Comparision of Greek Myth of Prometheus and Judaeo-Christian Adam and Eve
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7 pages
When comparing the ancient Greek creation myth of Prometheus and the Judaeo-Christian Adam and Eve story we find some striking similarities in both of them. Analyzing Hesiod’s Theogony and other sources we come to the conclusion that the old Greek religion did not include a direct link as to the creation of the humans. They just co-existed with the Gods. Maybe they sprang from Gaea herself, it is not certain.
Other sources for the creation of man, point to Zeus giving the task of creating men and animals to the sons of Iapetus, Prometheus (before thought) and Epimetheus (after thought). Zeus had told both of the brothers to give them gifts, but while Prometheus was working hard creating the men, Epimetheus had already finished …show more content…
The God(s) had created woman (Pandora) who with her curiousity had condemned men with the miseries in life (but also hope). This shows the ancient’s view of women as being mentally inferior to men, naive, and easily fooled. Eve was fooled by the serpent and her curiousity got the best of her and she got manking kicked out of Eden and like Pandora, ended the Golden age of humanity.
It is interesting to note that in both creation myths (as well as the islamic version) the first man is made from Clay. And that, like clay, man comes from the earth and is bound by it’s laws. When a man dies, he is returned to the earth and buried. He becomes clay and dust and restores the natural balance of things. In ancient Greek religion a man is burned and is turned into dust and his ashes spread so that he may return to the earth and clay he came from.
It is also very peculiar that in the Bible it says "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." --Genesis 1:26
This ties into the previous statement that Prometheus had created men in the image of Gods. This ties more into Greek religion than Christianity. Traditionally, the ancient Gods were petty and cruel and had very human characteristics. They felt love, hate, jealousy, rage, and often had torrid love affairs with each other and mortals, sometimes producing offspring.
It is interesting to note that in both creation myths (as well as the islamic version) the first man is made from Clay. And that, like clay, man comes from the earth and is bound by it’s laws. When a man dies, he is returned to the earth and buried. He becomes clay and dust and restores the natural balance of things. In ancient Greek religion a man is burned and is turned into dust and his ashes spread so that he may return to the earth and clay he came from.
It is also very peculiar that in the Bible it says "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." --Genesis 1:26
This ties into the previous statement that Prometheus had created men in the image of Gods. This ties more into Greek religion than Christianity. Traditionally, the ancient Gods were petty and cruel and had very human characteristics. They felt love, hate, jealousy, rage, and often had torrid love affairs with each other and mortals, sometimes producing offspring.