Prometheus Bound

Prometheus Bound (Greek Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης, Prometheus desmotes ) is the title of a Greek tragedy, which has been attributed in antiquity to Aeschylus.

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Authorship

Conventionally, the plant was considered to be part of a Prometheia, a trilogy with satyr play, and attributed to the tragedian Aeschylus. Was followed in this ancient tradition that has been advocated by scholars of the Library of Alexandria. Since the 19th century this authorship, however, was questioned again and again. The problem is not resolved. The authenticity is contested mainly on linguistic ( word usage, and style), stage technical and conceptual ( the figure of Zeus as a tyrant ) reasons.

Content

The Scythian down in iron chains for the alleged rape of fire forever Titan Prometheus will not reveal the Olympian Zeus ruler of a secret knowledge, to possess the he claims. After Hermes has finally prompted the Prometheus one last time to finally give the name of the courtesan, which Zeus and his followers would cost the everlasting dominion, and Prometheus refuses, he is sent under lightning and thunder, an earthquake into the shadowy realm of Hades.

Persons acting in concert

Kratos & Bia, Hephaestus, Prometheus, Oceanids, Oceanus, Io, Hermes.

Kratos & Bia

Kratos (from the Greek "power" ) and Bia (Greek "violence" ), the servants of Zeus, Prometheus drag in the Caucasus, but where am Zeus ' command, the reluctant Hephaestus ( I full of trepidation, the God force related to chain this winter rock) force Prometheus to a rock near the Caucasus chains. Hephaestus, however, has indeed sorry for Prometheus also afraid of Zeus and blends. " Bia ( violence ) is silent, only Kratos ( power ) is talking about. "

Choir

After Hephaestus, Kratos and Bia were disposed of, the choir of the daughters of Oceanus, who assured him friendship and asked about the reason of this sentence appears, the choir leader for the most part continue the dialogue. Prometheus tells of the struggle against Kronos, where he helped Zeus by cunning and cleverness to overthrow his father. Zeus then informed of the offices, but the people did not intend, so that only Prometheus stands by them, gives them the fire, hope, and the art of divination. The chorus reminds him if his audacity, what Prometheus explains that he did it in the knowledge of his bondage for the sake of man.

Okeanos

The choir flies away, whereupon Okeanos comes riding on his grip. He refers to himself as the greatest friend of Prometheus and claims he is hergeeilt as soon as possible. But Prometheus asks him if he would take delight at his suffering and outraged again about Zeus. Okeanos also reminds him because of the lack of subservience to the new rulers. Prometheus should submit and beg for mercy, so that he would be redeemed. However, this reacts with irony on this advice of Oceanus, who had not supported him with the man ( With envy I perceive that you are free from reproach, but the part had boldly at all with me. ). Okeanos offers to lodge an appeal with good Zeus, but Prometheus advised him from it, refers to his brother Atlas and Typhon, what had happened to them, and that it should not fare as well Okeanos. Okeanos is persuaded and flies away.

Choir leader

The choir returns and complains Prometheus ' sad fate. Then tells Prometheus, what knowledge he brought the people, including the medicine, navigation, meteorology, prophecy. He also prophesied that Zeus once abdicate and Prometheus would be redeemed. (So ​​before them is thus the weaker Zeus -. Dem, which is determined, it is not entgehn ) Only, he says, he could not the future Zeus ' report, so that his prophecy go into fulfillment. The choir sings the suffering Prometheus ' and not coming to the aid of people supported.

Io

The horned Io added. Prometheus proclaim the end of Zeus by a son of Hera. As Io learns that Prometheus dominates the Prophesy art, they want to know their own destiny. But first she tells how she dreamed of the love of Zeus. Therefore Inachus, the father of Io was the oracle to refer his daughter in the country. To conceal the love of Io, he turned it into a cow. But Hera was not so hidden, sent Argos as a guard and let the cow out of a brake hunt. Now Prometheus announced the further path of Io to the Bosphorus (which are only named after her as is ) crosses and will eventually reach about Ethiopia downriver into the Nile Delta after Canopus, there to give birth to the Epaphos. And that is a descendant of Io in the 13th generation, a hero of the arc (meaning Heracles ) will save Prometheus. Since Io the stitches of the brake can not endure, it makes continuing.

Hermes

Prometheus reveals the Oceanids that Zeus will find by the curse of Kronos end. Hermes arrives and demands that Prometheus to Zeus opened, who will overthrow him. He threatens with lightning and storm, who would enforce it badly and that an eagle would come to eat his liver. Since Prometheus refuses this knowledge to disclose overtakes him this punishment.

Setting

Carl Orff set to music the original text of Aeschylus: The opera, sung in ancient Greek, was born on March 24, 1968 in Stuttgart National Theater under the direction of Ferdinand Leitner in a production directed by Gustav Rudolf Sellner premiered.

Translations

Offline

• Karl Philipp Conz. Laupp, Tübingen 1819.
• John Minckwitz. Metzler, Stuttgart 1839.
• A. Zeising. Krais & Hoffmann, Stuttgart, 1864.
• Karl Wilhelm Osterwald. Hall in 1873.
• A. Oldenberg. Published by the Bibliographical Institute, Leipzig around 1880.
• Robert Joachim. J. Ewich, MA, 1907.
• Carlo Philips. Insel-Verlag, Leipzig 1913.
• Hans Bogner. F.H. Guys Verlag, Heidelberg 1949.
• Walter Kraus. Reclam, Stuttgart, 1965.
• Oskar Werner: Aeschylus. Tragedies and fragments. Series Tusculum Munich 2005. Greco- German.
• Peter Handke. Prometheus Bound. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 1986.
• Dieter Bremer. Prometheus in chains. Bilingual edition. Edited and translated by DB with the Greek text ( Manuscript completion before the appearance of Prometheus by Peter Handke, see p.175 ) island, Frankfurt 1988.

Online

• Johann Gustav Droysen, Berlin 1832 Aeschylus works ( archive.org ), from page 409