Prometheus was a titan and the titans preceded the gods of Olympus.  He is considered the god of fire, the wisest of all the titans and the creator and champion of mankind. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus created small clay figures in the likeness of the gods and Athena breathed life into these figures and they became the human race.

Zeus denied man immortality as well as fire, which left mankind in a perilous situation.  Prometheus was so enamored with man that he stole fire from Olympus and returned it to mankind.  For this, Zeus sentenced Prometheus to eternal suffering - until he was eventually rescued by Hercules. In mythological lore, it was also Prometheus who taught mankind mathematics, astronomy, architecture, writing and many other skills that advanced civilization.  In Greek civilization, fire or the torch became a symbol of knowledge.

Prometheus should be held close to the hearts of sculptors as he created his vision of man in a small clay figure. This sculpture portrays Prometheus in the struggle to deliver fire and knowledge to mankind; for modern man, it represents our ongoing struggle to use that knowledge to achieve wisdom and freedom of thought.

2015, Bronze, 25x14x13, Edition: 12