Warning This is one version of the myth. There are varying stories on what "really" went on during this time.
The Creation of MankindIt is said in the myths of Prometheus that he was the maker mankind. He created mankind out of clay and water, He loved his creation more than the Olympians themselves. However, one of his brethren, the Titan Epimetheus who was assigned to give out characteristics such as speed, wings, or strength, did not have anymore traits to give out. Prometheus then modeled man after the Olympians and gave them the gift of fire. One day, Zeus decided to make mankind offer sacrifices to the Olympians by burning a portion of their food. Prometheus quickly figured out a way to trick Zeus.
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Prometheus's TrickeryZeus was going to make mankind sacrifice a portion of their food to the Olympians. To counter this Prometheus promptly set up a trap. Prometheus set up two piles of food that would soon become the offerings to the Gods. In one pile he had bones that had juicy fat on them, and one hide with the finest meat hidden inside of a hide. Zeus promptly chose the bones, and that was to be the sacrifices of mankind from now on. Zeus was angry with Prometheus's trickery and out of his rage he took back the fire from mankind. It was up to Prometheus to give back the fire to mankind, or they would perish.
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Prometheus Gives back the Fire.
After Zeus took away the fire from mankind, it is told that Prometheus went to the sun and lit a fire on a branch and gave it back to man. Unfortunately Zeus found out and was extremely enraged. As a punishment for the trickery of sacrifices and stealing the fire, Zeus had him chained to a rock and pecked by an eagle for eternity. However, after many years, the hero named Hercules came by and killed the eagle, and set Prometheus free.
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As punishment for humankind, Zeus had Hephaestus, the god of the forge and fire, make a woman that was extremely beautiful, and had a lying tongue with a deceptive heart. She was also given a box that was not to be opened. She was so beautiful that even the Titan Epimetheus could not resist her and married her. Epimetheus was living on Earth with mankind, and since Pandora was sent to him, Pandora would be living on Earth. Pandora couldn't resist her curiosity and opened her "box". Inside the box was malevolent spirits such as hunger, disease, and even death. By the time Pandora closed the box, all the spirits had escaped, except for one, hope. You see, the Gods were looking to punish mankind along with Prometheus, not cause immense genocide against them. They allowed mankind to remain, but with the setbacks of Pandora's Box.
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