extraction.greek.hesiod_homeric_hymns.theogony_prometheus_fire_theft
---
record_id: extraction.greek.hesiod_homeric_hymns.theogony_prometheus_fire_theft
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
passage_locator:
label: Theogony ll. 507-616
start: '507'
end: '616'
translation: Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Project Gutenberg eBook
notes: 'Source prints the connected Prometheus sequence across "(ll. 507-543)",
"(ll. 548-558)", "(ll. 561-584)", and "(ll. 613-616)" under THE THEOGONY.
'
canonical_text:
summary: 'Prometheus is named among the sons of Iapetus, is punished by Zeus, divides
an ox at Mecone in a deceptive way, and later steals the gleam of fire for mortals
in a hollow fennel stalk; Zeus responds by making a beautiful evil for men as
the price of fire.
'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Prometheus is described as clever, full of wiles, and later bound by Zeus.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: At Mecone, gods and mortal men have a dispute and Prometheus cuts up a great
ox.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Prometheus sets meat and inner parts under a paunch, and sets white bones
covered with shining fat for Zeus.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Zeus perceives the trick, becomes angry, and the passage links this to burning
white bones on fragrant altars.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Zeus withholds unwearying fire from mortal men after the trick.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Prometheus steals the gleam of unwearying fire in a hollow fennel stalk.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Zeus has a maiden-like figure made as the price of fire.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The sequence ends by saying Prometheus did not escape Zeus's anger, despite
knowing many wiles.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Prometheus
description: Son of Iapetus; clever, ready-witted, and full of wiles.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Zeus
description: Son of Cronos, father of men and gods, angered by the trick and theft.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: mortal men
description: Human recipients affected by the sacrificial division, loss of fire,
theft of fire, and Zeus's retaliation.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Limping God
description: Divine craft figure who forms the maiden-like figure from earth.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Athene
description: Bright-eyed goddess who clothes and adorns the maiden-like figure.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: beautiful evil
description: Maiden-like figure made as the price of fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: trickster divider
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Prometheus arranges the ox portions at Mecone while trying to befool Zeus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: fire thief
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Prometheus steals fire for mortal men in a hollow fennel stalk.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: divine punisher
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Zeus withholds fire, responds angrily, and imposes a retaliatory price.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: human beneficiaries and sufferers
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Mortal men receive fire but are also the target of Zeus's retaliatory gift.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: divine makers
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The Limping God forms the maiden-like figure and Athene clothes and adorns
her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: ox portions
literal_form: Meat, inner parts, paunch, white bones, and shining fat arranged as
portions.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: white bones on altars
literal_form: White bones burned to the deathless gods upon fragrant altars.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: fire
literal_form: Far-seen gleam of unwearying fire.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: hollow fennel stalk
literal_form: Hollow fennel stalk used to carry stolen fire.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: chains and eagle
literal_form: Inextricable bonds, cruel chains, and an eagle that eats Prometheus's
liver.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:6
label: beautiful evil
literal_form: Maiden-like figure formed from earth and adorned by Athene.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Prometheus punished
summary: Zeus binds Prometheus, and an eagle eats his immortal liver before Heracles
later releases him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Mecone division
summary: Prometheus divides an ox into deceptive portions during a dispute between
gods and mortal men.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Fire withheld and stolen
summary: Zeus withholds fire from mortals, and Prometheus steals it in a hollow
fennel stalk.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Price of fire
summary: Zeus responds to the stolen fire by having a maiden-like figure made and
adorned as a retaliatory gift.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: sacred theft of fire
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
- culture_hero
basis: A divine power, fire, is withheld by Zeus and stolen by Prometheus for mortal
men.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage also emphasizes punishment and does not present the act as
uncomplicatedly positive.
- id: motif:2
label: trickster at sacrificial boundary
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
- sacrifice
basis: Prometheus uses deceptive food portions in a divine-human dispute that explains
altar practice.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The evidence supports a trickster role in this episode, not a full characterization
of every Prometheus tradition.
- id: motif:3
label: divine retaliation for transgression
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Zeus responds to Prometheus's trick and theft by withholding fire, creating
a price for fire, and binding Prometheus.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames retaliation through Zeus's anger; broader justice claims
require wider context.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'This episode can be compared within the atlas to sacred-theft patterns in
which a restricted divine resource is taken across a boundary for human use.
'
claim_level: same_motif
target: 'taxonomy/motifs.yml: sacred_theft'
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The claim is motif-level only and does not assert contact with any
other tradition.
- id: claim:2
claim: 'The Mecone scene supports a cautious comparison to sacrifice-origin scenes
because the deceptive division of ox portions is tied to burning bones for the
gods on altars.
'
claim_level: same_function
target: 'taxonomy/motifs.yml: sacrifice'
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: This passage addresses one ritual explanation, not sacrifice as a whole.
- id: claim:3
claim: 'Zeus''s response can be compared to divine-judgment motifs where a transgressive
act leads to punishment and a changed human condition.
'
claim_level: same_function
target: 'taxonomy/motifs.yml: divine_judgment'
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: low
limitations: The record does not decide whether Zeus's response is morally just;
it only notes the punitive structure.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: Theogony (ll. 507-543)
quote_or_summary: 'The passage names Prometheus as clever and full of wiles, then
describes Zeus binding him with chains and an eagle eating his immortal liver
until Heracles later releases him.
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public-domain English translation from Project Gutenberg.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: Theogony (ll. 507-543)
quote_or_summary: '"For when the gods and mortal men had a dispute at Mecone...
Prometheus was forward to cut up a great ox and set portions before them, trying
to befool the mind of Zeus."
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public-domain English translation from Project Gutenberg.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: Theogony (ll. 548-558)
quote_or_summary: '"Zeus... saw and failed not to perceive the trick... and because
of this the tribes of men upon earth burn white bones to the deathless gods upon
fragrant altars."
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public-domain English translation from Project Gutenberg.
- id: ev:4
type: quote
locator: Theogony (ll. 561-584)
quote_or_summary: '"From that time he was always mindful of the trick, and would
not give the power of unwearying fire... But the noble son of Iapetus outwitted
him and stole the far-seen gleam of unwearying fire in a hollow fennel stalk."
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public-domain English translation from Project Gutenberg.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: Theogony (ll. 561-584)
quote_or_summary: '"Forthwith he made an evil thing for men as the price of fire;
for the very famous Limping God formed of earth the likeness of a shy maiden as
the son of Cronos willed."
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public-domain English translation from Project Gutenberg.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: Theogony (ll. 613-616)
quote_or_summary: '"So it is not possible to deceive or go beyond the will of Zeus;
for not even the son of Iapetus, kindly Prometheus, escaped his heavy anger..."
'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/hesiod-homeric-hymns-homerica.md
rights_note: Public-domain English translation from Project Gutenberg.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: high
comparison_claims: low
notes: Passage evidence is explicit, while comparison claims remain limited to motif/function
matching.
reviewer_status:
status: draft
notes: Draft extraction for human review.
extracted_by: Codex
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: Created for Wave 2 Greek extraction.