Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley is a tale that focuses on Prometheus as the creator of mankind. The novel is about Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a scientist. He discovers how to imbue life and soon after this creates an artificial man, his monster. The monster eventually causes the death of Victor's loved ones and ends also in his own death, along with the monster's. The irony is that the monster, as a person, is easier to respect than the human doctor. Despite being thrown into the world with no preparation, he develops several admirable qualities. However, as is always the case with monsters, he is rejected by humans and in the end resorts to destroying Dr. Frankenstein and himself.
The painting, Prometheus and the Eagle by Rubens, depicts the eagle eating Prometheus's liver. It was painted in 1611 to 1612. Rubens uses diagonal lines to promote the sense of action and contrasting colors to pull a viewers eye's to the central point.
Victor Steiner-Davion, a character in the Battletech universe, in the third book of the Blood of Kerensky series, by Michael Stackpole, names his battlemech Prometheus. He uses this ‘mech throughout the rest his life in numerous battletech novels, including works by Loren L. Coleman, Thomas Gressman and others. The allusion to Prometheus is not so much in the ‘mech itself, but in Victor’s persona. He is in many ways the Prometheus of his chaotic and war-strewn era, showing the light the Inner Sphere needs to move on. He fails often, and one could say that more harm comes from his failures than benefits from his successes, but that is also true of Prometheus. His accomplishments, to date, include stopping the Clan invasion of the Inner Sphere, which allows the Inner Sphere to continue its path of gaining scientific knowledge, and overthrowing his tyrant sister so the people can have their freedom. His failures come from him trying to be too clever, such as using a body double for another ruler’s dead son, and in his failure to realize his destiny of uniting humanity in another golden age.
Die Geschopfe des Prometheus' (The Creations of Prometheus) is a heroic allegorical ballet with two acts. It made its debut in 1801 at the Imperial Hof Theatre in Vienna. It was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Prometheus by Anita Dunkl is an acrylic on canvas painting in 2004. Anita likes to paint and is a psychology major living in Graz. It is a modern interpretation of Prometheus being attacked by the eagle. Similar to the Rubens painting she uses diagonal lines to show action. Prometheus's hair also alludes to that worn by Einstein, showing his intelligence.
Prometheus,by Lord Byron, was published in 1816. It is a 59 line poem that depicts Prometheus as a symbol of the struggle of humanity. Prometheus takes on humanlike qualities and becomes a model for rebellion against oppression, which is depicted in the character of Zeus.
Background credit -- Prometheus and Zeus' Attacking Eagle (1989) Artist: Gabor Peterdi (Jane Haslem Gallery -- see directly below)
http://www.artline.com/galleries/haslem/raisonne/raisonne6.html
Last Updated 10/23/2005