Page:The Mythology of All Races Vol 1 (Greek and Roman).djvu/112

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GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY

became their souls. The human-like boulders at Panopeus in Phokis were pointed out as material left over by him In the process of making men.

The myth of Prometheus teaches that the Greeks regarded all natural fire as originally divine, that It was at once the strongest and the subtlest of the forces of nature and the most potent factor in the advance of humanity. In the legend can be detected a plea for the dignity of perseverance and toil and

Fig. 2. Creation of Pandora

In the centre of the upper band the newly-created Pandora stands stiffly like a figure of wood or clay. To her right appear in order Athene (who holds a wreath toward her), Poseidon, Zeus, and Iris, while to her left are shown the armed Ares, Hermes, and Hera. The lower band represents a comic dance of Satyrs. From a red-figured krater found at Altemira and now in the British Museum (JHS xi, Plate XI).

the promise that they will bring their own reward in the form of increased efficiency. The picture of the noble suffering of Prometheus is testimony that very early the Greeks had a clear idea of self-sacrifice.

Pandora.—By accepting the stolen fire men were legally party to the offence, and to punish them Zeus condemned them to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brow, besides doing them irreparable harm by bringing evil into their lives. At his bidding Hephaistos shaped an image of clay and endowed it with human faculties. In appearance the figure was like one of the Olympian goddesses — a beautiful maiden to whom all the Olympians contributed of their several qualities.