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Kratos (Might)
The god of fire and blacksmithing. Hephaistos is ordered by Zeus to bind Prometheus to the top of the Scythian mountains using “unbreakable” chains. Hephaistos is made to bind Prometheus not only because Prometheus stole fire, Hephaistos’s “flower,” and gave it to humankind, but also because as the blacksmith of the gods, Hephaistos’s chains are stronger than any other. Hephaistos, however, has compassion for Prometheus, like Okeanos and the chorus, and does not want to participate in Prometheus’s punishment. Hephaistos thus claims to “hate” his “skill” and “handiwork” because they obligate him to add to Prometheus’s misery. In response to Hephaistos’s resentment, Kratos tells him that “there are no carefree gods, except for Zeus. / He rules us all, so he alone is free.” This indeed appears to be one of Aeschylus’s central arguments made most clear through the character of Hephaistos—Hephaistos, like everyone else in the play, is not entirely free but beholden to Zeus and his power in one way or another.
Hephaistos Quotes in Prometheus Bound
The Prometheus Bound quotes below are all either spoken by Hephaistos or refer to Hephaistos. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Prometheus Bound
Quotes
We have arrived at the far limit of the world.
These are the Scythian mountains, desolate and vast.
Hephaistos, you must carry out the Father’s will
and bind the criminal to this steep looming rock
with chains of adamant, unbreakable.
It was your flower he stole, the bright and dancing fire,
and gave its wonderworking power to mortals.
This is the crime for which he now must pay
the price to all the gods, that he may learn
to love the tyranny of Zeus
and quit his friendship with the human race.
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Thus at all times one torment or another
will plague you. Your rescuer is not yet born.
This is the fruit of your philanthropy.
A god, you scorned the anger of the gods
by granting mortals honor above their due.
For that, you will keep vigil on this rock,
upright, unsleeping, and never bend a knee.
And many a groan will pass your lips, and sighing,
and bitter lamentation, all in vain.
Zeus’ vengeance is implacable. His power is new,
and everyone with newborn power is harsh.
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Hephaistos Quotes in Prometheus Bound
The Prometheus Bound quotes below are all either spoken by Hephaistos or refer to Hephaistos. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Prometheus Bound
Quotes
We have arrived at the far limit of the world.
These are the Scythian mountains, desolate and vast.
Hephaistos, you must carry out the Father’s will
and bind the criminal to this steep looming rock
with chains of adamant, unbreakable.
It was your flower he stole, the bright and dancing fire,
and gave its wonderworking power to mortals.
This is the crime for which he now must pay
the price to all the gods, that he may learn
to love the tyranny of Zeus
and quit his friendship with the human race.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Thus at all times one torment or another
will plague you. Your rescuer is not yet born.
This is the fruit of your philanthropy.
A god, you scorned the anger of the gods
by granting mortals honor above their due.
For that, you will keep vigil on this rock,
upright, unsleeping, and never bend a knee.
And many a groan will pass your lips, and sighing,
and bitter lamentation, all in vain.
Zeus’ vengeance is implacable. His power is new,
and everyone with newborn power is harsh.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
