thing he was most proud of, but now he only feels it ironic.

Seeing this, Hephaestus sighed and said, "I wanted to persuade you, go and confess your mistake to Zeus, so that I can intercede for you."

"But thinking about it later, it's not necessary."

"You are a smart person, and you are very clear about the consequences of what you do."

"No one can persuade you."

"Your brother must also know this, and finally asked me to hand over the fire to you."

Prometheus finally spoke with difficulty: "Benevolent Vulcan, what you said is right."

"I can suffer all kinds of pain, but I will never admit mistakes."

As he spoke, he paused: "But I still want to ask you to help me tell my brother not to accept any gifts from Zeus!"

Hephaestus was a little disappointed, he said to Prometheus: "Do you think your brother will not know?"

"But he has seen that you will be imprisoned for 3 years."

"Now I can also tell you that the one who rescued you was Hercules, the son of Zeus and a mortal woman."

"Prometheus, because you fooled Zeus with a cow first, Zeus will take away the fire from humans."

"Because you stole the fire, your brother Epimetheus came to beg me. He wanted to fish you out, but in the end he let you take the fire."

"He has helped you too much, you shouldn't expect more."

Prometheus was silent, and then he whispered:
"I'm sorry, I know you have tried your best, and I really shouldn't bother you any more."

"Take me there and accept my suffering."

After speaking, he swallowed the leaf full of vitality in his hand, and let Hephaestus take him to Caucasus Mountain.

After they left, Epimetheus appeared in the corner where Hephaestus had glanced earlier. He was always there, but Prometheus couldn't see him.

He waved his hands sadly, and kept staring at the thin back of Prometheus going away.

At the eastern end of the land, the Caucasus Mountains are like a boundary marker, separating the sea from the land.

Kratos, the god of strength, and Biya, the goddess of violence, had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Hephaestus leading Prometheus, they both heaved a sigh of relief.

They took Prometheus, accused Prometheus, and took him to the cliff according to the order of Zeus. Biya, the goddess of violence, hung Prometheus on the edge of the cliff with chains in her hand, making him Never able to fall asleep, unable to bend his weary knees, he drove the spike into Prometheus' heaving chest.

After finishing this, Kratos, the god of strength, let go the vulture eagle on his shoulders. The vulture eagle soared into the sky, circled and fell on the chain, and its sharp beak easily opened Prometheus' stomach and began to peck at him. liver.

Then the two bid farewell to Hephaestus and returned to Mount Olympus.

Hephaestus was also about to leave. Zeus' punishment was too cruel, and he felt a little uncomfortable.

He finally said to Prometheus: "Prometheus, remember."

"There are many wise people in the world, but there are very few people who are wise and know how to hide themselves."

"It must be known that if a tree is beautiful in the forest, the wind will destroy it; if it is piled up on the shore, the current will be turbulent."

Eventually, Hephaestus went too, leaving Prometheus chained in the Caucasus Mountains.

The spikes that go through the chest and the chains on his body are artifacts made by the three Cyclops brothers, the sons of the god Uranus. The spikes can restrain the flow of divine power, and the chains can never be broken without help.

Eagle Eagle's three meals are his liver.

But Prometheus felt no pain, he ate the strange leaf that his brother gave him, and the power of Epimetheus was protecting him.

His liver was pecked during the day and grew back at night.

Prometheus knew that Zeus' goal had been achieved, he was bound here, and all the gods could see him, so they feared the power of Zeus.

but.

Prometheus doesn't matter anymore.

Far from the strife among the gods and the glory of the prophet, he has more time to reflect on his actions.

He doesn't think he did anything wrong, but admits that there are problems with his methods.

He began to remember, to think, to learn, from Hephaestus, from his brother Epimetheus.

This process lasted for 3 years...

(End of this chapter)