Prometheus Bound

by

Aeschylus

The older generation of Greek gods led by Kronos. The Titans warred with the Olympians for rule of the universe during the Battle of the Titans, but they were defeated when Kronos refused to accept Prometheus’s help. The Titans believed they could defeat Zeus with their strength and force alone, but Prometheus knew that whoever was most cunning would win. The defeat of the Titans highlights Aeschylus’s central claim that reason wins out over brute force and strength.

The Titans Quotes in Prometheus Bound

The Prometheus Bound quotes below are all either spoken by The Titans or refer to The Titans. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Power vs. Reason Theme Icon
).
Prometheus Bound Quotes

Go play the rebel now, go plunder the gods’ treasure
and give it to your creatures of a day.
What portion of your pain can mortals spare you?
The gods who named you the Forethinker were mistaken.
You’ll need forethought beyond your reckoning
to wriggle your way out of this device.

Related Characters: Kratos (Might) (speaker), Prometheus, Themis
Page Number: 11
Explanation and Analysis:

However, one of the maidens will be charmed
by love to spare her bed companion.
Faced with the choice, and with her purpose blunted,
she will prefer to be called coward than murderess,
and it is she who will give birth in Argos
to a race of kings. It would take many words
to tell it clearly. But from this seed
shall spring a hero, famous for his bow,
who will release me from this suffering.
Such was the prophecy my ancient mother,
the Titan Themis, revealed to me.

Related Characters: Prometheus (speaker), Io, The Chorus, Heracles, Themis
Page Number: 53
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Prometheus Bound LitChart as a printable PDF.
Prometheus Bound PDF

The Titans Term Timeline in Prometheus Bound

The timeline below shows where the term The Titans appears in Prometheus Bound. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Prometheus Bound
Power vs. Reason Theme Icon
Suffering, Compassion, and Hope Theme Icon
...may as well tell them the story. At the beginning of the Battle of the Titans, Prometheus tells the women, he had “offered to advise the Titans,” but he was unable... (full context)
Power vs. Reason Theme Icon
The Titans refused to listen to Prometheus, so he joined forces with Zeus. Zeus “willingly accepted” Prometheus’s... (full context)
Power vs. Reason Theme Icon
Suffering, Compassion, and Hope Theme Icon
Creation, Art, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Not long after the Battle of the Titans, Prometheus tells the chorus, Zeus “intended to expunge” the human race and “grow another one... (full context)